The eight Sabbats are seasonal festivals marking the turning of the Wheel of the Year and are often associated with Wicca, but they aren’t only Wiccan. In truth, they draw from much older agricultural and pre-Christian traditions that celebrated the rhythms of the Earth: planting, growth, harvest, and rest.
Modern Wicca organized these ancient observances into a unified system known as the Wheel of the Year, but people from many spiritual paths, including eclectic witches, Druids, Heathens, animists, and even secular nature-lovers, honor these seasonal shifts in their own ways.
At their heart, the Sabbats are about relationships: with the land, with time, with cycles of light and dark, and with our own inner seasons. They remind us that the Earth is alive, turning, and always renewing itself, and that we, too, are part of that rhythm.
You don’t have to follow a specific religion or tradition to celebrate them. Maybe you light a candle at Yule to welcome the returning sun, bake bread at Lammas to honor abundance, or simply pause at the equinoxes to reflect on balance. Whether your practice is devotional, magical, or simply mindful, the Sabbats offer a framework for living in harmony with nature’s flow.
This glossary will walk you through each of the eight Sabbats (their meanings, symbols, and modern ways to celebrate) so you can create your own connection to the Wheel of the Year.
Samhain
(pronounced SAH-win or SOW-wen)
Date: October 31–November 1
Season: The final harvest and the witch’s new year
Theme: Death, rebirth, honoring ancestors, release
Meaning:
Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark half of the year. It’s a time when the veil between worlds is thinnest, allowing communication with ancestors and spirits. We view it as both an ending and a beginning; a moment for reflection, divination, and renewal.
Symbols: Pumpkins, apples, bones, candles, black and orange, the cauldron, photographs of loved ones.
Modern ways to celebrate Samhain:
- Light a candle for ancestors or pets who’ve passed.
- Perform a release ritual for what you’re letting go of before winter.
- Practice divination (tarot, scrying, pendulum).
- Prepare comforting autumn foods like pumpkin soup or apple pie.
Yule
(pronounced YOOL)
Date: Around December 21 (Winter Solstice)
Season: Midwinter
Theme: Rebirth of the Sun, hope, inner light
Meaning:
Yule celebrates the longest night and the rebirth of the Sun as days begin to lengthen again. It’s a festival of light in the darkness; a time for rest, gratitude, and gentle renewal. Many Christmas traditions (evergreens, candles, feasting) have roots in ancient Yule customs.
Symbols: Evergreen trees, holly, mistletoe, candles, sun wheels, pinecones, red and green.
Modern ways to celebrate Yule:
- Decorate a Yule tree with natural ornaments.
- Light candles or a Yule log to honor returning light.
- Reflect on your intentions for the new solar cycle.
- Exchange gifts or bake spiced breads and cookies.
Imbolc
(pronounced IM-bolk or IM-olk)
Date: February 1–2
Season: Early spring stirrings
Theme: Purification, inspiration, renewal
Meaning:
Imbolc honors the Goddess Brigid, patroness of hearth, poetry, and healing. It marks the first signs of spring; lambs born, snow melting, seeds stirring beneath the soil. It’s a festival of cleansing and creativity after winter’s quiet.
Symbols: Candles, milk, seeds, white flowers, Brigid’s cross, the color white and gold.
Modern ways to celebrate Imbolc:
- Light candles to symbolize the growing light.
- Clean your home (physically and spiritually) to welcome new beginnings.
- Write poetry or start a creative project.
- Make a Brigid’s cross or simple charm for protection.
Ostara
(pronounced OH-star-ah)
Date: Around March 20 (Spring Equinox)
Season: Spring balance
Theme: Growth, fertility, balance of light and dark
Meaning:
Day and night are equal as the Earth fully awakens. Ostara celebrates fertility, renewal, and the blossoming of life. It’s a joyful time for planting seeds, both literal and metaphorical. The symbols of eggs and hares (rabbits) come from ancient fertility rites.
Symbols: Eggs, hares, spring flowers, baskets, pastel colors, budding plants.
Modern ways to celebrate Ostara:
- Decorate eggs with symbols of hope and abundance.
- Plant seeds for your garden or future goals.
- Take a nature walk and honor the new life around you.
- Cleanse and recharge your altar with spring energy.
Beltane
(pronounced BELL-tayn)
Date: April 30–May 1
Season: Height of spring
Theme: Passion, fertility, joy, union
Meaning:
Beltane is a fiery celebration of life in full bloom. It honors love, sensuality, and creative energy, often symbolized by the union of the God and Goddess. It’s a festival of warmth, flowers, and exuberant living.
Symbols: Maypoles, flowers, ribbons, bonfires, honey, bees, green and red.
Modern ways to celebrate Beltane:
- Dance around a maypole or create your own version with ribbons.
- Light a bonfire or candles to honor the fire element.
- Decorate your space with fresh flowers or make floral crowns.
- Celebrate love and joy in all its forms.
Litha
(pronounced LEETH-ah)
Date: Around June 21 (Summer Solstice)
Season: Midsummer
Theme: Strength, abundance, fulfillment
Meaning:
The Sun is at its peak, radiating power and warmth. Litha celebrates abundance, creativity, and gratitude. It’s a time of strength and protection, but also a reminder that after this point, the days slowly begin to shorten.
Symbols: Sun wheels, herbs, honey, oak leaves, sunflowers, gold and yellow.
Modern ways to celebrate Litha:
- Watch the sunrise and express gratitude for the light.
- Make herbal sachets or sun-charged water.
- Decorate with sunflowers and bright colors.
- Celebrate outdoors with a picnic, garden, or hike.
Lammas / Lughnasadh
(pronounced LOO-nah-sah)
Date: August 1
Season: Early harvest
Theme: Gratitude, sacrifice, abundance
Meaning:
The first harvest festival, named after the Celtic god Lugh. Lammas (literally “loaf-mass”) honors the gathering of grains and the cycle of giving and receiving. It’s about gratitude for what you’ve created and the humility to release what no longer serves you.
Symbols: Bread, wheat, corn, berries, sickles, gold, and deep green.
Modern ways to celebrate Lughnasadha:
- Bake bread or corn muffins in gratitude for your “harvest.”
- Reflect on what goals have come to fruition.
- Offer a portion of your meal to nature or your deities.
- Spend time outdoors appreciating late summer’s abundance.
Mabon
(pronounced MAY-bon or MAH-bon)
Date: Around September 21 (Autumn Equinox)
Season: Second harvest
Theme: Balance, thanksgiving, reflection
Meaning:
Day and night are once again equal. Mabon is the counterpart to Ostara, a moment of balance before the descent into darkness. It’s a time to give thanks for what you’ve harvested (literally and spiritually) and to prepare for introspection.
Symbols: Apples, grapes, wine, nuts, autumn leaves, baskets, orange and brown.
Modern ways to celebrate Mabon:
- Decorate your altar with autumn bounty.
- Host a gratitude meal or feast with loved ones.
- Reflect on what you’ve learned and accomplished this year.
- Do a gratitude ritual or write a thank-you letter to yourself.
The Wheel of the Year: A Living Cycle
| Sabbat | Season | Theme |
| Samhain | End of Autumn | Death and rebirth |
| Yule | Winter Solstice | Light returns |
| Imbolc | Early Spring | Cleansing and inspiration |
| Ostara | Spring Equinox | Growth and balance |
| Beltane | Late Spring | Passion and vitality |
| Litha | Summer Solstice | Power and abundance |
| Lammas/Lughnasadh | Early Autumn | Harvest and gratitude |
| Mabon | Autumn Equinox | Balance and reflection |
Closing The Circle
The Wheel of the Year isn’t just a calendar; it’s a rhythm, a reminder that nature moves in cycles and so do we. You don’t have to celebrate every Sabbat perfectly. Even small acts like lighting a candle, cooking a seasonal meal, or stepping outside to notice the changing air connect you to this ancient dance between earth, light, and spirit.