Wheel Of The Year

The Wheel of the Year marks eight festivals that Pagans, Wiccans, Witches and like celebrate throughout the year. Four Solar Festivals that mark seasonal changes and four Fire Festivals that celebrate the agricultural cycle.

The Wheel is not historical, it is a modern idea, created in the 1950's by Ross Nicholls. Although the Wheel itself is modern the Festivals themselves are not. They would have been celebrated in ancient times, but not all eight of them, by all Pagan traditions. 

Due to Wicca's influence on The Wheel of the Year the Festival names tend to be of Celtic or Germanic origin.

Samhain – Halloween – All Hallows Eve - 31^st Oct/1^st Nov.

Yule - Winter Solstice – 20th/23rd Dec.

Imbolc – Candlemass - 2^nd Feb.

Ostara – Spring Equinox – 19th/22^nd Mar.

Beltane – May Eve - 30^th Apr/1^st May

Litha – Summer Solstice – Midsummers Eve - 19^th/22^nd June

Lammas – Lughnassadh - 31^st Jul/2^nd Aug.

Mabon – Autumn Equinox - 21^st/24^th Sept.