Witches’ Sabbats 2010 (Northern Hemisphere)

Date	Name	Sabbat	Holiday	Celebration	Alt Names	Alt Date
FEB 2*	Imbolc (“in the belly”)	Greater	High	This sabbat marks the first signs of life returning to the land. Just as the light is growing stronger, the young Sun God has grown stronger, too. The Goddess Mother, no longer required to nurse the babe, exchanges her robes for those of the Maiden Goddess. As one of the four “fire festivals,” candles are lit to sweep away the winter darkness. This is a traditional time for rededication and pledges for the coming year.	Oimelc (“milk of ewes”), St. Brigid’s Day (also known as Brigit, Brighid, Bride, Brìd, Là Fhèill Brìghde (Scotland), Lá Fhéile Bríde (Ireland), Gŵyl Fair (Wales), Brigantia, Candlemas and Lupercalia (Lupercus was the God of shepherds in Roman mythology and was associated with goats and dogs; he was identified with Faunus, the equiva­lent of the Greek God Pan)	When the first stirrings of spring are felt, or on the full moon that falls closest to this time.
MAR 20** (Spring/ Vernal Equi­nox)	Lady Day	Lesser	Low	This celebration occurs when day and night are equal and light is on the ascendant. The Maiden Goddess welcomes the green and flourishing Sun God’s embraces and conceives a child to be born in nine months at the next Winter Solstice.	“Ôstarâ” and “Ēostre,” from which the holiday “Easter” is derived and both of which are incorrectly applied to this equinox and quarter day, celebrate the festival of the Goddess Eostar; Earrach, Alban Eilir, and Festival of Trees	The festi­val of the Goddess Eostar is celebrated on the full moon closest to the Spring/ Vernal Equinox.
MAY 1*	Beltane	Greater	High	This celebration signals when the crops sown on Lady Day begin to sprout, the animals bear their young, and the people begin to get out of their houses. Activities center on fecundity and procreation, such as the maypole. The marriage of the Maiden Goddess and the Sun God is conducted and celebrated. One of the four “fire festivals,” bonfires are lit. This is also the first of the three festivals of the Faerie Realm, but it occurs only every seven years, when the faeries fight amongst themselves for the best ears of grain in the upcoming harvest.	May Day, Walpurgis Night, Lá Bealtaine (Ireland), Latha Bealltainn (Scotland)	As a result of the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, Bealltainn came to be celebrated on May 15, while in Ireland Sean Bhealtain (“Old May”) began the night of May 11. This festival may also be celebrated on the full moon nearest the midpoint between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.
JUN 21** (Summer Solstice)	Mid-Summer’s Eve	Lesser	Low	This is the longest day and shortest night of the year. From this time onwards, the days gradually grow shorter again. The Sun God is at the peak of his power. The bounty of the earth ripens, as does the Mother Goddess with Her child. This is a time for rest and play, a respite between the planting and harvesting of the crops. This is also the day when the Oak King is defeated by the Holly King and the Holly King begins his six-month reign. This is also the second of the three festivals of the Faerie Realm, when faeries ride forth, are at their gayest and given to singing (which is dangerous to hear).	Litha, Samradh, Alban Hefin, Aerra Litha, Mother Night, and St. John’s Eve
AUG 1*	Lammas	Greater	High	This sabbat is a celebration of the first harvest. One of the four “fire festivals,” fire wheels were often rolled down hills to mark the declining of the Sun God’s power. Today, bonfires are lit. This is also the first of the three “harvest festivals,” which incorporates the baking of a figure of the Sun God in bread, then symbolically sacrificing and eating it. The Mother Goddess watches in both sorrow and joy as she realizes that the adult Sun God is dying, yet lives on inside Her as Her child.	Lugh­nassah, Lugh­nasadh, Lamastide, August Eve, First Harvest, Bread Harvest, Gŵyl Awst (Feast of August, Wales) and Festival of First Fruits
SEP 23** (Fall/ Autumn Equi­nox)	Harvest Home	Lesser	Low	Once again, the balance of day and night are equal with darkness on the ascendant. This sabbat is a celebration and thanksgiving of the second harvest (second of the three “harvest festivals”) of the fruits of the earth and a time of rest after hard work. The blessings of the God/dess are sought for the upcoming winter months. The Sun God dies, but his power is preserved in the spirit of the fields, trapped and crystallized in the plants and animals. He returns to the womb of the Mother Goddess. The Mother Goddess now takes on the aspect of the Crone Goddess, the old and wise one who stands at the crossroads of life and death, all-seeing and all-knowing.	Mabon (coined by Aidan Kelly around 1970 as a reference to Mabon ap Modron, a character from Welsh mythology), Second Harvest, Fruit Harvest, Wine Harvest. Feast of the Ingathering, Meán Fómhair, Foghar, and Alban Elfed
OCT 31*	All Hallow’s Eve	Greater	High	This festival marks the beginning and end of the pagan year. It is the beginning of the resting season, a time of remembrance of those who have gone before, and a time to pierce the veil between the worlds and divine what the coming year holds. The Sun God waits in the Shining Land to be reborn and the Crone Goddess stirs the cauldron of life, death and rebirth. The last of the three “harvest festivals,” respect is paid to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets and other loved ones who have died, and the spirits of the departed are invited to attend the festivities. The souls of the dead are escorted by the Wild Hunt through the veil to the Shining Land (or Summerland). One of the four “fire festivals,” bonfires are lit. This is also the last of the three festivals of the Faerie Realm when faeries interact with humans, but they are at their gloomiest and dance with the ghosts.  They may also conduct the Wild Hunt.	All Hallows, Hallow E’en, Hallo­ween, Last Harvest, Blood Harvest, Ancestor Night, Feast of the Dead, Nos Calan Gaeaf, and Samhain
DEC 21** (Winter Solstice)	Yule	Lesser	Low	This sabbat occurs on the longest night and shortest day, when the decreasing days give way to increasing light and life. The Goddess Mother once again gives birth to the Sun God. As a newborn babe, he is the embodiment of innocence and joy, and represents the returning light. This is also the day when the Holly King is defeated by the Oak King and the Oak King begins his six-month reign. Some historians claim that the Yule celebration is connected to the Wild Hunt or was influenced by Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival.	Mid-Winter’s Eve, Mid-Winter, The Mother’s Night, Cuidle, Alban Arthan, and Winter Rite

*This date stays the same each year.
**This date varies each year.