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The Celtic Wheel of the Year
Filed under Celtic WheelOct 7Celtic Wheel of the Year
is based on the traditional agricultural cycle, as well as astronomical events such as the solstices and equinoxes. The Celtic Wheel of the Year has eight spokes, and is based on the following holidays:
Samhain (October 31) -this is also called the Celtic New Year. It signifies the beginning of the dark half of the year. From this, we get the modern holiday of Halloween. Samhain was a day to honor the ancestors and it was believed that the veil between the worlds (of the living and dead) was thinnest at this time. So the souls of the dead, as well as otherworldly creatures such as faeries, were free to roam.
Yule/Winter Solstice (approx. December. 21) -this is the shortest day and longest night of the year. While Samhain initiates the dark half of the year, Yule is the height of it. This also means, however, that the days after this begin to get longer as the light half of the year approaches.
Imbolc (February 1) – this day was originally celebrated in honor of the goddess Brigid. It is a preparation for Spring and a time of purification.
Spring Equinox (approx. March 21)- this is the beginning of Spring. In some European cultures it was a celebration of the goddess Ostara, which later became associated with the Christian holiday, Easter. Spring is a celebration of fertility and the lengthening of the days.
Beltane (May 1) -this is the counterpoint in the year to Samhain. Mayday celebrations continue to this day, and throughout history this day has been dedicated to the exuberance and fertility of this time of year.
Summer Solstice (approx. June 21) -this is the longest day of the year, the counterpoint to the Winter Solstice. In Celtic lands this was a day when faeries were about, and gifts were left for them.
Lughnasa/Lammas -this is a pre-autumnal festival of the harvest. The god Lugh was an Irish Sun god, who was also the master of many skills. He has been associated with Hermes and Mercury.
Autumn Equinox/Mabon -this is the beginning of Autumn, and the next harvest festival as the dark half of the year once again approaches.
As you can see from this, Celtic Wheel of the Year
It should be noted for the purpose of historical accuracy that what has come to be known as the Celtic Wheel of the Year is a combination of ancient tradition and more recent, mostly Wiccan and neo-Pagan reconstruction. The Celts did celebrate many of these festivals, in particular Samhain, Beltane, Lughnasa and Imbolc, but they probably did not conceive of the eight-spoked Wheel as many see it today. There seems to be a natural beauty and symmetry to the Wheel of the Year image, and I don’t see a problem calling it the Celtic Wheel, as it owes so much to that tradition, but it’s worth clarifying that the idea is not a perfect representation of ancient beliefs.
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