wiccan celebrations – Pagan Roots

Mabon

Date: September 21

Other Names: Autumn Equinox

Goddesses: Modron, Bona Dea, Persephone, Demeter, Ceres, Morgan, Epona, Pamona

Gods: Mabon ap Modron, John Barleycorn, Wicker man, Thoth, Hermes, Hotei, Dionysus, Bacchus

Lammas

Date: August 1

Other Names: Lughnasadh

Goddesses: Dana, Tailltiu, Demeter, Ceres, Seelu, Isis, Luna

Gods: Lugh, John Barleycorn, Lleu, Dagon, Tammuz, Dionysus, Tanu, Taranis

Litha

Date: June 21

Other Names: Summer Solstice, Midsummer, St. John’s Eve

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Astarte, Freya, Hathor, Ishtar, Venus

Gods: Puck, Pan

Beltane

Date: May 1

Other Names: May Day

Goddesses: Flora, Diana, Artemis,

Gods: Pan, The Green Man, Faunus

Ostara

Date: March 21

Other Names: Spring Equinox, Eostra’s Day

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Eostra, Ma-Ku, Lady of the Lake, Minerva, Isis, Rheda, Coatlicue

Gods: Adonis, Ovis, Dylan, Odin, Osiris, Attis, Mithras

Imbolc

Date: February 2

Other Names: Candlemas, Oimelc, Brigid’s Day

Goddesses: Arachne, Arianrhod, Athena, Attar, Brigid, Februa, Gaia, Selene, Vesta

Gods: Braggi, Cupid, Diancecht, Dainichi, Essus, Februus, Pax

Yule

Date: December 21

Other Names: Winter Solstice

Goddesses: Brigid, Isis, Demeter, Gaia, Diana

Samhain

Date: October 31

Other Names: Halloween, New Years, Feast of the Dead, Shadowfest, Martinmas

Goddesses: Hecate, Alcyone, Ereshkigal, Hel, Nepthys, White Lady

Gods: Carneios, Cel, Dagda, Hades, Odin, Osiris, Tuoni

The Esbats are the celebrations of the thirteen full moons in a year, traditionally a time for Wiccans to gather and work magic – compared to the Sabbats which are usually more celebration than magical working. While the Sabbats are fire festivals, the Esbats are also a time for attuning with the energies of the Moon and her cycles. While the phases of the moon are important, the month the full moon falls in can also affect magical workings.