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How does the Wheel of the Year organize Wiccan seasonal festivals?
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Witchcraft
El conjuro or Las brujas (“The Conjuring” or “The Witches”), oil on canvas by Francisco Goya, 1797–98; in the Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid.
The Wheel of the Year is a calendar system used by Wiccans to organize eight seasonal festivals, known as sabbats, which reflect their perception of Wicca as a nature-based religion. These festivals are largely inspired by traditional celebrations from British and Irish history and are synchronized with the Earth's seasonal cycles.1
The eight sabbats are organized as follows:
- Yule (winter solstice): December 21 or 221
- Imbolc: February 1 or 21
- Ostara (vernal equinox): March 19 or 201
- Beltane: April 30 or May 11
- Litha (summer solstice): June 20 or 211
- Lughnasadh: August 11
- Mabon (autumnal equinox): September 22 or 231
- Samhain: October 311
In the Southern Hemisphere, many practitioners adjust these dates to ensure the festivals align appropriately with their local seasonal changes.1