Sabbats and Esbats Sabbats Sabbats are solar festivals, markers on the Wheel of the Year. They are times of celebration rather than times of magick as a rule. Samhain Feast of the Dead. October 31st or first full Moon of Scorpio. A time to commune with the Ancestors, as the Veil Between The Worlds is this at this time. This the final harvest, the harvest of beasts, when in olden times the herds were culled before winter. The beginning of the dark half of the year, it's time to reap the last of the year's works. Yule Winter Solstice. Called Alban Arthuan by the Druids. The rebirth of the God, a time of rebirth.. Time to let things rest and lay fallow in preparation for the next season of growth. Imbolc February 1st or 1st full Moon of Aquarius. Meaning "In the belly", this is a fire festival celebrating the quickening of life within the Earth, the preparation for growth and renewal. This day is sacred to the Goddess Bride. Ostara About March 21st. Called Alban Eiles by the Druids. Spring equinox, a day of balance between light and dark. Festival of plant and animal fertility, sowing time, new beginnings. Beltane May 1st or the first full Moon of Taurus. The fire festival of fertility, time of the mating of the Goddess and her Consort, bringing new life into bloom on the Earth. The start of the light half of the year. A time of Maypoles, parties, all-nighters with your lover...Fingle's Favorite Festival! Most auspicious day for handfastings, too! Mid-Summer About June 21st. Called Alban Heruin by the Druids. Also called Litha. The Sun is at the peak of his powers. Auspicious day for self dedications. Mid-Summer's Eve is traditionally the night for communing with the Sidhe. Eat or drink naught while you're amoungst the Good People, at peril of remaining with them. Lughnassadh August 1st, or the first full Moon of Leo. Also called Lammas. As Lughnassadh, in legend it was set by the Tuatha De Dannan deity Lugh in memory of his foster mother Taillte. This fire festival is the first of the harvests, the harvest of grain. The Sun God's powers begin to wane, and it's a time to contemplate the mystery of how death, by feeding the living, is in service to life. A time to begin to reap what we have sowed in the year. Mabon About September 21st. Called Alban Elved by the Druids. Autumnal equinox. The second day of balance between light and dark, this time shifting towards darkness. The second harvest, the harvest of fruits. Time to gather in what we have worked for during the year. Esbats Esbats are Lunar festivals based on the phases of the Moon. They are generally held around the time of the Full Moon, as there is plenty of energy to put into spell work, but they may be held at the New Moon for new beginnings, anytime during a waxing Moon for growth and fertility, occasionally during a waning moon to do spells for reduction and decrease (as in illness or to remove some other negative influence) and (rarely) during the dark of the Moon to invoke the Crone for justice and honest judgement. There are thirteen esbats in a year's time, added to eight sabbats making twenty one days (or nights) to honor the Old Gods and generally party. This is a happy religion, a faith of joy rather than fear, of service rather than sacrifice