What is a Sabbat?

Introduction to Sabbats/Wheel of the Year

The word “Sabbat” comes from the Greek word “sabatu” meaning “to rest.” The Pagan Sabbats have been observed for more than 12,000 years by various traditions. The 8 Sabbats are a combination of Norse, Celtic, Teutonic, Roman and Greek paths. Most of the names of the individual Sabbats derive from historical Celtic and Germanic pagan festivals, but some non-traditional names such as Litha and Mabon, became popular in North American Wicca and were introduced by Aidan Kelly in the 1970’s.

The original festivals marked the seasons of the year for planting, tending and harvesting. They also mark the turning of the Wheel of the Year and each turn honors the stage in the life cycle of the God and Goddess. The God goes through birth, death, and rebirth, while the Goddess goes through the cycle of Maiden, Mother, Crone. The most common narrative of this cycle is that the God is born from the Goddess (mother aspect) at Yule, grows in power at Ostara (along with Goddess who has now returned to her maiden aspect), courts and impregnates the Goddess at Beltane, wanes in power at Lughnasadh, passes into the underworld at Samhain (Goddess in Crone aspect) and then is once again born at Yule.


The Sabbats are broken down into two groups, the fire festivals (greater Sabbats) and the quarter days (lesser Sabbats).  Greater Sabbats have feminine energy and characteristics.  They are "fixed calendar dates and align with the cycle and seasons of the earth".*  Lesser Sabbats mark a Solstice or Equinox and exact dates vary from year to year. Lesser Sabbats have masculine energy and characteristics and" typically match the passage of the sun through the heavens".*

The Greater Sabbats/ Fire Festivals are:
Samhain
Imbolc
Beltane
Lughnasadh

The Lesser Sabbats / Cross- Quarter Days are:
Yule (Winter Soltice, when the sun enters Capricorn)
Ostara (Spring Equinox, when the sun enters Aries)
Litha (Summer Soltice, when the sun enters Cancer)
Mabon (Autumn Equinox, when the sun enters Libra)

Each Sabbat’s opposite festival falls directly across from it on the wheel (approx. 6 months apart). Yule begins the waxing year and across from it Litha begins the waning year. Both Ostara and Mabon are days of balance but one moves towards darkness while the other moves towards light.

Source: *Wicca: A Year & A Day 366 Days Of Spiritual Practice In The Craft Of The Wise,  By Timothy Roderick



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