The Wheel of the Year

The Wheel of the Year is the name used by witches to describe the cycles of the seasons. There are eight major holidays in the Witch's Calendar, otherwise known as sabbats, which are based on solar events and mark the Turning of the Wheel. The dates shown in this article reflect the perspective of the Northern Hemisphere and in some traditions, celebrations commence at sundown on the previous evening. Sabbats are the main seasonal celebrations of Wiccan tradition. There are eight in total, of which four are Lesser Sabbats and four, Greater.

The Lesser Sabbats are firmly based on the key moments in the Sun's cycle and comprise the two solstices and the two equinoxes. The solstices mark the longest and shortest days and are essentially celebrations of the God and the waxes and wanes of his strength through the year. Wiccans who use the concept of the Oak and Holly King see that at Midsummer, the Oak King is slain by the Holly King, who then rises triumphant, the opposite occurring at Midwinter. These two festivals are primarily Fire festivals, owing to the Sun being at the centre of rituals which are performed at these times of year. In Midsummer, the Goddess is represented by the balancing Element of Water and in Midwinter, by the Great Mother who gives birth to the God.

The solstices are the times of the year when the Sun reaches its most southerly or northerly point, either at the Tropic of Capricorn or the Tropic of Cancer. These extremes of movement create the longest and shortest days, but most importantly, create the seasons; one hemisphere of the Earth receives a bit more solar energy each day whilst the other receives a little less. Therefore, when it is Summer in the North, it is Winter and the South and vice versa. Witches are ever mindful of the changing tides of the year and that the fulcrum points should be celebrated.

Lesser Sabbats

Midsummer Solstice or Litha