Pagan Holidays!

The following are the yearly Pagan holidays and what they're about. Many will sound familiar and that's because many of the modern holidays were created from Pagan ones. (;^_^)

-- Yule -- (December 21)
The Sabbat celebrated on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. In some traditions it celebrates the birth of the God and in others the coming birth. It's a long time Yuletide pratice to get an Yule tree. It may be a potted tree, which can be later planted in the yard or just and "fake" tree usually made from plastic or aluminum. We then decorate the tree with strings of rosebuds, cinnamon sticks (or most commonly used, popcorn and cranberries). Fruit may be hung from the three also. And some enjoy lighting the Yule log, also.
Note: Most Wiccans don't believe in taking in a real tree, unless it will be later planted. Killing a tree for just mere decoration and then tossing it in the garbage is an huge no-no! o_o I personally use a "fake" tree! ^_^

-- Imbolc -- (February 2)
Pronounced: Im'olk'
The first fertility festival, celebrating the approach of spring and the growth of light in the darkness. It's traditonal, at sunset or just after ritual, to light every lamp in the house-if only for a few moments. Or light candles in each room in honor of the Sun's rebirth.

-- Ostara -- (March 21)
Pronounced: Oh-star-ah
Vernal Equinox, celebrating the equivalence of light and dark and the arrival of Spring. It's traditional to plan a walk (or a ride) through gardens, a park, woodlands, forest and other green places. Other traditions include planting seeds, working on magical gardens and practicing all forms of herb work-magical, medicinal, cosmetic, culinary and artistic.

-- Beltane -- (April 30)
Pronounced: Bell-tane
One of the four major Sabbats celebrated annually by Wiccans and other Neopagans on the evening of April 30th. It is based on an ancient Celtic seasonal day of celebration. It celebrates the marriage of the Goddess and the God, and the passage of the Goddess from Maiden to Mother. Weaving and plaiting are traditional arts at this time of year, for the joining together of two substances to form a third is in the spirit of Beltane.

-- Midsummer -- (June 21)
The Summer Solstice, a minor Sabbat. Midsummer is practically the classic time to perform magics of all kinds. Healings, love magic, and protections are especially suitable.

-- Lughnasadh -- (August 1)
Pronounced: luna-sar
It means, the Games of Lugh was named after the Celtic God of Light, Lugh (or Lug). It's a day chosen to mark the beginning of the harvest. Wheat weaving (the making of corn dollies, etc.) is an appropriate activity for Lughnasadh. Visits to fields, orchards, lakes and wells are also traditional.

-- Mabon -- (September 21)
Pronounced: May-bun
Atumnal Equinox and the second harvest festival, celebrating the equivalence of light and dark, the arrival of Autumn and thanksgiving for the Earth's bounty. A traditional practice is to walk wild places and forest, gathering seed plants and dried plants. Some of these can be used to decorate the home; others saved for future herbal magic.

-- Samhain -- (October 31)
Pronounced: SOW-in, SOW-een, or SAV-awn
The Sabbat celebrated on October 31st. This is the beginning of the Celtic new year, and the time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest. It is a time for remembering the dead and honoring the Crone Goddess. It is traditional to leave a plate of food outside the home for the souls of the dead. A candle placed in the window guides them to the lands of eternal summer, and burying apples in the hard-packed earths "feeds" the passed ones on their journey.