The Wiccan Wheel of the Year is a cycle of eight festivals or sabbats that are celebrated by Wiccans and some other modern Pagan traditions. These festivals mark the changing seasons and honor the cycles of nature and the divine. In 2023, the Wiccan Wheel of the Year will follow its usual pattern, with the dates of the festivals aligning with the solstices, equinoxes, and points between them. The year will begin with Imbolc on February 2nd, which celebrates the first signs of spring and the increasing light of the sun. It is a time to honor the goddess Brigid and welcome the coming season of growth and renewal. **Imbolc represents the awakening of nature after the dark and cold winter months.
Pagan Wheel of the Year
The Wheel of the Year is a bible (sort of literally) for all pagans, Wiccans, and witches. The ancient symbol depicts the eight festivals observed by these religions. These celebration days, known as Sabbats, follow a seasonal calendar and are split into four solar festivals (known as the Lesser Sabbats) and four seasonal festivals (known as the Greater Sabbats) set in between them.
The exact date of both solstices and equinoxes shifts between 19 th -24 th of their respective months each year as they’re tied into the astrological moment of changes in the sun and moon. This means there is a celebration almost every six weeks so there is always something exciting coming up soon. Here is the history, dates, and celebration ideas for the 23/24 Wheel of the Year:
1. Yule (Thursday 21 st December 2023)
What it symbolises The first of the Lesser Sabbats; the Wiccan goddess (as the Mother) gives birth to the Wiccan god during the long night of the winter solstice. Wider pagans will celebrate the soon to be longer days and the return of the sun. Pagans will set their intentions for the year ahead, much like new year’s resolutions.
How to celebrate Decorate a tree and make wreaths. Burn a Yule log to protect your home and bring good luck for the year to come. Welcome the warmth of the sun with friends and family. Head down to Brighton for the Burning of the Clocks event.
2. Imbolc (Thursday 1 st – Friday 2 nd February 2024)
What it symbolises Imbolc is a traditional holiday for Wiccan and witch initiations and rededication among covens. Its roots can be found in Celtic traditions and is in kin with a welcoming of spring and the fertility of the season.
How to celebrate Leave offerings tied to small spring trees. Plant seeds with your Yule intentions in mind to help them grow. Make a straw doll or cross to bring blessings to your home.
3. Ostara (Tuesday 19 th March 2024)
What it symbolises Ostara is the spring equinox and is a holiday of abundance. Sound familiar? It’s the roots of the word Easter. For Wiccans and other witches, this is when the goddess has evolved to her Maiden aspect and the god has become a young man. The fertility of the year is growing with lambs, hares, and eggs becoming the focused imagery of this Sabbat.
How to celebrate Enjoy a huge feast and celebrate with a party. Make a flower crown from spring flowers. Take a walk through a local forest. Cook recipes with eggs.
4. Beltane (Wednesday 1 st May 2024)
What it symbolises Ah Beltane! Mostly known for the huge bonfires, partying, and raunchy behaviour (think films like The Wicker Man and Midsommar). For Wiccans, however, this is actually when the god and goddess come together with an emphasis on romance and love. This day is also considered a time when the veil between life and death is the thinnest (like Samhain).
How to celebrate Light a bonfire and party with friends and family. Decorate and dance around a Maypole. Decorate your home in wreaths, flowers and garlands.
5. Litha (Thursday 20 th June 2024)
What it symbolises Litha is a celebration of the longest day of the year, and in Wicca, is when the god is at his full power and celebrates his marriage to the goddess as was promised at Beltane. Pagans give thanks for the year so far and ask for a bountiful harvest.
How to celebrate Eat fresh fruits and pick herbs. Declare love for your significant other. Make a dream pillow to keep away nightmares.
6. Lughnasadh (Thursday 1 st August 2024)
What it symbolises Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-na-sa) is the first harvest festival in the pagan calendar and marks the start of grain harvesting. In Wiccan traditions, Lughnasadh is the start of the god’s power declining.
How to celebrate Try learning a new skill. Bake bread and other yummy goods. Reflect on your intentions from Yule and Imbolc.
7. Mabon (Sunday 22 nd September 2023)
What it symbolises Mabon marks the autumn equinox and the second harvest festival when fruits and vegetables are harvested as well as the start of autumn. This is a second opportunity to give thanks for the harvest and all the good things from this year so far.
How to celebrate Bake or cook with apples. Meditate and reflect. Walk through your local woods. Make a broom to sweep out negative energies.
8. Samhain (Thursday 31 st October 2024)
What it symbolises Samhain, or best known as Halloween, is seen as the Wiccan New Year. It is also the time when the veil between ours and the Otherworld is at its thinnest and when it is easiest to contact spirits from the other side. It is a time to honour ancestors and those who have passed and to ask for guidance. In Wicca tradition this is when the god dies and the goddess is at her full power, awaiting the birth of the god next Yule.
How to celebrate Bake soul cakes for those who have passed. Bob for apples. Carve a turnip lantern. Host a ball or attend one with your coven or friends (dress up required!).
Many places in Scotland and England observe these pagan festivals with street processions, bonfires, and festival markets. Keep an eye on our upcoming events page for details of the events we love best.
**Imbolc represents the awakening of nature after the dark and cold winter months.** Next is Ostara, which falls on the spring equinox around March 20th. This festival celebrates the balance of day and night and the emergence of life in nature.
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The Modern-Day Witch 2023 Wheel of the Year 17-Month Planner
This 17-month planner (August 2022-December 2023) is the perfect place for modern-day witches, Wiccans, and pagans to keep track of everything from daily tasks to key rituals to the sacred holidays and solstices on the Wheel of the Year. It is filled with beautiful line drawings as well as tips on holistic magick, Wiccan lore, holiday recipes, and spells distilled from the bestselling The Good Witch's Guide--from Sabbat Wish Powder to Attract Good Fortune to citrusy poppy Imbolc Cake. The planner also lists the all-important moon phases, as well as major and national holidays. Includes an elastic band and ribbon marker.
It is a time to honor the god and goddess in their youthful aspects and to embrace the energy of growth and new beginnings. **Ostara represents the culmination of spring and the transition into summer.** On May 1st, Beltane is celebrated with fire rituals, dancing, and the honoring of fertility and abundance. This festival marks the start of summer and the peak of the spring season. It is associated with the union of the god and goddess and the blossoming of life in nature. **Beltane represents the height of spring and the onset of summer.** Litha, also known as Midsummer or the summer solstice, is celebrated around June 21st. This festival marks the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer. It is a time to honor the sun god and the power of the sun, as well as to celebrate the abundance of life and the growing of crops. **Litha symbolizes the zenith of summer and the transition into the harvest season.** Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh, is celebrated on August 1st. This festival marks the first harvest and the beginning of the harvest season. It is a time to give thanks for the fruits of the earth and to honor the god Lugh. Lammas is associated with abundance, gratitude, and the transition from summer to autumn. **Lammas represents the start of the harvest season and the waning of summer.** Mabon, which falls on the autumnal equinox around September 20th, is a time to honor the balance of day and night and to express gratitude for the abundance of the harvest season. It is associated with the god in his role as the sacrificed grain, and with the goddess in her role as the guardian of the harvest. **Mabon signifies the end of summer and the transition into autumn.** Samhain, also known as Halloween, is celebrated on October 31st. It is a time to honor the ancestors, remember the dead, and celebrate the turning of the wheel of the year. Samhain is considered a liminal time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is thin, and it is a time for divination and reflection. **Samhain represents the end of autumn and the beginning of winter.** Finally, Yule, also known as the winter solstice, is celebrated around December 21st. This festival marks the longest night of the year and the rebirth of the sun. It is a time to honor the goddess in her role as the mother giving birth to the god, and to celebrate the return of light and the promise of new life. **Yule marks the transition into winter and the return of the light.** Overall, the Wiccan Wheel of the Year in 2023 will follow the traditional cycle of eight festivals, aligning with the changing seasons and celebrating the cycles of nature and the divine. Each sabbat will have its own unique symbolism and rituals, but they are all connected by the overarching theme of honoring and connecting with the cycles of life and the natural world..
Reviews for "Awakening the Light: Wiccan Traditions for Imbolc 2023"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the "Wiccan wheel of the year 2023" book. The content felt repetitive and lacked depth. The author seemed to focus more on sharing basic information about the different Wiccan holidays rather than delving into the deeper meaning behind them. The book also lacked practical exercises or rituals that could help readers connect with the energy of each holiday. Overall, I found it to be a shallow and uninspiring read.
2. Mark - 1 star - I couldn't even finish reading the "Wiccan wheel of the year 2023" book. The author's writing style was dry and monotonous, making it difficult to stay engaged with the material. I was hoping for a more immersive and insightful exploration of the Wiccan holidays, but instead, I found myself bored and uninterested. It felt more like a textbook than a book that was supposed to inspire and inform. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking for a meaningful exploration of the Wiccan wheel of the year.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the "Wiccan wheel of the year 2023" book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The information provided about each holiday was basic and lacked depth. It felt like a rehashed version of what I had already read in other Wiccan books. Additionally, the organization of the book was confusing, making it difficult to follow along with the yearly cycle of celebrations. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and a waste of time.