THE PAGAN CALENDAR:

Also Known as "The Wheel of the Year"

No religion would be complete without its cycle of annual celebrations.  The Wheel of the Year is similar to the yearly holidays most people celebrate....ours have slightly different names and activities associated with them. The turning of the Wheel is timed with the ancient agricultural cycle.

Samhain.  October 31. Aka "Halloween." The most important of pagan holidays; it's also "the pagan New Year."

Yule.  December 21. Aka "Christmas."  The winter solstice.  Many of our modern Christmas celebrations are rooted in pagan customs.

Imbolc.  February 1 or 2. Aka "Candlemas" or "St. Brigid's Day." Imbolc means "ewe's milk" and celebrates the lambing season.

Ostara. March 21. Aka "Easter." Celebrates the coming of spring; the spring equinox.

Beltane. May 1.  Aka "May Day."  Celebrated by dancing around a maypole and bonfires at night.

Litha. June 21. Aka "Midsummer." Celebrates the summer solstice.

Lughnasadh. August 21. Aka "Lammas."  Celebrates the first harvests of the seasons, the grains and the breads.

Mabon. September 21. Aka "Harvest Home." The second harvest festival (that culminates in Samhain).

In addition, pagans celebrate the Full and New moon with smaller, more private rituals and gatherings.  So, you see, us pagans are kept pretty busy with all this celebrating! It between celebrating, modern pagans juggle home, family, work and whatever hobbies they might have.