The Sabbats

The following is a lsit and small description of the 8 Sabbats. The Sabbats are very important in Wicca. The Sabbats are specila times of the year when the gathering of Witches is about. It is a time to celebrate. It is the time when Witches celebrate the transitions in the seasons.

Candlemas Sabbat: (Alsoknown as Imbolcm Oimlec, and Lady Day) is celbrated annually on February 2nd. Traditional ritual herbs: angelica, basil, bay, benzoin, celandine, heather, myrrh, and all yellow flowers. ALtar decorations traditionally include a crown of thirteen red candles, a sprig of evergreen, a besom or Witches broom to symbolize "sweeping out of the old," a small statue or figurine representing the Triple Goddess in Her aspect of the Maiden. Traditional Sabbat incense: basil, myrrh, and wisteria. Sacred Sabbat gemstones: amethyst, garnet, onyx, turquoise. Sabbat dieties: The Goddess in Her Maiden aspect, Brigid (Celtic goddess of fire. wisdom, poetry, and sacred wells; also a diety associated with prophrecy, divination, and the arts of healing), and Aradia (the daughter of Diana and "founder of Witch cult on Earth"). Candle colors: white, red, pink, brown. The traditional pagan foods of this Sabbat are thsoe that represent growth, such as seeds, (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, etc.), poppyseed breads and cakes, and herbal teas.

Beltane Sabbat: (also known as May Day, Rood Day, Rudemas, and Walpurgisnacht) is celebrated annually on May Eve and/or May 1st. Traditional ritual herbs: alamond, angelica, ash tree, bluebells, cinquefoil, daisy, frankinsence, hawthorn, ivy, lilac, marigold, meadowsweet, primrose, roses, satyrion root, woodruff, and yellow cowlips. Altar decorations traditionally include a small of Maypoll and/or a phallus-shaped candle to symbolize fertility, a daisy chain, springtime wildflowers. Traditional Sabbat incense: frankincense, lilac, and rose. Sacred Sabbat gemstones: emerald, orange carnelian, sapphire, rose quartz. Sabbat dieties: Flora (ROman flower-goddess), the lunar goddess, Diana and Artemis, Pan (the horned greek goat-god of woodlands, fields, shephards, and fertility), Faunus (the Roman equivilant to Pan), and all gods and goddesses who preside over fertility. Candle colors: dark green and all colors of the rainbow spectrum. The traditional Pagan foods of this Sabbat are all red fruits (such as strawberries and cheeries), green herbal salads, red or pink wine punch, and large, round oatmeal or barley cakes known as "Beltane cakes."

Lamas (Also known as Lughnasadh, August Eve, and the First Festival of Harvest) is celebrated annually on August 1. Traditional ritual herbs: acacia flowers, aloes, cornstalks, cyclamen, fenugreek, frankincense, heather, hollyhock, myrtle, oak leaves, sunflower, and wheat. Altar decorations traditionally include corn dollies (small figures fashioned from braided straw) and/or kirn babies (corn cob dolls) to symbol the Mother Goddess of Harvest. Traditional Sabbat incense: aloes, rose, and sandalwood. Sacred Sabbat gemstones: aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx. Sabbat deities: Lugh (a Celtic solar deity worshiped by the ancient Druids), John Barleycorn (the personification of malt liquor), Demeter, Ceres, the Corn Mother, and other goddesses who preside over agriculture. Candle colors: golden yellow, orange, green, light brown. The traditional Pagan foods of this Sabbat are homemade breads (wheat, oat, and especially corn bread), barely cakes, nuts, wild berries, apples, rice, roasted lamb, berry pies, elderberry wine, ale, and meadowsweet tea.

Samhain Sabbat (also known as Halloween, Hallowmas, All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Eve, Festival of the Dead, and Third Festival of Harvest) is celebrated annually on October 31. Traditional ritual herbs: acorns, apples, broom, deadly nightshade, dittany, ferns, flax, fumitory, heather, mandrake, mullein, oak leaves, sage, and straw. Altar decorations traditionally include a jack-o'-lantern, apples, candles in the shapes of Witches, (as well as ghosts, black cats, skulls, etc.), photographs of deceased loved ones, tools of divination, a small statue or figure representing the Triple Goddess in Her aspect of the Crone. Traditional Sabbat incense: apple, heliotrope, mint, nutmeg, and sage. Sacred Sabbat gemstones: all black gemstones, especially jet, obsidian, and onyx. Sabbat deities: the Goddess in Her dark aspect of the Crone, Hecate, (ancient Greek goddess of fertility and moon-magick, and the protectress of all Witches), Morrigan (the Celtic Goddess who presides over death), Cernunnos (Celtic fertility god), and Osiris (an ancient Egyptian deity whose annual death and rebirth personified the self-renewing vitality and fertility of Nature.) Candle colors: black and orange. The traditional Pagan foods of this Sabbat are apples, pumpkin pie, hazelnuts, Cakes for the Dead, corn, cranberry muffins and breads ale, cider, and herbal teas (especially mugwort).

Spring Equinox Sabbat (also known as Vernal Equinox Sabbat, Festival of the Trees, Alban Eilir, Ostara, and Rite of Eostre) is celebrated annually on the first day of Spring. Traditional ritual herbs: acorn, celandine, cinquefoil, crocus, daffodil, dogwood, Easter lily, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, rose, strawberry, tansy, and violets. Altar decorations traditionally include hard- boiled eggs colored and painted with magickal symbols to symbolize fertility, a lucky rabbit's foot amulet, a bowl of green and yellow jellybeans. Sabbat incense: African violet, jasmine, rose, sage, and strawberry. Sacred Sabbat gemstones: amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, red jasper. Sabbat deities: Eostre (Saxon goddess of fertility), Ostara (German goddess of fertility), the Green Goddess, and Lord of the Greenwood. Candle colors: green, yellow, gold, and all pastel shades. The traditional Pagan foods of this Sabbat are hard-boiled eggs, honey cakes, the first fruits of the season, waffles, and milk punch.

Summer Solstice Sabbat (also known as Midsummer, Alban Hefin, and Litha) is celebrated the first day of Summer. Traditional ritual herbs: chamomile, cinquefoil, elder, fennel, hemp, larkspur, lavender, male fern, mugwort, pine, rose, Saint John's wort, wild thyme, wisteria, and verbena. Altar decorations traditionally include summertime flowers, love amulets, seashells, aromatic potpourri, Summer fruits. Traditional Sabbat incense: frankincense, lemon, myrrh, pine, rose, and wisteria. Sacred Sabbat gemstones: all green gemstones, especially emerald and jade. Sabbat deities: Aphrodite, Astarte, Freya, Hathor, Ishtar, Venus, and other goddesses who preside over love, passion, and beauty. Candle colors: blue, green, yellow. The traditional Pagan foods of this Sabbat are fresh vegetables, Summer fruits, pumpernickel bread, ale, and mead.

Autumn Equinox Sabbat (also known as the Fall Sabbat, Alban Elfred, and the Second Festival of Harvest) is celebrated annually on the first day of Fall. Traditional ritual herbs: acorns, asters, benzoin, ferns, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, mums, myrrh, oak leaves, passionflower, pine, rose, sage, Solomon's seal, and thistles. Altar decorations traditionally include acorns, pine cones, autumn leaves, a pomegranate (which symbolizes the goddess Persephone's descent into the Underworld), a small statue or figure representing the Triple Goddess in Her aspect of the Mother. Traditional Sabbat incense: benzoin, myrrh, and sage. Sacred Sabbat deities: The Goddess in her Mother aspect, Persephone (Queen of the Underworld), and Thor (the Lord of Thunder in Norse mythology). Candle colors: orange, dark red, indigo, brown. The traditional Pagan foods of this Sabbat are corn and wheat products, breads, nuts, vegetables, apples, roots (carrots, onions, potatoes, etc.) Cider, and pomegranates.

Winter Solstice Sabbat (also known as Yule, Winter Rite, Midwinter, and Alban Arthan) is celebrated on the first day of Winter. Traditional ritual herbs: bay, bayberry, blessed thistle, cedar, chamomile, evergreen, frankincense, holly, juniper, mistletoe, moss, oak, pinecones, rosemary, and sage. Altar decorations traditionally include mistletoe, holly, a small Yule log, strings of colored lights, Yule/Christmas cards, a candle in the shape of Kriss Kringle (Santa Claus), presents wrapped in colorful holiday paper, a homemade wreath. Traditional Sabbat incense: bayberry, cedar, pine, and rosemary. Sacred Sabbat gemstones: cat's-eye, and ruby. Sabbat deities: Lucina (Roman goddess of lunar mysteries), Frey (Scandinavian god of fertility and deity associated with peace and prosperity), Attis (Phrygian fertility god), Dionysus (Greek god of wine), Woden (the chief Teutonic god), and, of course, Kriss Kringle (the Pagan god of Yule and personification of the Yuletide spirit.) Candle colors: red, green, white, gold, silver. The traditional Pagan foods of this Sabbat are roasted turkey, nuts, fruitcakes, caraway rolls, eggnog, and mulled wine.



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