Religion & Spirituality

Sabbats and Holidays

Pagans and Wiccans around the world celebrate the eight Sabbats, or holidays, as the Wheel of the Year turns. The Sabbats are Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas or Lughnasadh, and Mabon.

2011 Pagan/Wiccan Sabbat Dates
The Pagan and Wiccan holidays are based upon agricultural and astronomical markers, such as solstices, equinoxes and planting/harvest dates. Some of them are the same each year, and others tend to change, based upon the earth's rotation. Do you need dates so you can plan your 2011 Sabbats in advance? Here's our listing of dates for the eight...

The Eight Pagan Sabbats
The eight sabbats form the foundation of many modern Pagan traditions. Let's look at the sabbats that make up the Wheel of the Year.

2013 Pagan/Wiccan Calendar
Trying to plan your holidays in advance? There are a number of celebrations for Pagans and Wiccans throughout 2013. Check here for the dates for upcoming Sabbats in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, as well as full moon dates.

2010 Pagan/Wiccan Calendar
Trying to plan your holidays in advance? There are a number of celebrations for Pagans and Wiccans throughout 2010. Check here for the dates for upcoming Sabbats in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, as well as full moon dates.

2007 Southern Hemisphere Calendar
If you live below the Equator, your holidays will obviously be held at a different time than your Northern neighbors, because Pagan and Wiccan celebrations are based on agricultural events, rather than dates. If you have an upcoming event taking place in the Southern Hemisphere, feel free to email me with your information, and I'll add it to the...

Pagan and Wiccan Festival Etiquette
You're getting ready to attend your first Pagan or Wiccan festival -- that's awesome! Being prepared, though, with some simple "Do"s and "Don't"s, will help you have a much more positive experience. Follow the guidelines for proper festival etiquette, and you'll probably be invited back again next time!

2011 Pagan/Wiccan Calendar
Trying to plan your holidays in advance? There are a number of celebrations for Pagans and Wiccans throughout 2010. Check here for the dates for upcoming Sabbats in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, as well as full moon dates.

Submit a Photo of Your Sabbat Altar!
Do you have your altar all dressed up and pretty for an upcoming Sabbat? Take a photo and send it our way, and it might end up in a photo gallery here at Pagan/Wiccan. Here's how you can submit your photos for inclusion.

How Should Pagans Celebrate Thanksgiving?
A reader is concerned about offending his family - as a Pagan, he opposes the American celebration of Thanksgiving and sees it instead as a symbol of the oppression of Native tribes. How can he keep his family happy, but still stick to his Pagan ideals and philosophies?

Reader Sabbat Altar Photos
Want to see some of the gorgeous sabbat altars that our readers have created? Stop in and visit to check out their photos - and then feel free to send in one of your own!

Do Pagans Celebrate Earth Day?
A reader writes in with a question about Earth Day - what is it, and why does it even matter to Wiccans and Pagans?

2008 Wiccan Calendar
Trying to plan your holidays in advance? There are a number of celebrations throughout the rest of 2008. Check here for the dates for upcoming Sabbats in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, as well as full moon dates.

Can I Make Up My Own Holidays to Celebrate?
Many Pagans and Wiccans don't follow the Wheel of the Year calendar to a T. In fact, some celebrate holidays and observances that are highly personal to them. A reader writes in and asks if this is acceptable.

Celebrating the Sabbats Seasonally
So the calendar says it's time for you to celebrate a harvest Sabbat - but your vegetables and fruit won't be ready for two more weeks! What do you do? Let's look at some ways we can celebrate the Sabbats based upon agricultural markers, rather than actual calendar dates.

2007 Wiccan Calendar
Trying to plan your holidays in advance? There are a number of celebrations throughout the rest of 2007. Check here for the dates for upcoming Sabbats, as well as full moon dates.

Tell Us About Your Non-Traditional Pagan Holiday
Do you have a spiritual celebration that doesn't fit into traditional Pagan teachings? Maybe you celebrate the life of a departed loved one or you honor Earth Day as a sacred event. Plenty of people celebrate holidays other than the eight Sabbats -- tell us about your unique or unusual Pagan celebration!

How to Organize a Pagan Event
Ever wonder why there aren't any good Pagan events near you? Maybe no one's taken the time to put one together! Believe it or not, with a few committed and well-organized volunteers, you can organize a Pagan event that will get the whole community excited. Here's how to to make it happen!

Reader Tips for Organizing a Pagan Event
Have you ever organized or volunteered for a Pagan event? Share your tips with our other readers, and let us know what worked best for you -- and what didn't! See submissions

Pagan Sabbat Cooking
Looking for seasonal recipes and cooking ideas to celebrate the different Pagan sabbats? Be sure to check out our list of Sabbat recipes -- including desserts, main dishes, and more -- for some great ideas!

2012 Pagan/Wiccan Calendar
Trying to plan your holidays in advance? There are a number of celebrations for Pagans and Wiccans throughout 2012. Check here for the dates for upcoming Sabbats in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, as well as full moon dates.

Quarter Days and Cross Quarter Days
In some NeoWiccan and Pagan traditions, only the quarter days or cross-quarter days are celebrated as Sabbats. Learn about the two groups, and which Sabbats are represented.

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