Esbats and Sabbats – The Holy Days of Witchcraft

Each religion has its own days of power, reverence and celebration. Wicca is no different in this regard. The holidays that Wiccans celebrate are known as Sabbats, or the Eight Holy Days. They occur approximately every six weeks and denote the changing of the seasons. The sun, as a representation of the God, is revered on the Sabbath, and the ceremony of a particular holiday is often held at noon. The other type of holy day that is more familiar to most people is Esbat. Esbat is a monthly event that usually coincides with the full moon. It is the night when witches gather to perform ritual and magical work for the coming month.

This article will detail all of these holy days and hopefully shed some light on what witches do throughout the year to honor their Deities.

The esbat
As said before, the Esbat is a ceremony that coincides with the cycles of the moon. Generally, the day on which it is performed is with a full moon, although it is not necessary. The full moon is significant because witches firmly believe that the power of magical workings waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon. When the moon is first quarter or full, it is good to perform rites that draw things to you or increase positive influences in general. When the moon is waning, or waning, it is good for banishing influences that are no longer wanted, or getting rid of negativity. However, when the moon is full, magical workings are at their height, and it is good for almost any rite a witch wishes to perform. The new moon, or dark moon, occurs when the moon is not visible at all. During this time, the rites that are performed are rites of extreme protection or negative magic.

Whichever day esbat is held, it is held in the afternoon or evening. The reason behind this is that these rites are meant to work with the Goddess, represented by the moon.

The actual process of conducting the esbat can be summed up very concisely. The witch or coven will gather in a designated ritual space. There, they will draw a circle and perform rites that will raise their magical and psychic power, and then direct that power towards the desired goal. Since there are so many variables as to what a witch or group of witches may wish to direct their energy at, it is difficult to offer an example of what these rites may entail.

However, one of the things that is a common theme among esbats is that it is a time to connect and communicate with the Deity. This is often done by reciting The Wiccan Rede and The Charge of the Goddess while standing in a circle. Later, time can be devoted to meditation or divination with tarot cards, runes or other means. This is followed by a communion of cakes and wine, where the assembled witches will hold their reunion and catch up on the previous month and make plans for the next. The ritual circle is then opened, leftover cakes and wine are offered to Nature, and the witches will go their separate ways.

The Eight Major Holy Days
There are eight major holidays that Wiccans celebrate:
– Samhain (pronounced sierra-wine Prayed plant)
– Christmas
– Candlemas
– Ostara
– Beltane
– midsummer
-Calls
– and mabon

Each of the Holy Days represents a different change of seasons and a different phase of life. The common representation of these phases is the God, although many practitioners also incorporate an aspect of the Goddess in some way. They are primarily sun festivals, and unlike esbats, the rituals are often performed when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.

Sabbats are usually large gatherings where entire families come together and celebrate with food and drink in addition to religious rites.

samhain
Samhain is probably the most recognizable of all the Wiccan Sabbats. It falls on October 31 and signifies the end of a cycle of the year. While many see it as the start of the next annual cycle, that doesn’t happen until Yule in December.

The main symbolism behind this holiday is death and honoring loved ones who have passed away. It is commonly thought that on this night, the veil between the worlds is thinner and witches take this opportunity to communicate with family and friends who have passed away.

Samhain is also the last harvest festival of the year and the last chance for the coven and their families to come together to share their resources before digging in for winter. The period of time between Samhain and Yule is spent contemplating plans for the coming year and remembering the year that has passed.

Christmas
Yule is generally thought to coincide with the Christian holiday of Christmas. This is not exactly so. Yule actually falls on the day of the winter solstice, which usually falls around December 21.

The meaning of this festival is that of rebirth. This is the day when the days begin to lengthen and the sun is returning. The general depiction of this is Holly King, a Dark God, passing through and being replaced by the Oak King, or Sun God. Although the Saturday that signifies the beginning of the year can vary from one tradition to another, this is the most popular to signify the beginning of the year.

All sabbats represent a phase of life, and Yule falls into the category of fertility. This is a time of conception, where the beginnings of life begin to move. When covens and families gather on this holiday, plans begin to be made for the coming year, as well as preparations for the coming spring.

Candlemas
La Candelaria is also known by the name of Imbolc. It is well and truly the first fertility festival of spring. The specific date on which this day falls varies from one tradition to another, but it can be between January 31 and February 2. Right now, we are beginning to see the first signs of spring and the renewal of life.

Candlemas festivities focus on cleaning out the old and making way for the new. The Maiden aspect of the Goddess is honored at this time, as are any Gods and Goddesses that relate to love and fertility. This holiday is considered an especially auspicious time for a new marriage or relationship.

One of the traditional symbols of Candelaria is the plow. They are often decorated and incorporated into the festivities. Another tradition for the holiday is to create a broom, a simple broom made of twigs or straw, and use it to ritually clean the house. It is then placed near the front, symbolizing sweeping away the old and welcoming in the new.

Ostara
Also called Eostar, this Great Holy Day falls on or near the spring equinox, March 21. This is the second of the three fertility festivals. Spring is coming in full force right now, and planting of the year’s crops is well underway. The new shoots of spring can be seen everywhere, and the gods are asked for luck with the crops and the home.

Two of the traditional symbols of this festivity are the egg and the rabbit. The egg is an emblem of new life and new growth, and is incorporated into many rituals and festivities at this time. The rabbit, known for its prolific mating habits, is also a symbol of growth and abundance. Both also symbolize change. The Christian faith has fully adopted these two symbols in its celebrations that occur almost at the same time.

Beltane
Also known as the First of May, this Holy Day falls on the first of May. It’s the last of the year’s fertility festivals, and with it comes unabashed sexuality for many traditions. The Polo de Mayo is a symbol of this festivity that is found in many traditions. It is a tall pole placed in the ground, which symbolizes the union of the Sun God with the Earth. It is decorated with long ribbons and fresh flowers and of course the maidens traditionally dance around the pole.

One of the traditional May Day activities for this holiday is to secretly leave baskets of flowers and treats on neighbors’ doors.

In general, this is a holiday that celebrates and revels in the return of the sun.

Midsummer
This Holy Day celebrates the God, represented by the sun in all its splendor. It is celebrated on the summer solstice, when the longest day of the year takes place. The summer solstice is neither a fertility festival nor a harvest festival. In this way, it is similar to Yule. On this day, rites often focus on the protection of home and family for the coming year, divination rites, and celebration of the abundance of the Oak King in his prime.

For those who work with the energy of the fairies in their rites, the summer solstice is an ideal time to commune with them. It is a common tradition for witches to go out at twilight and search for fairy people in stands of oak, ash, and hawthorn.

Calls
Another name for this holiday is Lughnassadh. It occurs on August 1 and is the first of three harvest sabbats celebrated by witches. Attention now turns to harvesting the crops and gardens, and preparations for the coming winter begin. The days begin to get shorter, and the Sun God begins to lose the strength of him as the days get shorter.

Since this is the time of year when we begin to reap the bounties of the harvest, it is often a holiday accompanied by festivities and celebrations. Decorations and dolls are often made from dried corn cobs and are used in rituals and for home decoration.

mabon
Mabon is the main harvest festival, counterpoint to Ostara, and occurs on the autumnal equinox. On this day, witches pay homage to the receding daylight and prepare for the coming winter. This holiday symbolizes God in old age and preparing for his imminent death and rebirth.

Although this holiday is a bit more somber than the rest, it is also one where Wiccans are sure to give thanks for what they have received over the past year. It is a popular time of year for witches and heathens to give back to their communities and generally share in their bountiful harvests.