The Wheel of the Year
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The eight festivals of the neopagan Wheel of the Year, the named full moons and simple rituals, showing what is ancient, what is modern and what is disputed.
FestivalThe Wheel of the Year: introductionThe Wheel of the Year is a cycle of eight seasonal festivals popularised in the 20th century. This guide separates what is ancient from what is modern, and suggests simple practices.FestivalSamhain: festival, history and symbolismSamhain is a mid-autumn festival attested in medieval Ireland. Modern practitioners see in it a time to remember the departed and to mark the end of the farming year.FestivalYule: festival, history and symbolismYule was once a Germanic midwinter festival season. In the Wheel of the Year, it is the festival of the longest night and of the gradual return of light.FestivalImbolc: festival, history and symbolismImbolc is an Irish festival of early spring, linked to the milk of ewes and to Brigid. It sits close to the Christian Candlemas of February 2 and, in the wheel, marks the awakening of nature.FestivalOstara: festival, history and symbolismOstara is the name given to the spring equinox in the Wheel of the Year. It comes from an Anglo-Saxon month name recorded by Bede and from a goddess Eostre, known from a single written source.FestivalBeltane: festival, history and symbolismBeltane is the Irish and Scottish festival of the start of the pastoral summer. It is attested from the 10th century for its fires and its herds; the modern wheel celebrates blossoming in it.FestivalLitha: festival, history and symbolismLitha is the modern name for the summer solstice in the wheel of the year. It comes from an Anglo-Saxon month name recorded by Bede; Saint John's bonfires are its popular cousin.FestivalLughnasadh: festival, history and symbolismLughnasadh is an Irish festival at the beginning of August, linked to the first harvest and to the god Lugh. In the wheel of the year, it corresponds to the English Lammas, the bread festival.FestivalMabon: festival, history and symbolismMabon is the modern name for the autumn equinox in the wheel of the year. It was proposed in the 1970s, based on a figure from Welsh folklore, Mabon ap Modron.FestivalSamhain: a simple ritual at homeA ritual of twenty to thirty minutes for Samhain: photographs, a light, a few words for those who are no longer here, and a note about what you leave behind. No risk, no promises.FestivalYule: a simple ritual at homeA vigil of twenty to thirty minutes for the winter solstice: a few minutes of darkness, a light to kindle, a review of the year and an intention for the next one.FestivalImbolc: a simple ritual at homeA thirty-minute moment for Imbolc: a paper Brigid's cross, a few seeds kept warm, a light and a gesture of tidying up. Ideal before Candlemas pancakes.FestivalOstara: a simple ritual at homeA thirty-minute ritual for the March equinox: two bowls for balance, eggs dyed with natural colourings, seeds to sow and a shared meal.FestivalBeltane: a simple ritual at homeA thirty-minute ritual for 1 May: a small crown of safe flowers, a ribbon maypole to turn around, a safe light and three thanks.FestivalLitha: a simple ritual at homeA summer solstice evening in thirty minutes: a sunset, a bouquet of wildflowers, a lantern and a list of what has blossomed since spring.FestivalLughnasadh: a simple ritual at homeA ritual built around homemade bread for early August: kneading, waiting, breaking the loaf together and saying thank you to those who made this meal possible.FestivalMabon: a simple ritual at homeA thirty-minute ritual for the autumn equinox: gathering leaves, setting a table of seasonal fruit, saying three thanks, and choosing what to keep and what to let go.FestivalWolf Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Wolf Moon is the popular name for the January full moon. It comes from North American almanacs, not from astronomy: here are its origin, its legends and what wolves actually do.FestivalSnow Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Snow Moon is the name given to the February full moon in North American almanacs. Origin of the name, rival names, the February with no full moon, Candlemas and simple gestures.FestivalWorm Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Worm Moon is the March full moon in North American almanacs: earthworms or grubs? Origin of the name, rival names, link with Easter and simple gestures.FestivalPink Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Pink Moon is the April full moon. It is not pink: its name comes from a wild North American flower. Origin, rival names, link with Easter and the French “lune rousse”, simple gestures.FestivalFlower Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Flower Moon is the May full moon in the almanacs. Origin of the name, Milk Moon, Beltane, lily of the valley and the Ice Saints, two full moons in May 2026, simple gestures.FestivalStrawberry Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Strawberry Moon is the June full moon. It is not red: its name marks the wild strawberry harvest. Origin, Ojibwe names, the low full moon of the solstice, simple gestures.FestivalBuck Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Buck Moon is the July full moon. Its name refers to the antlers that regrow in summer. Origin, rival names (Hay Moon, Thunder Moon), deer in Europe and simple gestures.FestivalSturgeon Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Sturgeon Moon is the August full moon in North American almanacs. Origin of the name, rival names, the endangered European sturgeon, the August sky and simple gestures.FestivalHarvest Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, in September or October. Definition, late moonrise, origin of the name and mid-autumn festivals.FestivalHunter's Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Hunter's Moon is the full moon that follows the Harvest Moon, most often in October. Origin of the name, link with the blood moon, hunting season and simple gestures.FestivalBeaver Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Beaver Moon is the November full moon. Origin of the name, the fur trade, the European beaver and the Bièvre river, rival names, the November sky and simple gestures.FestivalCold Moon: origin of the name and symbolismThe Cold Moon is the December full moon. Origin of the name, rival names such as the Long Night Moon, the high moon of the winter solstice, Yule, safe candles and simple gestures.FestivalBlue moon: origin of the name and symbolismA blue moon is not blue: it is a rare full moon, named after a 1937 almanac and then a 1946 error. Origin of the expression, two definitions, dates 2026-2034, symbolism.FestivalSolstices and equinoxes: the astronomySolstices and equinoxes explained simply: Earth's tilt, unequal seasons, length of the day, exact dates in 2026 and 2027, ancient festivals and the wheel of the year.FestivalHistory of Wicca and neopaganismWicca is a modern religion born in England in the 20th century. An honest history: Murray, Gardner, Valiente, Nichols, the birth of the eight-festival wheel, and neighbouring neopagan movements.FestivalCeltic festivals and Christian festivalsSamain and All Saints, Imbolc and Candlemas, Lugnasad and Lammas, solstices and Christmas: which links are documented, probable or merely assumed? An honest overview of the medieval sources.FestivalCreating a seasonal altarA seasonal altar is a small corner of the home where, through the year, seasonal objects are arranged. Step-by-step guide, ideas for each season, plants to avoid, candle safety.
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice.