Beltane is first mentioned in a glossary attributed toCormac, bishop of Cashel and king of Munster, who was killed in 908. Cormac describes how cattle were driven between two bonfires on Beltane as a magical means of protecting them from disease before they were led into summer pastures—a custom still observed in Irelandin the 19th century. Other festivities included Maypole dances and cutting of green boughs and flowers. Even outside of Wicca, most people are aware of Samhain — otherwise known as the witches’ New Year or, simply, Hallowe’en. The last of the Greater Sabbats tends to fall on the night between October 31st and November 1st. Due to early Wicca's influence on modern paganism and the syncretic adoption of Anglo-Saxon and Celtic motifs, the most commonly used English festival names for the Wheel of the Year tend to be the Celtic ones introduced by Gardner and the mostly Germanic-derived names introduced by Kelly, regardless whether the celebrations are based on those cultures. Harvey, Graham (2000). "1: Celebrating the Seasons". Contemporary Paganism: Listening People, Speaking Earth. NYU Press. pp.6–8. ISBN 0-8147-3549-5.

Starhawk (1979, 1989) The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess. New York, Harper and Row ISBN 0-06-250814-8 pp.193-6 (revised edition) Yule is the modern version of the Old English words ġēol or ġēohol and ġēola or ġēoli, with the former indicating the 12-day festival of “Yule” (later: “Christmastide”) and the latter indicating the month of “Yule”, whereby ǣrra ġēola referred to the period before the Yule festival (December) and æftera ġēola referred to the period after Yule (January). Feasts for saints occur on this day, and cultural festivals are still common to celebrate Midsummer. Vivianne Crowley (1989). Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Age. London: Aquarian Press. pp.162–200. ISBN 9780850307375. Imbolc signifies the gradual return of light and life. Because of this, it's a time to contemplate renewal, and prepare the land for the upcoming agricultural season.

The Wheel of the Year and the Cycle of Seasons

Beltane heralds the arrival of the warmer months and the peak of spring's energy. It's a time of celebration, fertility, and the intertwining of the masculine and feminine energies in nature. What you will see is the consecration of a ritual circle with fire and water; salutations to the four directions, plus their correspondences; the evocation of a deity/spirit; and food at the end of it. The purpose of the ritual will either be seasonal or for a specific reason – for instance a healing or initiation. Who leads the ritual? Pagan clergy are unlicensed: wiccans work on a lineage system, a bit like a minor form of apostolic succession, depending on who initiated them; and other groups tend to take it in turns. Like the winter solstice, the spring equinox tends to shift from year to year. For the past several years, it has consistently fallen on March 20th, though it can be as early as the 19th or as late as the 21st. bhel-(1) “to shine, flash, burn” + Old Irishten“fire,” from PIE*tepnos, related to Latintepidus“warm,” from PIE root*tep-“to be hot.”

You can think of Litha as the climax of the year. A celebration of all the beauty and abundance we have experienced so far, along with the beginnings of preparation for what’s to come. Of all the witch, Wiccan and Pagan holidays, this one is filled with the most light, energy and expansiveness. Scholars argue about how much he knew of the authentic pagan tradition in his area, but his writings are the classical source for the conversion of English pagans to Christianity from 597–681 AD. Starhawk (1979). The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess (1989 reviseded.). New York, New York: Harper and Row. pp. 7–186, 246. ISBN 0-06-250814-8.

Next up, we have Imbolc, which is one of the four cross-quarter festivals we have previously mentioned. The holiday corresponds with the modern Saint Brigid’s Day — which was named after the pagan goddess Brigid. If you’re in the United States, you may celebrate Groundhog Day around the same time too! a b c d e f Drury, Nevill (2009). "The Modern Magical Revival: Esbats and Sabbats". In Pizza, Murphy; Lewis, James R (eds.). Handbook of Contemporary Paganism. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill Publishers. pp.63–67. ISBN 9789004163737. Summer solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year; the sunlight brightens the sky, and we enjoy the long, drawn-out Summer evenings.

Litha is also known as the Midsummer. The sun is at his most powerful, and the heat of Summer still lies ahead of us. But from now on, he will leave the sky a little earlier each day between now and Yule. Crops are in full growth and are close to maturity as we edge near the first harvest. Horns, R. (2014). The Ancient Nature of Midsummer. Retrieved 6 August 2020, from https://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/2014/06/the-ancient-nature-of-midsummer/What is trying to come through you? What wisdom is stirring and rising from your womb? Yule (Winter Solstice) – 20th-23rd December