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| Home > Holidays | Search |
| Pagan Holidays |
Unfortunately, almost all of the holiday material we have on this web site is related to the holidays of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year (Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnasadh, and Mabon). Non-Wiccan Pagan religions generally have a completely different (and often more complex) set of festivals and holidays. We would love to have material on the holidays of the many non-Wiccan Neo-Pagan religions, but we can't make such material available unless someone writes it for us. You will, however, find links to information showing the complexity of some non-Wiccan holiday systems in the Recon section of our web site. The main thing to remember is that not all Neo-Pagans celebrate the holidays of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year.
- A Non-Wiccan Wheel of the Year
The wheel of the year isn't the same for everybody. Narrowing it down to Ireland, there were four big fire festivals. Everybody knows them Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnassa. Of course, spelling will vary. Wicca has introduced the equinoxes, solstices and a few holidays from other parts of the world into the wheel of the year. Yule is from my perspective the most popular addition. Wicca is a wonderful, beautiful religion, but I am coming from a different perspective.
Samhain
- Samhain, or Hallows, is the Celtic New Year. It's one of the great sabbats, opposite Beltane in the Wheel of the Year.
- All Hallow's Eve: An article by Mike Nichols
- A Cymro-Norse Samhain Ritual
- Ghosts: A poem by James McEuen
- Halloween: The Past in the Present: An article by Elspeth Sapphire
- The Origins of Halloween by Rowan Moonstone
- Samhain: A poem by Elspeth Sapphire
- Samhain: A Lesson Outline for Pagan Children by Elspeth Sapphire
- Samhain Chant
- Samhain Moon: Poetry and recipes by Black Feather
- Samhain Night: A story by Elspeth Sapphire
- Samhain Recipes
- A Samhain Ritual
- Samhain Ritual for a Small Circle
- Samhain on The Witches' Voice
- Traditional Wiccan Samhain Ritual
- Samhain Online Ritual Log: The Cauldron's 1998 online ritual
If you have Fundamentalist Christians beating on your door, shouting that you are worshipping the "God Samhain" with human sacrifices on this day (or if you are a Christian who has heard these claims and wonder if there is any truth to them), you'll probably want to read Isaac Bonewit's award-winning page on "The Real Origins of Halloween". Yule
- Yule, mundanely known as the Winter Solstice, celebrates the death and rebirth of the Sun.
- Christmas and Yule Customs: An article by Rick Hayward
- Coven Yule Ritual: A ritual by Julia Phillips
- Yule: An article by Mike Nichols
- Yule Morning: An article by Elspeth Sapphire
- Yule Poem: For Yule 2000 by Elspeth Sapphire
Imbolc
- Imbolc, also known as Candlemas, celebrates the return of light.
- Brighid Lore for Imbolc: An article by Doreen Motheral
- Candlemas: An article by Mike Nichols
- Handfasting of the Lord and Lady: An Imbolc Poem by Terri Roessler
Ostara
- Ostara, also known as Lady Day or the Spring Equinox, celebrates the return of live to the world and the victory of light over darkness.
- Lady Day: An article by Mike Nichols
- Ostara Online Ritual Log: The Grove's 1997 online ritual
- Ostara Online Ritual Log: The Cauldron's 1998 online ritual
- Ostara Online Ritual Log: The Cauldron's 1999 online ritual
- Lady Day: An article by Mike Nichols
Beltane
- Beltane, also known as May Day, is one of the two great sabbats, opposite Samhain in the Wheel of the Year.
- May Day: An article by Mike Nichols
- Beltane Online Ritual Log: The Cauldron's 1999 online ritual
- Beltane Online Ritual Log: The Cauldron's 2003 online ritual
- May Day: An article by Mike Nichols
Midsummer
- Midsummer, also known as the Summer Solstice, is a celebration of the Sun's light on the longest day of the year.
- Midsummer: An article by Mike Nichols
- Litha Ritual: A solitary ritual by Moonsongstress
- Midsummer Online Ritual Log: The Cauldron's 1998 online ritual
Lughnasadh
- Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, is a feast to celebrate the first harvest and to commemorate the
funeral games of the Irish sun-god Lugh.
- Lammas: An article by Mike Nichols
- Lammas Incense and Philtres
- Lammas Oils and Perfumes
- Lughnasadh Online Ritual Log: The Cauldron's 1998 online ritual
- Lughnasadh Online Ritual Log: The Cauldron's 1999 online ritual
Mabon
- Mabon, also known as Harvest Home or the Fall Equinox, is a minor harvest festival.
- Harvest Home: An article by Mike Nichols
