Wiccan Holidays and Calendar

IMBOLC

The festival of light. It is being celebrated on February 2nd. We Wiccans celebrate the Goddess’ recovery from birthing the God. We celebrate the lengthening of the days. Christians celebrate this day as Candlemas, and it is also known as Groundhog Day. On Imbolc, candles are lit everywhere in the house and left to burn. The colors of this holiday are mainly white and orange. The altar is decorated with a wheel (for the wheel of the year) and flowers, for instance heather or snowdrops. During the ritual, milk and cheese, curry dishes and herbal tees are consumed as well as offered as sacrifices to the Goddess and the God.

OSTARA

Celebrated on May 21st. It is an enthusiastic celebration with music and dancing. The earth begins to awaken. The altar is decorated with the fresh green of nature, for instance with Lily of the Valley. Incense consist of frankincense and myrrh. Sacrifices are milk, milk products and herbal tees, and also wine.

BELTANE

Celebrated on May 1st. Beltane is the most important holiday for Wiccans. Everything is fertile, the earth thrives. The sun god has matured into a man and desires the Goddess. They fall in love, and she is pregnant with his child. Wiccans celebrate the fertility of the Goddess and that she became a mother while being a virgin. The festival is very frisky. The altar is decorated with colorful petals, spring flowers and ribbons. The green denotes the Goddess, for the God we erect a small May tree. The incense consists of frankincense, rose and lilac. The sacrifices are cherries, milk products, strawberries and wine. During Beltane, the participants sing and dance around a big fire which is built in a protective circle.

LITHA

The summer solstice on June 21st is the highlight of the year. Everywhere, the earth shows the fertility given by the God and Goddess. The earth shares her plenty with us – desires which are brought forth during Litha are most often granted. The incense consists of frankincense, lemon, rose and lavender. The altar is decorated with summer flowers and fruit (which is also sacrificed). The colors of this holiday are yellow and orange. There is usually also a sword on the altar and a mirror to catch the sun, or rather the flames of sun. On this day, domestic animals and the family can be blessed and protected in a circle.

LUGNASAD

On August 1st Wiccans celebrate Lugnasad. The farmers begin the harvest of the grain which was sown in the spring. The God slowly loses its power, the sun becomes weaker. The altar is decorated with corn puppets, braided willow wreaths and stalks of grain. Sunflowers round the whole thing up. Incense consists of sandalwood, rose and aloe. The colors are red and orange. Sacrifices are rice, bread with wheat kernels and berries and apple wine. During the ritual we throw bread crumbs into the fire and throw grain kernel at statues of the Goddess. Lugnasad is a festival of thanksgiving for the fertile soil in which a good harvest has grown.

MABON

Mabon is celebrated on September 23rd, it is the fall equinox. The God prepares to die, to begin a journey into the Unseen. Fall is clearly present. The trees begin to lose their leaves. We celebrate this holiday once more with the fruits given by the fall. The altar is decorated with acorns, pine cones and colorful leaves. Incense consists of myrrh, sage and pine. The colors are dark red and brown. Sacrifices and dishes are bread and root vegetables, apple wine and fruit juices.

SAMHAIN

Celebrated on October 31st, Halloween. This is the parting from our God, yet knowing that it is only a brief separation as he will be born again from the Goddess at the Winter solstice. We use this day to meditate, honor the dead and let their memories live. The altar is decorated with Pumpkins, Photos of our departed loved ones, fall flowers and nuts. Sacrifices are apples, nuts and cranberry muffins with apple wine or mulled wine. Incense consists of nutmeg, sage or mint. Usually there is also a dark mirror on the altar which allows for contacting the departed. If we have a question for a departed one, we concentrate on the mirror during the ritual, the answer comes the next night in a dream. After the holiday, the leftovers remain behind for the spirits.

JULE

The winter solstice on December 21st stands for the reincarnation of the sun god through the Goddess. The altar is decorated with a white or yellow table cloth; a yellow or white candle should already be present. Incense consists of frankincense, oak or myrrh. We sacrifice bread and wine.