Samhain (pronounced ‘sow ain’) – 31st October
Samhain is the witch’s new year and the Celtic feast of the dead, which is celebrated on 31st October. This marks the beginning of winter, the season of death and is the time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. Samhain is a good time for divination and for banishing that which we do not wish to carry into the coming year. During rituals a mute feast is left to remember the dead and those we have lost.

Yule – 21st December
Yule or Winter Solstice is a time of celebration when the sun god
is symbolically reborn. It is the shortest day of the year, after which
the nights get shorter and the days longer. This pagan festival predates the christian Christmas; the celebration of the birth of the son of god (spot any similarities?)
It is a time to bring light and joy into the still cold and dark winter
months. Presents are given, Yule logs are burned and the drink of the season is hot mulled wine, cider or ale. Wreaths of holly and ivy are hung on doors and pine or yew trees decorated.

Imbolc – 2nd February
Imbolc (Imolg or Candlemas) is the festival of Brigid, the Celtic fire goddess who keeps the hearth fires burning during the cold dark nights. It is a time to celebrate the returning light and the first stirrings of spring. The lighting of candles is symbolic at this time to mark the return of the sun and the gradually lighter evenings. It is a good time to plan new projects for the coming year.

Spring Equinox – 21st March
Also known as Ostara or Eostre it marks the time when day and night are of equal length and the last signs of winter are giving way to spring. Ostara is a celebration of the great balance of nature, life and fertility. The Spring Equinox is a good time for purification and cleansing – the best time for a detox and a “spring clean” of the home.

Beltane (also known as May Eve) is celebrated on the 30th April
It is a fire festival celebrating the great fertility rite of the god and goddess to bring forth abundance in the coming year. It is also a celebration of human fertility and is a popular time for handfasting. Beltane is the perfect time for love magic and was the time for young lovers and woodland trysts. The traditions of Beltane such as the lighting of Bel fires and music and dancing round maypoles date back many hundreds of years. Cattle would be driven between two fires at this time to ward off evil spirits. The maypole was tied with red and white ribbons representing the male and female.

Summer Solstice (Litha) – 21st June
At midsummer the sun is at its highest point in the sky, it is the longest day and shortest night of the year. A time for celebration and a time to relax and enjoy the warm weather as after this day the nights will begin to get longer again as winter draws closer. Make the most of the fresh fruit and vegetables that are available and eat outdoors if possible. Mead or ale is traditionally drunk at Summer Solstice. Decorate your house or altar with fresh summer flowers.

Lammas (loaf mass)– 31st July
The time of the first harvest which symbolises the sacrifice of the corn king. Traditionally the first corn to be cut would be made into a lammas loaf. This is the time to prepare for the coming winter months. Corn dollies are also symbolic at this time.

Autumn Equinox – 21st September
The nights are increasing and days are getting shorter. At the equinox night and day are of equal length. It is also a harvest festival when traditionally the harvest was gathered in and stored to provide food over the coming winter.