IMBOLC
The festival of light. It is being celebrated on February 2nd.
We Wicca’s 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. During rituals, people who
hold the candles form a circle. 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 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 SCHNEEGLOECKCHEN.
Incense consist of frankincense and myrrh. Sacrifices are
milk, milk products and herbal tees, and also wine.
BELTANE
celebrated May 1st. Beltane is the most important holiday for
Wicca’s. 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. The
Wicca’s celebrate the fertility of the Goddess and
that she became a mother while 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 Wicca’s 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 off. Incense consists
of sandalwood, rose and aloe. The colors are red and orange.
Sacrifices are rice, bred with wheat kernels and berries and
apple wine. During the ritual we throw breadcrumbs 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 celebrate 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 bred and root vegetables, apple wine and fruit juices.
SAMHAIN
celebrate 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 ghosts.
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.
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