The first group is the Four Greater Sabbats, or the Fire Festivals, and the second is the Lesser Sabbats, or Cross Quarter Sabbats.
Samhain is celebrated sometime between October 31st and November 11th. It is also known as the Witch's New Year and it is said that the veils between the living and the dead wane thin. .
Imbolgc, also known as Candlemas, is celebrated on February 2nd. The Goddess is honored for giving birth of the Lord on this day. Candles are lit and are let to burn all day in order to draw the sun to people for it is also the first day of the Wiccan Spring. .
Third is Beltaine which falls on April 30th or May 1st. This is the celebration of rebirth as it falls directly opposite of Samhain. The East is the quarter celebrated here and this holiday is where the maypole is used. It is also the holiday of love and romance. .
The fourth Fire Festival is Lammas. Also known as the Wedding Feast or the First Feast of Harvest, this day is celebrated on August 1st. Spirit is given thanks to for the abundance of earth and represents the Wiccan Thanksgiving.
The first Lesser Sabbat is the Winter Solstice, or Yule. It is celebrated on the winter solstice--typically December 21st or 22nd. This is where the Christian Christmas derived from as well as the images of Father Christmas or Santa Claus. The Wiccan Father Christmas is the Holly King who is said to have defeated the Oak King in a battle at this time. The Holly King is what you would expect Santa Claus to look like and he drives a sleigh of eight deer representing the eight Sabbats and the horned God.
Next comes the Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara. The original tradition of coloring eggs was that of the Witches to celebrate Ostara to represent the return of fertility to the land. They also right their Karmic wrongs at this time and bring balance to themselves.
The Summer Solstice is when God is celebrated in all of his passion and glory.
Wicca- the natural religion of the world; not a Christian religion. ... Followers of Wicca seek guidance from an endless number of deities. ... Popular culture has greatly affected the spread of Wicca. ... Wicca is the first and only religion that really honors women. ... In Wicca, the five points represent our basic beliefs. ...
Wicca is a religion that has roots going back to the dawn of man. ... Wicca is a joyous religion springing from our kinship with nature. ... Aside from the protection of the environment Wicca's central theme, called the Wicca Rede, is "if it does no harm do your own will". ... In order to understand Wicca it is essential to know its roots. ... He began what is now called the Gardnerian Tradition of Wicca. ...
Wicca is an earth-based spirituality founded by Gerald Gardner back in the early '50s, and on the pre-Christian belief system of European peoples, combined with modern concerns such as environmental issues and social justice. ... There is a connection between the environment and all of the creatures that share the land, sea, and sky with humans There are many spiritual paths to one end, and that Wicca is not the one and only right path to God/Goddess/Truth/etc., nor is it right for everyone. And since Hollywood and many branches of Christianity have completely confused the issue wit...
Wicca does not make such claims, nor does it try to recruit others to share in its beliefs. ... Wicca has long been viewed as satanic and evil. ... Wicca embraces nature and all of its elements. ... Wicca believes in reincarnation, so death is viewed as another beginning. ... Even though Wicca has been a viable religion for centuries, its believers are still viewed as outcasts. ...
In his book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, Scott Cunningham writes "some use Wicca' and Witch' almost interchangeably" (iv). ... Opponents claim that Wicca is a cult or a secret religion. ... These statements stand for all that Wicca is about. ... For these reasons Wicca is not a cult. ... (Wicca...5). ...
The title of the book was Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. ... Demon possession and loss of respect for Christian life happens to most in Wicca. ... The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft. ... About Wicca, Wisconsin State Journal. ... Hate Literature: Wicca & Satanism & the Way Out. ...
