The Wheel of the Year is a calendar that marks the Earth’s natural cycles through eight seasonal sabbats. These festivals, rooted in ancient pagan and earth-based traditions, provide a meaningful way to connect with the rhythms of nature.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the sabbats are adjusted to reflect the reversed seasons, offering practitioners a chance to honor the unique energies of their environment.
The Southern Hemisphere’s Sacred Festivals
| Sabbat | Traditional Date | 2025 Date (AEST) |
|---|---|---|
| Lammas | February 1 | February 4, 6:07 pm |
| Mabon (Autumn Equinox) | March 21 | March 20, 1:06 pm |
| Samhain | April 30-May 1 | May 5, 1:06 pm |
| Yule (Winter Solstice) | June 21 | June 21, 6:51 am |
| Imbolc | August 1 | August 7, 10:14 am |
| Ostara (Spring Equinox) | September 21 | September 22, 10:44 pm |
| Beltane | October 31 | November 8, 8:12 am |
| Litha (Summer Solstice) | December 21 | December 21, 7:20 pm |
Note: Dates and times are based on Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) and may vary slightly depending on your location.
Southern Hemisphere Pagan Wheel of the Year
The Wheel of the Year in Australia 2025
Below is an expanded exploration of each sabbat’s origins and significance, with a focus on their deep spiritual and historical roots. For a full list of important dates for the Wheel of the Year in 2025, explore our Pagan Holiday Calendar.
1. Lammas (February 4, 2025)
- Also Known As: Lughnasadh, August Eve, Feast of Bread
Origins and Significance:
Lammas or Lughnasadh is one of the four Celtic fire festivals, marking the first harvest of the year. Its name derives from the Irish sun god Lugh, a deity of light, skill, and craftsmanship. Lugh is celebrated for his strength and leadership, and this festival honors his sacrifice for the fertility of the land. Traditionally, this sabbat signified the beginning of the harvest season when grains and fruits ripened, ensuring the community’s survival through the coming months.
The word “Lammas” comes from the Old English term hlaf-mas, meaning “loaf mass,” reflecting the custom of baking bread from the first grains of the harvest. This sabbat symbolizes gratitude for abundance, as well as the sacrifices made to ensure future growth and prosperity.
The word “Lughnasadh” originates from the Irish god Lugh, celebrated for his skills and leadership. This sabbat honors the first harvest, symbolizing gratitude for abundance and the sacrifices that support future growth and prosperity.
2. Mabon (March 20, 2025)
- Also Known As: Fall Equinox, Harvest Home, Feast of Avalon
Origins and Significance:
Mabon is named after the Welsh god Mabon ap Modron, a figure associated with youth, light, and harvest. The autumn equinox represents a time of perfect balance, as day and night are equal before the darker half of the year begins. In ancient times, this was the period of the second harvest, when communities gathered to give thanks for the Earth’s bounty and prepared for the colder months ahead.
The festival’s connection to Avalon, the mythical “Isle of Apples,” highlights its focus on gratitude and reflection. Apples, a symbol of life and immortality, were often used in rituals and offerings during this time. Mabon encourages harmony, balance, and appreciation for the gifts of the Earth.
3. Samhain (May 5, 2025)
- Also Known As: Halloween, All Hallows’ Eve, Festival of the Dead
Origins and Significance:
Samhain, pronounced “Sah-win,” is another of the four Celtic fire festivals. It marks the end of the harvest season and the start of winter. The name means “summer’s end” in Old Irish, and the festival is steeped in themes of death, rebirth, and transformation. For the Celts, Samhain was a liminal time when the veil between the living and the spirit world was at its thinnest. This allowed for communication with ancestors and spirits, fostering a deep connection to the cycles of life and death.
Fires were central to Samhain celebrations, symbolizing protection and the banishment of negativity. Offerings of food were left for wandering spirits, and communities gathered to honor their ancestors. This festival remains a time for remembrance, divination, and spiritual reflection.
Samhain is called the Witches’ New Year because it marks the end of one agricultural cycle and the beginning of another, symbolizing death, rebirth, and transformation. It’s a time when the veil between worlds is thinnest, making it ideal for reflection and setting intentions for the year ahead.
4. Yule (June 21, 2025)
- Also Known As: Midwinter, Winter Festival, Alban Arthan
Origins and Significance:
Yule celebrates the winter solstice, the longest night of the year and the rebirth of the sun. The festival has roots in Germanic, Norse, and Celtic traditions. For the Norse, this was a time to honor the sun god Baldur and the goddess Frigg, while the Celts celebrated the return of light through the god reborn as the child of promise.
Evergreens, holly, and mistletoe were central to Yule traditions, symbolizing endurance, life, and renewal. Fires were lit to welcome the sun’s return, and feasts brought communities together to share hope for the coming spring. Yule emphasizes the resilience of life and the cyclical nature of light and dark.
5. Imbolc (August 7, 2025)
- Also Known As: Brigid’s Day, Candlemas, Oimelc
Origins and Significance:
Imbolc is dedicated to Brigid, the Celtic goddess of poetry, healing, fertility, and fire. The name “Imbolc” is thought to mean “in the belly,” referring to the stirrings of new life in the Earth. This sabbat celebrates the first signs of spring, such as blooming flowers and the increasing strength of the sun.
As one of the Celtic fire festivals, Imbolc honors the rekindling of light and warmth. It was also a time for cleansing and purification, preparing both homes and spirits for the year ahead. Brigid’s sacred flame, kept alive by her priestesses, symbolizes inspiration, transformation, and creativity.
6. Ostara (September 22, 2025)
- Also Known As: Eostre, Alban Eilir, Vernal Equinox, Festival of Trees
Origins and Significance:
Ostara celebrates the spring equinox, a time of balance when day and night are equal. The festival is named after the Germanic goddess Eostre, who embodies fertility, dawn, and renewal. Her sacred symbols include the hare and the egg, both representing fertility and new life.
This sabbat focuses on planting seeds—both literally and metaphorically—and embracing growth and potential. It is a time to honor the awakening of the Earth and the balance between light and dark. Ostara encourages practitioners to align with nature’s cycles and welcome abundance into their lives.
7. Beltane (November 8, 2025)
- Also Known As: May Day, Walpurgis Night, Festival of Flora
Origins and Significance:
Beltane is one of the most joyous of the Celtic fire festivals, marking the peak of spring and the beginning of summer. The name “Beltane” means “bright fire” in Old Celtic, referring to the bonfires lit to honor the sun god Belenus. This festival celebrates fertility, creativity, and passion, as well as the union of masculine and feminine energies.
Traditionally, Beltane was a time for blessings, protection rituals, and celebrating the Earth’s abundance. Couples would leap over fires for luck, and communities would dance around the Maypole to honor life’s vibrancy. This sabbat is a celebration of love, life, and connection to nature.
8. Litha (December 21, 2025)
- Also Known As: Midsummer, St. John’s Day, Alban Hefin
Origins and Significance:
Litha celebrates the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and the peak of the sun’s power. This sabbat is rooted in ancient European traditions, including Celtic and Norse solstice celebrations. It honors the sun’s life-giving energy and the abundance of the Earth.
Bonfires were a key part of Litha celebrations, symbolizing the sun’s strength and driving away negative forces. Offerings of herbs and flowers were made to the sun god, and rituals focused on gratitude for growth and vitality. Litha is a time of joy, abundance, and connection to the natural world.
Embracing the Wheel of the Year
The Wheel of the Year provides a meaningful way to align with nature’s rhythms. Each sabbat carries profound lessons about life’s cycles, from growth and abundance to release and renewal. By exploring their origins and significance, you can deepen your connection to these sacred celebrations and honor the Earth’s timeless wisdom.
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