is often used to represent the modern pagan Wheel of the Year. (top) and cross-quarter days (bottom) along with months (lower) and Zodiac houses (upper). The cycle of temperature (shown in pink) is delayed by
seasonal lag. In many traditions of
modern pagan cosmology, all things are considered to be cyclical, with time as a perpetual cycle of growth and retreat tied to the
Sun's annual
death and rebirth. This cycle is also viewed as a
micro- and macrocosm of other life cycles in an immeasurable
series of cycles composing the Universe. The days that fall on the landmarks of the yearly cycle traditionally mark the beginnings and middles of the four
seasons. They are regarded with significance and host to major communal festivals. These eight festivals are the most common times for community celebrations. In addition to the quarter and cross-quarter days, other festivals may also be celebrated throughout the year, especially in the context of
polytheistic reconstructionism and other
ethnic traditions. While festivals of the Wheel are steeped in solar
mythology and
symbolism, many Wiccan
esbats are commonly based on
lunar cycles. Together, they represent the most common celebrations in Wiccan-influenced forms of modern paganism, especially in
Neopagan witchcraft groups. The
Old English and (Yule) referred to the winter solstice day, and was reportedly when the
heathen Anglo-Saxons celebrated the festival
Mōdraniht. Before the
Old Norse festival of (Yule) was
Christianised, it was likely celebrated on the full moon of the lunisolar month following the winter solstice, rather than the solstice itself. This ranges between January 5 and February 2 in the Gregorian calendar. The winter solstice has been recognised as a significant turning point in the yearly cycle since the
late Stone Age. Ancient
megalithic sites
Newgrange and
Stonehenge were carefully aligned with the winter solstice sunrise and sunset. The reversal of the
Sun's ebbing presence in the sky symbolises the
rebirth of the solar god and presages the return of fertile seasons. From Germanic to Roman tradition, this is the most important time of celebration. Practices vary, but
sacrifice offerings, feasting, and gift giving are common elements of Midwinter festivities. Bringing sprigs and wreaths of
evergreenery (such as
holly,
ivy,
mistletoe,
yew, and
pine) into the home and tree decorating are also common during this time.
Imbolc (Candlemas) Imbolc is the traditional Gaelic name for 1 February and traditionally marks the first stirrings of
spring. In Christianity it is
Saint Brigid's Day, while 2 February is
Candlemas. It aligns with the contemporary observance of
Groundhog Day. It is time for purification and
spring cleaning in anticipation of the year's new life. In ancient Rome, it was a shepherd's holiday, while the Gaels associated it with the onset of ewes' lactation, prior to birthing the spring lambs. For
Celtic neopagans, the festival is dedicated to the goddess
Brigid, daughter of
The Dagda and one of the
Tuatha Dé Danann. and for
initiation among
Dianic Wiccans.
Spring Equinox (Ostara) Ostara is a name for the
spring equinox in some modern pagan traditions. The term is derived from a reconstruction produced by linguist
Jacob Grimm of an Old High German form of the Old English
Ēostre, an
Anglo-Saxon goddess for whom, according to
Bede, feasts were held in her
eponymous month, which he equated to April in the
Julian calendar. Known as
Alban Eilir in strands of neo-druidry, this holiday is the second of three spring celebrations (the midpoint between Imbolc and Beltane), during which light and darkness are again in balance, with light on the rise. It is a time of new beginnings and of life emerging further from the grips of winter.
Beltane (May Day) Beltane comes from the Gaelic name for
May Day ( and ), with the Welsh names being , , or . Traditionally, it marked the beginning of summer. It is known as
Walpurgis Night in
Germanic countries. Ancient Rome observed
Floralia at the same time of year. Following the
Christianisation of Europe, the May Day festival was generally associated with
maypole dancing and the crowning of the
May Queen. May Day is celebrated in many neo-pagan traditions; in neo-druidry, it recognises the power of life in its fullness, the greening of the world, youthfulness, and flourishing.
Summer Solstice (Midsummer / Litha) The
summer solstice, falling on or about 21 June in the Northern hemisphere, is celebrated by neopagans under various names, including
Midsummer and
Litha. A name used by neo-druids is
Alban Hefin. The name
Litha, is found in
Bede's
The Reckoning of Time ('
, eighth century), which preserves a list of the (then-obsolete) Anglo-Saxon names for the months of the early Germanic calendar. ' (
first or
preceding '
) roughly corresponds to June in the Gregorian calendar, and ' (
following ''
) to July. Bede writes that "Litha means gentle
or navigable'', because in both these months the calm breezes are gentle and they were wont to sail upon the smooth sea". In some neo-druid traditions the festival is called
Alban Hefin. The sun in its greatest strength is greeted and celebrated on this holiday. While it is the time of greatest strength of the solar current, it also marks a turning point, for the sun also begins its time of decline as the wheel of the year turns. Arguably the most important neo-druidic festival, due to the focus on the sun and its light as a symbol of divine inspiration. Neo-druid groups frequently celebrate this event at Stonehenge.
Lughnasadh (Lammas) Lughnasadh or
Lúnasa () is the Gaelic name for a
harvest festival held on or around 1 August. Its Welsh name is . In English it is
Lammas. Some Wiccan traditions base their celebrations on the Celtic deity
Lugh, for whom the holiday is named, while others draw on more eclectic sources. While
Lughnasadh is one of the most common names for the holiday in Wicca currently, in early versions of Wiccan literature, the festival is referred to as
August Eve. Lammas is often referenced interchangeably with Lughnasadh, though the two are sometimes recognised as distinct and separate holidays. While Lughnasadh has Celtic origins, Lammas has Anglo-Saxon origins, and was often marked with the blessing of loaves of bread by the church. The name
Lammas (contraction of
loaf mass) implies it is an agrarian-based festival and feast of thanksgiving for grain and bread, which symbolises the first fruits of the harvest.
Autumn Equinox (Mabon) The holiday of the autumnal equinox is known variously among neopagans as
Mabon,
Harvest Home, or
Feast of the Ingathering. A name used by neo-druids is
Alban Elfed. It is a neopagan festival of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the Gods during the coming winter months. The name
Mabon was coined by
Aidan Kelly around 1970 as a reference to , a character from Welsh mythology.
Samhain (All Hallows) Samhain (), or
Sauin, is the name of a traditional Gaelic festival held around 1 November. Its Welsh name is . For Witches, it is a time to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on, and it often involves paying respect to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets, and other loved ones who have died. Aligned with the contemporary observance of
Halloween and
Day of the Dead, in some traditions the spirits of the departed are invited to attend the festivities. It is seen as a festival of darkness, which is balanced at the opposite point of the Wheel by the festival of
Beltane, which is celebrated as a festival of light and fertility. Many neopagans believe that the veil between this world and the afterlife is at its thinnest point of the year at Samhain, making it easier to communicate with those who have departed. ==Practice==