![]() Imbolc is celebrated on or near February 2, a day dedicated to Brighid, the Irish triple Goddess of smith-craft, poetry, and healing. In many traditions, the autumn equinox is a harvest festival.Įvenly spaced between these are the four other festival days. The fall equinox, called Mabon, takes place on or around September 21, again a day of balancing of dark and light. This day of the longest light, June 21, is often celebrated with all-night vigils and bonfires, and it is the crest of the summer and the forerunner of the harvest. ![]() The summer solstice, called Litha, is the inverse of the winter solstice. The spring equinox, which takes place around March 21, is named for the Germanic goddess Ostara and celebrates the balance between the light and the dark. Some Pagans stay up the entire night to greet the returning light, described by some as the birth of the Sun God. The solstice is also the inception of the light that will grow as days lengthen once again. The winter solstice, known as Yule, is celebrated around December 21, the time of year when the nights are longest and the days shortest. This ritual calendar is based on old Anglo-Saxon and Celtic traditions. The eight Wiccan holidays are called sabbats and include the winter and summer solstices, the spring and fall equinoxes, and the four midpoints between them. Nature-oriented and eclectic Pagans often celebrate the Wheel of the Year, a framework of celebrations that comes from Wicca. In this understanding, the wheel turns unendingly, but rather than repeating the same pattern, change is a constant. Because the individual microcosm is connected to the larger macrocosm, Pagans locate their spiritual life not only in the world of nature, but within themselves. Pagans who are focused on nature spirituality attune themselves to the rhythms of the natural world and let the seasons of waxing and waning, birth, growth, death, and renewal reverberate in their lives. Other Pagan holidays honor specific deities or ancestors. ![]() Pagans look to these ancient religions for inspiration, but also adapt their celebrations to the climate and culture in which they currently live. Many holidays are linked to agricultural cycles and originate in pre-Christian religions. ![]() Pagans celebrate a variety of holidays, depending on their tradition. ![]()
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