~The word Sabbath comes from the Babylonian word “Sabbat�? This was used in reference to the quarter days of each lunar cycle. ~The Greater Sabbaths are �?Samhain, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Imbolc ~The Lesser Sabbaths are �?Mabon, Yule, Ostara, and Litha ~They were celebrated from sun down to sun down unlike our modern calendar, which marks the days, by sun up to sun up. Below is a quick reminder about what each Sabbath represents and when in the year it falls. Samhain (sow en) Oct. 31- We say goodbye to the god and await his rebirth at Yule. It is a time to reflect and is the start of the witches new year. Sow means to harvest, and en means the end. This is a good time for scrying because the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest point. It is also a time when the spirits are said to walk among us. It is also the third and last harvest holiday. Activities: craving jack-o-lanterns, tarot readings, scrying, remembering the dead. Herbs:  sage and rosemary Colors:  Black, Orange, and Red Symbols:  caldron, pumpkins, and brooms Yule (most often Dec 21 but can fall on the 20 or 22)- Always Falls on the longest night and the shortest day of the year. At this time, the sun god is reborn to the goddess. We celebrate the return of the sun, as the days get warmer and longer. Activities: The Yule Log, decorate trees, giving of gifts, Herbs: Evergreen, Holly, and Mistletoe Colors: Red, Green, White, and Gold Symbols: Wreaths, Yule logs Imbolc (Feb. 2)- Imbolc is about welcoming the sun coming into power. The days are noticeably longer and hotter now. This holiday is scares to the goddesses Brigit. Activities: Lighting candles/ fires, Weather prediction, and making grain/Corn Dolls Herbs: Rosemary, Clover Colors: Pink, Red, White and yellow Symbols: Candles, grain dolls Ostara (March 21 or 22)- This holiday falls on the day, when day and night are equal, most often it is the 21 or 22. This is a celebration because the god and goddess are falling in love and new life is begging. We see this in the flowers, animals, ect. Eggs are a symbol during this time representing new life, the wheel of the year, the cycles of our lives. Activities: Coloring eggs, spring cleaning, planting herbs indoors Herbs: Jasmine, Daffodil, and Irish moss Colors: Pink, yellow, Green Symbols: Eggs, rabbits Beltane: (May 1)- The god and goddess are married at Beltane. The goddess changes from maiden to mother. Sexuality, love, and fertility, are the central themes of this holiday. Activities: Dancing the maypole, sex, Bonfires Herbs: Rose, lilac, primrose Colors: Red, orange, green, white Symbols: Fairies, Flowers, and Maypoles Litha (June 21 or 22)- Litha takes place on the summer solstices, the longest day of the year. The god is at the peak of his power; the crops are becoming ripe for harvest, and the goddess is pregnant with her godchild. Activities: Fairy Magick, gathering herbs, Bonfires, Herbs: Lemon, oak, and sandalwood Colors: gold, green, and blue Symbols: Fairies, sun symbols Lammas: (August 1)- Lammas is the first of three harvest festivals. This is a time to give thanks to the crops. The sun god is losing strength, and the days are growing shorter. Activities: Bake bread, give thanks, and enjoy the harvest, Herbs: Rye, wheat, and corn Colors: Red, Gold, yellow, tan Symbols: Corn, wheat, and fruit Mabon: (September 22)- Mabon usually falls on the 22, it is celebrated when day and night are equal, and is also called the Autumn equinox. It is the second harvest festival of the year. Apples, berries, and nuts are the foods harvested here. The sun god has little strength and energy left. Activities: Enjoy wine, share with others, and start a project, Herbs: Ivy, Hazel, and Cedar Colors: Orange, brown, and red Symbols: cornucopia, wine, berries, apples