The Witches' Sabbats

The Wheel of the Year consists of eight Sabbats. All the Sabbats are solar in nature, marking the passing of the year with natural milestones. Some break the Sabbats down into major and minor, the major Sabbats being Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) Imbolc, (or Candlemas), Beltane, (May Day) and Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-na-sad, aka Lammas). The minor Sabbats are Yule (Winter Solstice), Ostara (Spring Equinox), Litha (or Midsummer, on the Summer Solstice) and Mabon (Autumn Equinox). It is through these Sabbats that witches throughout the world mark the passing of the year with celebration, and reverence for the deities and events that each represents. These holidays are as used by Witches in the northern hemisphere.