The Witches' Sabbath.
The Witches' Sabbath or the Sabbat are the eight festivals celebrated by Wiccans, Witches, and Neopagans, spaced at approximately even intervals throughout the annual cycle of the Earth's seasons (the “Wheel of the Year”).
Description[]
The Witches' Sabbath are ceremonies that can be considered religious or blasphemous depending on the observer in question. Implemented under cover of darkness in remote and solitary places like a forest, the witches gather around a fire to honor their Master. Bare, sometimes covered with blood or hell-pitch, they dance invoking the spirits so that they realize their pleas. The Sabbath is also an opportunity to make the most important liturgical rituals, just as to start the Grand Rite with the necessary sacrifices. Distinguishable features that are typically contained within a Witches' Sabbat are assembly by foot, beast, or flight, a banquet, dancing and cavorting, and sexual intercourse.
Overview[]
The Sabbat was most often celebrated in isolated places, preferably forests or mountains. Some famous places where these events were said to have been celebrated are Briany, Puy-de-Dôme (France), Blå Jungfrun (Sweden), Blocksberg, Melibäus, the Black Forest, (Germany), the Bald Mountain (Poland), Vaspaku, Zabern, Kopastatö (Hungary), Carignano, Benevento, San Colombano al Lambro (Italy) and more, but it was also said that Stonehenge (England) was a place for Sabbats.
Four of the Sabbats fall on the solstices and equinoxes, and are also known as “quarter days” or “Lesser Sabbats”. The other four fall (approximately) midway between these and are commonly known as “cross-quarter days”, “fire festivals” or “Greater Sabbats”. The quarter days are also referred to as “Sun Sabbats” (as they are based on the astronomical position of the sun), and cross-quarter days are sometimes called “Moon Sabbats”, and may be observed on the full moon closest to the traditional festival date (or the second full moon after the preceding Sun Sabbat). The ritual observances of the full moon within Wicca and other Wiccan-influenced forms of Neopaganism are known as Esbats. Traditionally, the Sabbats are times of celebration, while “magical work” is done at the Esbats.
Sabats[]
- Samhain (aka Sowyn or Hallows or the Festival of the Dead): a Greater Sabbat, October 31.
- Yule (aka Midwinter, the Winter Solstice): a Lesser Sabbat, December 21.
- Imbolc (aka Candlemas, Oimelc or Brigit): a Greater Sabbat, January 31.
- Ostara (aka Lady Day, the Spring or Vernal Equinox): a Lesser Sabbat, March 21.
- Beltane (aka May Eve): a Greater Sabbat, April 30.
- Litha (aka Midsummer, the Summer Solstice): a Lesser Sabbat, June 22.
- Lughnasadh (aka Lammas or Lunasa): a Greater Sabbat, July 31.
- Mabon (aka Modron or Harvest Home, the Autumn Equinox): a Lesser Sabbat, September 21.