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Professional Tarot Readings and Tuition |
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A Rough Guide to Pagan Festivals |
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The festivals our pagan ancestors used to celebrate were based on the seasons and the ever-repeating cycle of life and death. The Celtic New Year starts on the 1st November, which also used to be the beginning of winter. Samhain is one of the two most important festivals (the other one is Beltane), as it provides a link with the spiritworld. Yule was the turning point in the Celtic calendar from darkness to light, when the days started to get longer again. At Yule the day is at its shortest. Imbolc is celebrated as the first sign of Spring, when snowdrops suggest the coming of a new growing season.
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Ostara is the official start of Spring, with day and night being of equal length. From now on, daylight lasts longer each day until Litha, the Summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
Beltane celebrates nature’s growth and the creation of new life. It was customary in ancient times to find a partner at Beltane Eve (and have children nine months later!).
Lammas signifies the first harvest of the summer. At Mabon, the second harvest is celebrated and at the same time, nights are getting longer.
The Wheel of the Year starts again with Samhain. When Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe, it replaced the Pagan festivals with its own, but the timings and many customs remained the same.
Today, we have the freedom and choice to remember our ancestor’s festivals and incorporating them into our annual celebrations. And why not have a good time in honour of Mother Nature’s cycle of life and the seasons?
Samhain (Halloween)—31st October / 1st November NEW! Join the dead for a night and have some fun!
Yule (Winter Solstice)—Between 20th—22nd December
Imbolc—2nd February
Ostara (Spring Equinox)—Between 20th—22nd March
Beltane—30th April
Litha (Summer Solstice)—Between 20th—22nd June
Lammas (Midsummer)—1st August
Mabon (Autumn Equinox)—Between 20th—22nd September
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The Wheel of the Year |