Shipping to Mainland Britain Only 
The Wheel of the Year: The 8 Wiccan Sabbats Explained
Article Contents
In this post, we explore the Wheel of the Year and the eight Wiccan Sabbats – sacred festivals marking nature’s eternal cycles. Learn the history, symbolism and traditions of celebrations like Samhain, Beltane and Yule and more.
Lorna x
The Wheel of the Year is an eightfold Wiccan festival cycle marking the solstices, equinoxes and Celtic fire festivals. It reflects nature’s cycles, honouring themes of birth, growth, death and rebirth. Celebrated by Wiccans and modern pagans, it provides a spiritual connection to seasonal changes.
Origins of the Wheel of the Year
Despite the ancient provenance of it’s festivals, the eightfold Wheel of the Year that we know today is a modern innovation of the 1960s. A collaboration of Wicca founder, Gerald Gardner and latter-day Druid, Ross Nichols, this initial rendition combined ancient Celtic fire festivals with Norse and Anglo-Saxon solstice and equinox festivals. Later, two other festivals were artificially created to give us the eightfold Wheel of the Year we have today.
Anatomy of the Wheel of the Year
Celtic:
- Samhain (Oct 31 – Nov 1) marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter.
- Imbolc (Feb 1–2) was tied to Brigid and the first signs of spring.
- Beltane (April 30 – May 1) celebrated fertility, fire and the coming of summer.
- Lughnasadh (Aug 1-2) was a festival of the grain harvest, linked to the god Lugh.
Anglo-Saxon:
- Ostara (Spring Equinox). Based on the Anglo-Saxon goddess, Ēostre (described in the 8th Century writings of Bede), Ostara was coined by Jacob Grimm in his 1835 study, Teutonic Mythology. The name was popularised in the 1970s by American academic, Aiden Kelly and became part of the Wheel during the same period.
- Yule (Winter Solstice), celebrated the rebirth of the sun.
Neo-pagan:
- Mabon (Autumn Equinox). Though this festival has been celebrated for millenia, the name Mabon was first introduced in the 1970s by American academic and neo-pagan, Aidan Kelly.
- Litha (Summer Solstice). Another name introduced by Kelly, Litha (the Anglo-Saxon name for summer) was borrowed from the 8th Century writings of Bede.
The 8 Wiccan Sabbats
Today’s Wheel of the Year is a cyclical calendar of eight Sabbats that mark the changing seasons. These festivals blend ancient pagan traditions with modern spiritual practice, celebrating the cycles of nature, life, death and rebirth. The Sabbats are divided into two groups: the Greater Sabbats, which align with key agricultural and pastoral moments, and the Lesser Sabbats, which follow the solstices and equinoxes.
1. Yule (Winter Solstice)
Yule celebrates the rebirth of the sun, as the longest night of the year gives way to the return of light. Many modern Christmas traditions, such as decorating trees and burning a Yule log, have pagan roots. This is a time of hope, renewal, and welcoming the returning sun.
Learn more about this festival
2. Imbolc
Imbolc is a festival of light and purification, marking the first signs of spring. It is associated with the goddess Brigid, fertility and creativity. Candles are lit to encourage the growing sun, and it’s a time for renewal, setting intentions and spiritual cleansing.
Learn more about this festival
3. Ostara (Spring Equinox)
Ostara celebrates the balance of light and dark as day and night are equal. It is a time of fertility, new beginnings and growth. Symbols like eggs and hares—later adopted by the Christian festival of Easter—represent the renewal of life. This is the perfect time for planting and embracing the energy of the waking earth.
Learn more about this festival
4. Beltane
Beltane is a fire festival that celebrates fertility, passion and the union of the divine masculine and feminine. Traditionally, bonfires were lit and rituals encouraged love, creativity and abundance. It’s a joyful and sensual festival, marking the peak of spring and the coming of summer.
Learn more about this festival
5. Litha (Summer Solstice)
Litha, or Midsummer, is the longest day of the year, celebrating the sun at its height. It is a time of strength, success and abundance. Many traditions involve bonfires, feasting and honouring the Sun. This is also a time for magic, particularly for protection and prosperity.
Learn more about this festival
6. Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh is the first harvest festival, honouring the grain harvest and, in pagan tradition, the Celtic god, Lugh. Also known as Lammas (in Christian culture), bread is baked and thanks are given for the bounty of the land. It’s a time to recognize hard work, make offerings and begin preparing for the darker months ahead.
Learn more about this festival
7. Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
Mabon is the second harvest festival and a time of balance, as day and night are once again equal. It is a festival of gratitude, celebrating the fruits of the season before winter sets in. Many Wiccans use this time for reflection, feasting, and honouring nature’s gifts.
Learn more about this festival
8. Samhain
Samhain marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. It is often called the Witches’ New Year, a time when the veil that separates the worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Ancestral spirits are honoured and divination is commonly practiced. This is a festival of endings, introspection, and preparation for the darker half of the year.
Learn more about this festival
The Cycle of Life and Nature
The Wheel of the Year reflects the eternal cycles of nature, from birth and growth to death and rebirth. Whether you celebrate all eight Sabbats religiously you or simply acknowledge the changing seasons, these festivals offer a way to connect with the rhythms of the earth.
