Tales from Burkeland Tale 21
The Wheel of the Year turns as the seasons change and sunlight waxes and wanes, marking Earth’s journey through myths and folklore.
An amalgamation of Celtic, Norse, and Anglo-Saxon mythology, the Wheel of the Year came into use in the mid-twentieth century through Gerald Gardner’s Wiccan coven. Initially, the coven recognized only the cross-quarter days, which take place between the equinoxes and solstices. These four holidays are often called High Holidays. Eventually, Wiccans added the equinoxes and solstices—the quarter days or Low Holidays. Together, the holidays make up the eight Sabbats of the Neo-Pagan year.
The calendar gained popularity in the United States and Britain before spreading to the rest of Europe. Today, it is widely used, though not every tradition accepts it.
I dug into the history of this calendar during worldbuilding research for The Heirs Saga. The Heirs world follows a seasonal calendar with holidays similar to those on the Wheel of the Year.
The Sabbats will feature on my Myths and Magic social media series over the next year, so if you aren’t following yet, hit me up on Instagram or Facebook (or both). For now, here’s a brief explanation of each one.
Samhain
Happy Witchy New Year! The ancient Celts split their year in half—a light half and a dark half. Samhain marked the beginning of the dark half, as well as the start of the new year. It is a spooky holiday connected to the veneration of the dead and the thinning of the borders between the physical world and spiritual planes. It coincides with mainstream Halloween.
Yule
The new year’s sun god is born on Yule, or the winter solstice. From this point forward, days grow longer, symbolizing the sun god’s growing strength until he reaches his zenith at the summer solstice. It also coincides with Christmas.
Imbolc
Closely tied to the Celtic goddess Brigid, Imbolc marks the beginning of spring. It overlaps with the Christian Candlemas, and celebrations often include blessing candles for ritual use.
Ostara
Another festival of new beginnings, Ostara marks the spring equinox. In some myths, it is when the Sun God and Earth Goddess marry and conceive a child. Much of the folklore and symbolism around this holiday focuses on fertility and new life.
Beltane
Beltane marks the transition of spring into summer. It is a wild, crazy fire festival that derives its name from Bel-fire, associated with Belinus, a Celtic god of light. In the Celtic calendar, it began the light half of the year.
In continental Europe and Scandinavia, the holiday is called Walpurgisnacht or Hexennacht. Like its Celtic twin, the continental festival draws on pagan roots, but also blends with Christianity. Its name derives from Walpurga, an eighth century nun who served as a missionary to the Frankish Empire whose canonization day coincides with Hexennacht.
Directly across from Samhain on the wheel, Beltane is another time when the veil between worlds thins. Bonfires ward against evil spirits, the living can contact the dead, and the fae come out to play.
Litha
Opposite Yule on the Wheel, Litha marks the summer solstice. Mythologically, the sun god is at the height of his power, and he will now wane as the seasons turn. It’s a mythical explanation for the shortening days. This festival celebrates the fullness of life before the harvest begins.
Lughnasadh
The first of the harvest festivals, Lughnasadh is tied to the Celtic god Lugh. It celebrates abundance and is a time of thanksgiving.
Mabon
Taking place on the autumnal equinox, Mabon serves as a reminder that abundance may not last. It’s a time of preparation for the coming winter. It’s named after a Celtic deity, Mabon, whose story is part of the Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh mythology. However, the holiday itself is a modern creation. Mabon’s story does not take place in the fall, and there is little to no historical evidence that the Celts celebrated the autumn equinox. Other ancient cultures did celebrate the equinox, however, so claims that the celebration has ancient roots aren’t necessarily false.
Steeped in ancient myth, medieval folklore, and modern reimagining, the Wheel of the Year reminds us that while we experience the same natural cycles generation after generation, the stories we use to explain those cycles always evolve. After all, change is the only constant.
Sources:
The Witches’ Sabbats by Mike Nichols
“The wheel of the year is the wiccan circle of the year” by Dagwolf
“What is the Wheel of the Year?” by Kathleen Mulhern, Ph.D. on Patheos.
“The Origin of the Wheel” on Neo-Paganism: Historical Inspiration & Contemporary Creativity.
Go Deeper Into Burkeland.
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What you missed in this month’s newsletter:
From the Drafts: WIP Quote
Quote of the Month.
Myths and Magic: Mabon: A New Festival for the Autumn Equinox.
From My Shelf: The Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull.