Pagan Holidays

The Wheel of the Year or Pagan seasonal cycle, is divided into eight marked occasions. Four occasions, the main holidays of the Pagan year, derive from Celtic origins, while the other four represent the solar year (i.e. autumn, summer, winter and spring).

Although not all Pagans follow the seasonal cycle, it is still beneficial to at least learn about it and understand the different things about the history of it. Knowing about Pagan holidays gives you the insight to recognize how modern religions have been taken from Pagan tradition.

The beginning of the Celtic New Year, Samhain marks the day of the old God's death, and to signify the mourning of winter. This, according to Celtic tradition, is the Goddess mourning with the season of darkness until Yule, when the God is reborn. 

The Celtic tradition of burning  candles in windows and sitting out treats for the dead eventually metamorphosed into modern Halloween, with trick-or-treating and jack-of-lanterns. 

Also known as the winter solstice or Yuletide, this is the time of year in which the Goddess gives birth the the new God. Although it is commonly believed to be around the time of Christ's birth, this doctrine wasn't added until around 270 C.E. (current era) Long before Christianity, Mithras was born at this time. The Yule season has been associated with divine birth for a very, very long time. 

Yule begins, ordinarily, on December 21st. This is both the darkest, and shortest day of the year. 

Sometimes called Candlemass, Imbolc is the sabbat of the Goddess's preparation for the newborn God. This refers to the Goddess Brigid, or Brid, in Celtic tradition. Modern Irish Catholics celebrate St. Bridget's day on this sabbat -- a Christianized rendition of the Pagan holy day.

Imbolc is a day of fun, innocence and rejoice. Burning of the yule tree and foliage often takes part on this day, the preparations for spring -- around the corner.