Sabbats At A Glance

The Wheel of the Year

The major events in the Wheel of the Year are the solstices and equinoxes, which are precise astronomical moments relating to the position of Earth and the Sun. Their exact dates vary each year because the modern calendar (Gregorian calendar) only has 365 days while the Earth takes a bit longer (365.25 days) to travel around the Sun, so an extra day is added every 4 years (leap years).

In any case, about every six weeks, there is a sabbat to get excited about, and now, let’s see what dates each Sabbat falls on.

Sabbats

Yule or the Winter Solstice – NH: December 21st / SH: June 21st

Imbolc – NH: February 1st / SH: August 1st

Ostara or the Spring Equinox – NH: March 21st / SH: September 21st

Beltane – NH: May 1st / SH: October 31st

Lughnasadh or Lammas – NH: August 1st / SH: February 1st

Litha or Summer Solstice – NH: June 21st / SH: December 21st

Samhain – NH: October 31st / SH: April 30-May 1st

Mabon or Autumn Equinox – NH: September 21st / SH: March 21st

---

Yule – Northern Hemisphere: December 21st / Southern Hemisphere: June 21st

Yule is celebrated on December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere and June 21st in the Southern Hemisphere. Solstice is one of two days when the sun is farthest from Earth’s equator during the solar year.

Another name for Yule is Midwinter. It occurs halfway between Samhain and Imbolc. Yule is the first sabbat of the year.

Imbolc – Northern Hemisphere: February 1st / Southern Hemisphere: August 1st

Imbolc is one of the Greater Sabbats. It is also called Brigid’s Day or Candlemas roughly halfway between Yule and Ostara.

In many countries, the spring equinox marks the beginning of spring. This sabbat is the first of three annual fertility festivals to commemorate the earliest stirrings of earth’s return to life.

Ostara – Northern Hemisphere: March 21st / Southern Hemisphere: September 21st

As one of the four Lesser Sabbats. Earth’s return to life and the balance of day and night during this sabbat. The second of three annual fertility festivals.

Beltane – Northern Hemisphere: May 1st / Southern Hemisphere: October 31st

Beltane, also known as May Day. It is observed approximately halfway between the spring solstice, Ostara, and the summer solstice, Litha. Beltane is the first summer day, although the summer solstice is officially the first summer day in many countries. This Sabbat marks the third and final fertility festival of the year.

Litha – Northern Hemisphere: June 21st / Southern Hemisphere: December 21

Litha, the fourth Lesser Sabbat, celebrates the summer solstice. Occurs halfway between Beltane and Lughnasadh. Also called Midsummer. The sun is at its furthest point from Earth’s equator during the solar year at the solstice. This is the longest period of daylight and the shortest night of the year.

Lughnasadh – Northern Hemisphere: August 1st / Southern Hemisphere: February 1st

On the first of three annual harvest festivals celebrate by thanking Earth for its bounty. This sabbat is sometimes called by its Old English name hlāfmæsse (loaf mass) or simply Lammas. It’s a time of giving thanks to the Earth for providing us with so much abundance. The festival of Lammas is celebrated annually on August 1st, approximately halfway between Litha and Mabon.

Mabon – Northern Hemisphere September 21st / Southern Hemisphere: March 21st

Mabon is one of the four Lesser Sabbats. Continue to celebrate the Earth’s abundance and the yearly harvests resulting from its abundance. Because this Sabbat is about showing gratitude for the gifts of the Earth, it’s also called Pagan Thanksgiving.

Samhain – Northern Hemisphere: October 31st / Southern Hemisphere: April 30/May 1

This is one of the four Greater Sabbats and one of the most popular ones. It is observed halfway between Mabon and Yule. This sabbat marks the end of the harvest season as the year’s third and last harvest festival.