The Wheel of the Year is a concept that represents the cyclical nature of seasons and celebrates the continuous change in our natural world. This ancient calendar was marked by the two solstices and two equinoxes, each holding significant meaning in various cultural traditions. Over the years, mid-season holidays or sabbats have been added by neo-pagans marking harvests or other celebrations that may have been celebrated historically but weren’t necessarily named. Let's explore these festivals and their connections to the changing seasons.
The Wheel of the Year is anchored by four astronomical events that mark the changing of seasons:
Spring Equinox (Ostara): Usually around March 20-22, this marks the beginning of spring when day and night are of equal length.
Summer Solstice (Litha): Occurring around June 20-22, this is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, celebrating the peak of summer.
Autumn Equinox (Mabon): Around September 20-22, this festival marks the start of fall, again with equal day and night.
Winter Solstice (Yule): The shortest day of the year, usually around December 20-22, marks the heart of winter and the gradual return of light.
Interspersed between the solstices and equinoxes are four mid-season festivals, often called the "cross-quarter" days:
Imbolc: Celebrated around February 1, this marks the first stirrings of spring and the lengthening of days.
Beltane: May 1 marks the height of spring and the beginning of summer, traditionally celebrated with bonfires and festivities.
Lughnasadh (or Lammas): Around August 1, this festival celebrates the first harvest and the waning of summer.
Samhain: October 31 marks the final harvest, the thinning of the veil between worlds, and the beginning of the darker half of the year.