The Eight Sabbats of the Old ReligionThe Old Religion, Wicca, divides the year into eight main high days orSabbats. Four of these are associated directly with the two equinoxesand the two solstices. The other four fall at dates inbetween thesepoints.In the Celtic Tradition,  the year begins at SAMHAIN, or as it iscalled now, Halloween. This is the night that the veil between theworld of men and spirits is considered to be the thinnest,  so it isof little wonder that people should think of it as a night that allsorts of things roam about. It is New Year to the Celtics and a timeto try and peek a little into the time ahead or to see if it ispossible to view the future with Divination. Divination is done inmany forms but all seek to establish a look ahead, whether the answerappears good or bad. SAMHAIN is also considered to start the reign ofthe GOD or the dark time of the Year when the Sun goes lower each dayand begins to weaken.YULE- December 21 is called YULE. It is the time of the WinterSolstice,  the shortest day of the year.From this day forward the sun again begins to grow in strength andrise to new heights each day. It is a time of celebration and giftgiving. At each of the Sabbats a number of Covens will meet and thosethat practice solitary may come to celebrate in the festivities.Families come together traditionally to these festivals. At Yule thecelebration is in honor of the Sun being reborn and its start to warmthe Earth and drive the Winter from the land. In the early days theLORD of the HUNT,  or the HORNED GOD of  the HUNT,  was most importantfor survival in Winter since hunting was the means of survivalpracticed. The Horned God is in no way to be confused with the DEVIL.Wicca does not consider the Devil to be an entity but believes thatall good and evil are contained in each individual and it is up tothat individual to be as good or as bad as they deem.MAN is man, bothgood and bad.CANDLEMAS or BRIGIDDAY- February 2nd is celebrated as Candlemas. Thisis a festival of lights. This date is approximately half way betweenYULE and SPRING. BRIGID was the Celtic Goddess ofFire, Smithcraft, Healing and Wells and this was her day. Candlemas isconsidered in some traditions as the marker point where the MotherGoddess,  the Great Earth Mother marks the path for the Sun God tofind her in the dark times. It is a time when the first rush ofSpring may be felt in the air and the warmth of the Sun growsstronger.SPRING EQUINOX- March 21 is the festival of Spring and the return tothe land of life after the dead of Winter. It is a celebration of thereturn of growth and green things to the land. This festival isusually considered to be a sharing oflove between the GOD and GODDESS,  a period of equality,  a balancebetween the forces of nature and man and woman. If possible thisfestival is done outdoors so the feeling of being close to nature isattained. All around the feeling of Spring may prevail from the newgrass beneath the feet to the sweet clean smell of the air. Thejoining of mankind with nature at this festival is easilyaccomplished with the land renewed all around us.BELTANE-April 30th is the celebration of Beltane. This is one of theold fire festival at which BALEFIRES would be started across thecountry with a new fire that had been started by the Priests andhearths would be rekindled with the fresh flame. In some quartersstock would be driven between two fires , one to each side to purifythe animals(not to mention get rid of pests they might be carrying).It is also considered as the coming together of the God and Goddessin fruitful union to add new life to the crops and hasten theirgrowth.SUMMER SOLSTICE-June 21st is the longest day of the year and marksthe high point reached by the Sun on its yearly journey. It is theheight of Summer and the fields are green with the new crops. Lifeabounds all around us and in every living thing is the feeling ofoneness with nature. It is easy to stand in a woods or a field andfeel the Earth around you while the Sun shines on your face. To hearthe birds in song or to watch the animals teaching their spring bornyoung what they must learn to survive winter is a beautiful feelingof oneness with all beings.LAMMAS- August 2nd is the festival of Lammas which is the firstharvest. The early crops are being brought in and stored for winterwhile the abundance of nature is all around. The corn stands high inthe fields and the days are warm and luxurious. Lammas is the time ofsharing the first harvest and breads that are made from the earlygrains. It is a festival where sharing between all present of theharvest and its bounty forms a closeness or bond. It is a time ofthankfulness to the God and Goddess for their help in the creation ofa full harvest for the winter that lies ahead.FALL EQUINOX-September 21st is the exact opposite of March 21st. Bothof these are times of equal night and equal day. Fall Equinox is areminder that the Sun will now start to grow shorter each day fromthis point on until again at YULE the longest time of darkness willcome again. This is again a time of equalness between the God andGoddess,  the God represented by the Sun,  the Goddess by the Moon.Each representing half of one whole that is fulfilled by theirjoining as one. Fruitfulness of the land being the end result oftheir mutualness,  the bounty of the harvest will be brought in andstored against winter,  and the dArk times. From here the nextfestival is again SAMHAIN and the start of a NEW YEAR.SO THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR TURNS IN THEOLD RELIGIONFor further information about the Old Religion send a self addressedstamped envelope to:CTOCP.O. Box 186Posen, Il. 60469All inquiries with return postage will be answered.