Lesson 12: The Wheel of the Year

The Wheel of the year represents all 8 Wicca or pagan holidays including the four seasonal movements (Summer and Winter solstice, and then Spring and Fall equinox). For those who practice wiccan and witchcraft, these holidays are used to celebrate the circle of life and certain seasonal holidays. Sabats, also known as Wiccan holidays, are used to represent the beginning of every season. The word 'Sabbat" comes from the religion 'Sabbath', which means a gathering in order to practice rituals.

A long, long time ago, a popular group from the Northern part of Europe, known as the Celts, has celebrated these festivals and events that are on this wheel. Jacob Grimm (1785 - 1863 CE) was the one to suggest the Wheel of the Year in his work entitled the Teutonic Mythology during 1835 CE. 

Since the Wheel of the Year is a circle, there is no beginning or end to it. In total, there are eight wiccan holidays. Here is a chart with the full list of the holidays. Some of them have alternative names so you may recognize them differently. The alternate names will be discussed in the detailed explanation of each holiday or festival event. 

Holidays	Date(s)	Significance
Yule	December 20-23	Winter Solstice (Christmas)
Imbolc	February 2nd	Return of Spring celebration
Ostara	March 19-22	Spring and fertility celebration
Beltane	May 1st	Midway between the Spring Equinox and Summer solstice. Also the Spring fertility celebration.
Litha	June 19-23	Summer Solstice; harvest celebration.
Lughnasadh (Lammas)	August 1st	Midway between Summer and Autumn; first harvest.
Mabon	September 21st - 24	Autumn equinox
Samhain	October 31st - November 1st	Honoring the passing of souls, otherwise known as Halloween.

The next lesson will cover each of these holidays or events in much more detail with history behind some of them.

Subject to edit by the instructor.