#there is also samhain ostara and the summer solstice

[nothwell]

The holiday in Oak King Holly King is the Winter Solstice and the intensity is a ritual duel to the death, if that helps.

It's that time of year to cozy under the blankets while the snow falls, and maybe fall in love.

These take place during various holidays, and the 'holidayness' factor is more intense in some than others.

[irlangelsdiary]

✿ A list of most (if not all) wicca holidays

✮ Lammas (Lughnasadh) – Pagan/Wiccan Aug 1st

Lammas, also known as Loafmas or Lughnasadh, commemorates the harvest of the first grains, primarily for breadmaking. Lughnasadh itself is named after Lugh, a Celtic deity associated with grain. Lammas celebrations include feasting, crafting corn dollies, and participating in games and contests as a way to honor Lugh and the bounty of the season.

✮ Mabon (Fall Equinox) – Pagan/Wiccan Sept 21st

Mabon, celebrated at the fall equinox, marks the transition to the approaching darkness of the coming winter months. Mabon celebrations involve giving thanks for the harvest, making offerings of fruits and vegetables, and performing ceremonies to honor the equinox’s change from the light half of the year to the dark. Decorations made of corn, squash, vines and pumpkins are common.

✮ Samhain (All Hallows Eve) – Pagan/Wiccan Oct 31st

Samhain today marks the end of the harvest, the start of the Pagan/Wiccan New Year, and the honoring of our ancestors and the dead. Samhain celebrations include lighting candles, setting up altars, and modern activities like costume parties, trick-or-treating, and jack-o’-lanterns.

✮ Yule (Winter Solstice) – Pagan/Wiccan Dec 21st

Yule, celebrated at the winter solstice, marks the day on which the “sun is reborn.” Yule celebrations include the burning of the Yule log, kissing under the mistletoe, decorating homes with holly and evergreen branches, and performing rituals to welcome the return of the sun’s warmth and light to the world.

✮Imbolc (Candlemas) – Pagan/Wiccan Feb 2nd

Imbolc heralds the first signs of spring and is dedicated to Brigid, a Celtic goddess of poetry and fire who was later canonized by the Catholic Church. Imbolc celebrations include candlelit processions, the lighting of a hearth fires, and sending blessings to the fields and farm animals.

✮Ostara (Spring Equinox) – Pagan/Wiccan May 21st

Ostara, celebrated at the spring equinox, marks the beginning of the light half of the year and the arrival of spring. Ostara is celebrated by the coloring and decorating of eggs, planting of seeds, and performing rituals that honor the balance of light and dark.

✮Beltane (May Day) – Pagan/Wiccan May 1st

Beltane is a joyful fertility festival that welcomes the height of spring and celebrates the divine feminine and masculine coming together in fruitful union. Beltane celebrations include dancing around the Maypole, wearing wreaths or crowns of flowers, the crowning of a May Queen, and the lighting of bonfires.

Litha/Midsummer (Summer Solstice) – Pagan/Wiccan June 21st

Litha, celebrated at the summer solstice, marks when the sun is at its maximum power and the longest day of the year. Litha celebrations include lighting bonfires, outdoor feasts, and rituals that honor the warmth and light of the sun and the season’s abundance.

[talonabraxas]

Thu, 1 Aug 2024

Also known as Lammas, Lughnasadh is the first of three autumn celebrations in the Wheel of the Year. Lughnasadh is celebrated on August 1, which is in the sign of Leo, when the sun reaches 15 degrees of Leo.

2024 Wheel of the Year (Sabbats)

Pagan Wheel

Feb 2 – IMBOLC (also called Candlemas, Imbolg, and Saint Brigid’s Day) It is midway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. This sabbat reminds us that the light is growing stronger and that the harshness of winter will start to fade. To celebrate the growing light, many Pagans will light candles on this holiday.

Mar 19 – OSTARA /Spring Equinox: light and darkness are in perfect balance on this day. Moving forward, daylight will continue to grow as we head into Spring. It is a time to celebrate balance and the arrival of Spring. It represents new beginnings and the freshness of a new day. What’s past is in the past and past and it’s time to move forward.

May 1 – BELTANE (also known as May Day) (pronounced BELL-tain) This is an exciting and energetic holiday that celebrates sexuality, fertility, and all of the life that comes with Spring. It is a time of great joy and celebration! Feel the creative energy of the Universe. It is a time of renewal and rebirth … a time to grow as a person and reinvent yourself if you so desire.

June 20 – LITHA / Summer Solstice The Sun is at its maximum strength … it is the longest day of the year. This is a season of growth, fruitfulness, abundance, and strength. It’s a great night to perform spells for money, abundance, and financial security … and the strength to do what you need to do to be successful.

June 23 – Midsummer’s Eve: the night before Mid-Summer (June 24). It is considered a night of potent magick. Many Witches will be performing rituals and casting spells on this night. It is also a night when fairies roam the land. If you work with the fairy realm, this is an important night for you!

Aug 1 – LAMMAS (also known as Lughnassadh) the first harvest festival. It celebrates the first grains harvested for baking bread. Celebrate by baking or buying a loaf of bread and sharing it as a celebration.

Sept 22 – MABON / Fall Equinox: the light and darkness are in balance on this day. But it marks the change from the light half of the year to the dark half of the year. Moving forward the darkness will grow longer and the daylight will grow shorter. It is a celebration of the second harvest festival and is celebrated by feasting and visiting with family and friends.

Oct 31 – SAMHAIN (pronounced SAH-win) (as known as Halloween) This is the Witches’ New Year! The veil between worlds is thinnest and the dead are thought to return and visit. It is a night to communicate with the spirits, spirit guides, and ancestors. It is also a night to work with Tarot cards and Crystal Balls!

Samhain is also a time when we come to terms with death and are openly encouraged to let go of our fears of it. It is a time when we acknowledge the hard moments of life that we usually don’t think or talk about. If there are things we need to let go of, Samhain is a good time to release them!

Dec 21 – YULE / Winter Solstice: The real reason that this time of year was celebrated .. before christianity existed. We are halfway through the dark part of the year. The darkness is at its peak…moving forward the light begins to grow stronger and days become longer. You can see why the newly formed cult of christianity, which is what it was at the time, choose this time of year for the birth of christ…the light grows strong and brighter…the Sun is reborn. Yule traditions include burning a Yule log, kissing under mistletoe, and placing an evergreen tree in your home to represent the sustaining of life during the winter.

[lunar-bat]

Witchcraft 101: Wicca & The Wheel of The Year

Paganism - An umbrella term for many nature-based and polytheistic spiritual traditions. Note that not all pagans practice witchcraft. Wicca - A pagan, nature-based religious movement. Wicca blends aspects of witchcraft, nature veneration, and ceremonial magic. It places a strong emphasis on honoring nature and follows a duotheistic belief system often known as the Triple Goddess and Horned God. Wheel of The Year The wheel reflects the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth in the natural world and is central to the rituals, spells, and celebrations of many pagan and witchcraft traditions. The Wheel of the Year is divided into eight significant points, which correspond to the Sabbats or festivals:

Samhain (October 31st): Also known as All Hollow's Eve, marks the beginning of the Wheel of the Year and is associated with the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter. Samhain is a time for honoring ancestors, reflecting on mortality, and recognizing the thinning of the veil between the physical and spirit worlds. Samhain is a time to acknowledge the cyclical nature of life and death and to connect with the spiritual realm. Yule (Winter Solstice, typically around December 21st): Marks the rebirth of the sun, with a focus on light, hope, and renewal during the darkest time of the year. Yule customs include lighting candles or a Yule log, feasting, gift-giving, and spending time with loved ones. It's a significant part of the Wheel of the Year, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the changing seasons. Imbolc (February 1st): Marks the early signs of spring and the gradual return of light and warmth. Imbolc is associated with the Celtic goddess Brigid and is a time for purification, cleaning, and preparing for the coming season's growth. It's often celebrated with rituals, candle lighting, and dedication to Brigid. Imbolc highlights the theme of renewal and the awakening of life after the winter months. Ostara (Spring Equinox, typically around March 21st): Marks the arrival of spring, where day and night are in balance. Ostara is a time for celebrating fertility, new beginnings, and the growth of life. It is often associated with themes of rebirth, renewal, and the awakening of nature. Common customs include egg decorating, planting seeds, and celebrating the return of warmth and longer days. Beltane (May 1st): Celebration of fertility, love, and the union of the goddess and god. Beltane is often observed with rituals, bonfires, Maypole dancing, and other festivities that emphasize the vitality and growth of life in the natural world. Midsummer (Summer Solstice, typically around June 21st): Also known as Litha, marks the longest day of the year when the sun is at its peak. Midsummer is a time for harnessing the sun's energy, celebrating the abundance of nature, and enjoying outdoor festivities. Common customs include lighting bonfires, dancing, and gathering herbs and flowers for magical and medicinal purposes. Lughnasadh (August 1st): Also known as Lammas, marks the first harvest of the year and is associated with the Celtic god Lugh. Lughnasadh is a festival dedicated to expressing gratitude for the Earth's bountiful harvest and agricultural abundance. Traditional practices during this time involve crafting corn dollies, enjoying meals made from freshly harvested crops, and engaging in various games and competitions. Mabon (Autumn Equinox, typically around September 21st): Marks the second harvest and a time of balance when day and night are equal. Mabon is a festival for reflecting on gratitude, giving thanks for the fruits of the Earth, and preparing for the darker months ahead. Common customs include feasting on seasonal foods, making offerings to the land, and creating altars with symbols of the season.

[the-mortuary-witch]

PAGAN AND SATANIC HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

PAGAN:

IMBOLC (CANDLEMAS): (February 1st-2nd) a festival dedicated to the goddess of the New Year (Brigid).

OSTARA (SPRING EQUINOX): (March 19th-23rd) marks the Spring Equinox, which happens on March 19th-23rd. Ostara is a Pagan celebration of the German goddess Ēostre.

BELTANE (MAY EVE): (April 30th-May 1st) the Gaelic May Day festival, marking the beginning of summer. It is traditionally held between April 30th-May 1st, or about midway between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice.

LITHA (SUMMER SOLSTICE/MIDSUMMER): (June 20th) Litha occurs during the Summer Solstice held on June 20th-21st. More commonly referred to as Midsummer's Night, Litha is believed to be a time when faerie folk pass into the human world at Twilight and offer blessings. Litha is a time to celebrate the abundance and beauty of Mother Earth.

LAMMAS (LUGHNASADH): (August 1st) a Pagan holiday and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats during the year. Each sabbat marks a seasonal turning point. The sabbat occurs on August 1st, which is about halfway between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Fall Equinox (Mabon).

MABON (AUTUMN EQUINOX/FALL HARVEST): (September 20th-23rd) represents the height of nature's abundance and usually falls on September 20th-23rd. It is seen as the height of the harvest season and is a time to celebrate nature's bounty. Many also celebrate the balance in nature during Mabon.

SAMHAIN (ALL HALLOWS/FINAL HARVEST): (October 31st-November 1st) a festival dedicated to the dead and a celebration of the New Year.

YULE (WINTER SOLSTICE/MIDWINTER): (December 21st-25th) a Winter Solstice festival. The longest night of the year followed by the sun's "rebirth" and lengthening of days. In most traditions, Yule is celebrated as the rebirth of the Great God, who is viewed as the newborn solstice sun. Some Pagans consider Yule to be the beginning of the New Year

SATANIC:

LUPERCALIA: (February 15th) celebration of bodily autonomy, sexual liberation, and reproduction. Based on the Roman festival of the same name, Lupercalia falls on February 15. In keeping with the ancient tradition, February 13th and 14th are observed as feast days leading up to the actual holiday. What we are translating this to in TST is a "hail yourself" day. This idea offers a parallel to the "others-centered" traditions of Sol Invictus.

HEXENNACHT: (April 30th) occasion honoring those who fell victim to superstition and pseudoscience, whether by. In Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust: a Tragedy (1808), Mephisto and Faust attend the Walpurgisnacht revelry atop Mount Brocken. TST's Hexenacht is a solemn holiday to honor those who were victimized by superstition.

UNVEILING DAY: (July 25th) celebration of religious plurality and shedding archaic superstition. A centerpiece of our religious movement and icon of modern Satanism, the Baphomet with Children statue was commissioned by The Satanic Temple in 2014 and created by Mark Porter with "respect for diversity and religious minorities" in mind. On July 25, 2015, The Satanic Temple unveiled Baphomet to a large crowd of devotees in Detroit, signaling the beginning of the new Satanic era. We observe this milestone in Satanic history by celebrating Unveiling Day.

DEVILS NIGHT (MISCHIEF NIGHT): (October 30th-November 4th) an informal holiday on which children, teenagers and adults engage in jokes, pranks, vandalism, or parties. It is known by a variety of names including Devils Night, Gate Night, Goosey Night, Moving Night, Cabbage Night, Mystery Night and Mat Night.

HALLOWEEN: (October 31st) holiday to celebrate indulgence and embrace the darkness and its aesthetic. Halloween is consistently described as evil, demonic, and satanic by those steeped in religious dogma. Costumes, candy, and facing fears are to be embraced.

SOL INVICTUS: (December 25th) a holiday to celebrate indulgence and embracing the darkness and its aesthetic. The cult of Sol existed within Rome since its early days as a republic, and Invictus was an epithet used for Jupiter, Mars, and Apollo (among others). The festival celebrated these Gods and may have also been used to celebrate the winter solstice.

[coven-of-genesis]

Wiccan Holidays

Here are the eight Wiccan holidays, known as Sabbats, along with their meanings and dates:

Samhain (pronounced "sow-in") - October 31st: This is the Wiccan New Year, a time to honor ancestors and loved ones who have passed away. It is also a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is believed to be thinnest, making it easier to communicate with spirits.

Yule - December 21st: The winter solstice marks the longest night of the year and the return of the sun. It is a time of introspection, renewal, and rebirth.

Imbolc (pronounced "im-bulk") - February 2nd: This is a time to celebrate the coming of spring and the awakening of the earth. It is also a time to honor the goddess Brigid, who represents inspiration, creativity, and healing.

Ostara - March 20th: The spring equinox is a time of balance between light and dark, and a time to celebrate new beginnings and growth. It is a time to honor the god and goddess as they prepare to conceive new life.

Beltane - May 1st: This is a celebration of fertility, sexuality, and the coming of summer. It is a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is thin, making it a powerful time for magic.

Litha (pronounced "lith-ah") - June 21st: The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and the height of the sun's power. It is a time to celebrate the abundance of nature and the god's strength.

Lammas - August 1st: This is a time to honor the first harvest and the god's sacrifice, which allows us to have food and sustenance. It is a time to reflect on gratitude and abundance.

Mabon - September 21st: The fall equinox is a time of balance between light and dark, and a time to celebrate the second harvest. It is a time to reflect on the changing seasons and to prepare for the coming of winter.

These holidays are observed by many Wiccans and are a way to connect with the natural cycles of the earth and the divine energies that surround us.

{I myself am not a practicing Wiccan. I am just posting this for educational purposes & to share information to my followers}

[witchin-y-bitchin]

Celebrating the Wheel of the Year with R-SAD

This blog has been long in the making. I wanted to talk a bit about something that affects my life every year, in turn heavily impacting my practice. I apologize in advanced for the length—this one’s a doozy.

First of all, what is R-SAD?

You’re likely familiar with seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, which is a mental health disorder that causes an individual to become intensely depressed during the colder months of the year. This concept is where the phrase “Winter Blues” comes from. However, you may not have heard about its sister disorder, reverse seasonal affective disorder or R-SAD.

R-SAD is exactly what it sounds like: the reverse of traditional seasonal affective disorder in that sufferers of R-SAD experience intense depression during the hotter months of the year. There’s not a lot of research on SAD, and even less on R-SAD. The current theory is that, in relation to how SAD is believed to be caused by a lack of sunlight, R-SAD is caused by too much sunlight.

Living with R-SAD can be difficult. When ever the Summer months roll around I become depressed and unmotivated. Interacting with others and even taking care of myself becomes a chore. This is made worse by the fact that many people don’t understand R-SAD and are often confused when people with R-SAD become more closed off during the seasons in which you are expected to become more sunny (no pun intended).

Quick disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. If any of this is ringing true for you, talk with a mental health professional. I cannot diagnose you, but just know if you do struggle with experiences like these, you are not alone.

Before moving on, let’s review the Wheel of the Year real quick…

It’s hard not to run into the Wheel of the Year in witchy and Pagan spaces. But just in case you need a refresher, the Wheel of the Year is a collection of eight sabbats that originally came from Wicca. Many of the sabbats were inspired by ancient Celtic and Germanic festivals. Although the Wheel of the Year originated with Wicca, it has grown to be a common practice among non-Wiccan witches and Pagans alike. The eight sabbats follow the changing seasons, marking the beginning and middle of each season with celebration. Half of the sabbats are solstices and equinoxes, and the other half fall about mid way between the first four.

The sabbats are Yule (Winter Solstice), Imbolc, Ostara (Vernal Equinox), Beltane, Litha (Summer Solstice), Lughnasadh or Lammas, Mabon (Autumnal Equinox), and Samhain. I will go into a little more detail about each later on.

Traditionally, the sabbats are split in half into the Dark Half of the Year and the Light Half of the Year. The Light Half of the Year is thought to be the time of life, joy, and celebration. The Dark Half of the Year is thought as the time of death, introspection, and rest. Practitioners are thought to make powerful magick during the Light Half of the Year and to recuperate that power during the Dark Half of the Year. However, for those of us struggling with R-SAD, these traditional concepts can be hard to follow. I don’t feel more energized and positive during Spring and especially not Summer. And during Fall and Winter I’m far more excited and interested in my life and my practice. I’d like to share how I have adapted to the Wheel of the Year as someone with R-SAD to show folks that you can change things to make them work better for you.

~

First we’ll cover my favorite part of the year: the Dark Half.

The Dark Half of the Year consists of Mabon, Samhain, Yule, and Imbolc. For me, it is during this time that I feel motivated and optimistic. I’m in a positive mindset and I often find myself inspired to engage more with my practice. Let’s look at how I approach each of these sabbats.

Mabon

Getting to Mabon is a big accomplishment for me. It’s the first dark sabbat which means if I’m here, I got through the most difficult part of the year. That’s why this is the gratitude sabbat. I’m grateful I worked through my difficulties and was able to survive up until this point. This sabbat also holds a major theme of family for me, as I try to reconnect with those I neglected during my months of hardship.

Samhain

Samhain is the holiest day of the year for me. It’s the time when I feel I’m at my witchiest. I am incredibly powerful at this point and I like to focus on magick that connects to the spirits around me, making allies and strengthening pre-existing bonds. Spirit work is the theme of Samhain. In some ways, I celebrate this sabbat most closely to how it is commonly celebrated, as opposed to the others.

Yule

Yule for me is simply about pure celebration. It’s at this point that we’re at the height of Winter and that I personally have feelings of joy and festivity. Because of this Yule is a great time for any forms of positive or attractive magick, especially ones centering on happiness and optimism. I have a lot more energy during the darker periods, so I like to do as much as I can to make up for the lull in my practice during the Spring and Summer.

Imbolc

Imbolc is a bit of a bittersweet time for me. As the last dark sabbat, it’s a reminder to get ready for hard times. For many Imbolc is a symbol of hope that better times are on their way, but for me it’s more about hope that I’ll make it through what’s to come next. Around this time I like to focus on preparing for my mood dip and reminding myself that I can get through whatever it is the warmer months throw my way.

~

Then there’s the Light Half of the Year…

The Light Half of the Year consists of Ostara, Beltane, Litha, and Lammas. Contrary to its title, it is this period of the year during which I am in my “darkest hour.” My mood is low and I struggle to find motivation to do even the simplest of tasks. I may find myself neglecting my practice more and isolating. Here’s a deeper look at what each of these sabbats mean to me.

Ostara

Even though Ostara is, in many ways, “the beginning of the end,” I try my best to look at from a more positive perspective. While most folks look at Ostara as the time to plant seeds for the magick they’re hoping to cultivate during the warmer months, I see it more as an incubation period. Anything that I’ve been working on is put aside for the time being because I know that trying to work on it while my energy is low will only lead to more stress. So my seeds aren’t so much planted on Ostara as they are stratified and saved for later.

Beltane

For me, Beltane is a great time for awareness. Even though my mood is really dipping by this point, nature is just starting to come back to life. Taking some time out of my day to look at the flora and fauna around me to see how they are changing is refreshing. It helps to remind me that life continues, even when it feels like it’s ending. For most, Beltane is THE fertility sabbat, and that theme rings true for me too, but rather than actively participating in fertility I like to look outside and experience the fertility of nature. Beltane is also one of the two sabbats during which the veil between this world and the Otherworld is at its thinnest, so connecting to spirits and ancestors for a much needed pick-me-up is another loved practice of mine.

Litha

Litha is the silver lining in the stormy clouds. Litha was the first sabbat I celebrated as a Pagan, so I have some nostalgic feelings about it. Being Midsummer, Litha is also a reminder that I’m half-way through the difficult times. Just one more half is left to go and I will be back in cooler weather. Magick focusing on gaining power and energy is helpful during this period to help me trudge through the rest of the boiling months.

Lammas

This sabbat has major Nine of Wands energy—it’s the last stretch before better times. At this point I focus my attention on harvesting the last of my energy to push through just a little longer.

~

Cool story, bro, but… so what?

As a Trad Crafter, I am already focused on adapting my practices to the land around me. I enjoy celebrating the Wheel of the Year because of its larger connection to the witchy and Pagan community, but the traditional forms of celebration don’t line up very well with the ecology of where I live, nor do they match the cycle of my power. Working to make the sabbats more appropriate for both where I live and how I feel has helped me to create a much deeper connection with them. Instead of trying to force myself to preform workings at certain times when I feel my worst, I allow myself to forget about how the sabbats “should” be followed.

Having seasonal depression in any form sucks, but in a way it has helped me realize that my practice should be my own. Before I knew about R-SAD, I tried to celebrate the sabbats in the same way as everyone else, even though I felt pretty miserable doing it. After I learned more about how my emotions work in a cycle, I was able to actually enjoy following the Wheel of the Year without it feeling like an impossible chore.

Anyhow, thanks for reading! The liminal space where spirituality and mental health is a hard one to navigate, but it’s something I would love to explore further. If anyone wants to share their own experiences working in this space I’d love to hear about it. Until then…

See ya later! 👋

[coinandcandle]

The Wheel of the Year: A Comprehensive Guide.

The Wheel of the Year is a popular concept in neo-pagan circles and for beginner witches, but how much do you really know about it?

If you're doing research on the Wheel of the Year (WotY) you should know that it is mostly made up by Gerald Gardner and a few others based on a proposed wheel of the year from Jacob Grimm (a mythologist, folklorist, and scholar) in the mid-1800s. The holidays are set on solstices, equinoxes, and at the mid-points of these celestial events throughout the year.

The holidays aren't fake, per se, but some of their names and traditions are, at least in the context of the WoTY.

I urge you to research these holidays in their own original context and learn about their cultural relevance.

A Short History

The WoTY holidays are based on actual holidays, many of them with their original (or close to their original) names such as Samhain, Bealtaine, Lughnasadh, and Imbolc which were celebrated by the Celts, specifically the Irish. The spelling of these holidays varies depending on where they were celebrated.

Lughnasadh is often wrongly conflated with the English holiday Lammas, another name that the Wiccans call the holiday. Lammas, however, is a holiday in its own right just as Lughnasadh is.

Yule was celebrated by Germanic people (and later Anglo-Saxons) and went by the name Old Norse jól or Old English geol. We don't know exactly when it was celebrated but it was eventually assimilated into the Christian holidays and it would be rescheduled to around that time as well after the Christianization of Norway.

Ostara is the name given to the spring equinox, named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre (who is a can of worms in and of herself whether she existed pre-Christianization or not). Ostara is another name coined by Jacob Grimm in his book Teutonic Mythology.

Litha takes place on the summer solstice and is conflated too often with Midsummer, a holiday celebrated widely (though very differently) around the world. The name comes from a book by Bede which describes a 12-month lunisolar Saxon calendar. Aidan Kelly, who named the holiday along with Mabon and Ostara, writes about this in his post "About Naming Ostara, Litha, and Mabon".

Mabon is made up, named after a Welsh god, but the date is that of the Autumnal equinox which was actually celebrated or at least observed by various cultures.

So what now?

No one is saying that you can't celebrate these holidays, but if you're going to do so then it's only respectful to learn about their history and original cultural context. You can add your own traditions to these holidays and incorporate them into your life and into your craft, but keep in mind where they originate and be respectful of their history.

Also, if you don't want to celebrate the Wiccan versions of the holiday, consider calling them by their other/original names; Mabon being the fall or autumnal equinox, Ostara being the spring or vernal equinox, and Litha being the summer solstice.

How do I research them?

Honestly, Wikipedia is a great place to start, it gives you a general idea and a bunch of sources and references at the end of each post. If you're looking for research tips check out my post on witchy research tips!

To my fellow occultists and witches: If you have anything to add to this feel free to comment or reblog with your info.

Edit: If you're looking for an Irish-accurate Wheel of the Year, check out this post by @fiagai-cnuasaitheoir !

[thenightling]

Wiccan Holidays

Wheel of the Wiccan Sacred Holidays and what they equate to.

Note: I'm writing this out for non-Wiccans.

Disclaimer: This is extremely simplified.

Samhain (October 31st) Overlaps with Halloween. This is a time when the veil between worlds is thin and also the Ancient New Year and harvest. Magick is supposed to be strongest at this time of year. It is also a time to honor and respect the dead.

Yule (Jol) Winter Solstice - Equatable to Christmas (in fact Christmas is called Yule in many parts of the world). Longest night of the year. Shortest day of the year. A time for feast and exchanging gifts. A time to remember love, kindness, and charity. This is supposed to be a very magical time of year.

Imbolc (February 1st) Overlaps with Groundhog Day and Candlemas. Also Overlaps with Saint Brgid's Day. Celebrates the slow return of spring.

Ostara - Celebrated at the Spring equinox. Equatable to Easter (including the colored eggs). Celebrates the start of spring. Also a day of balance. Day and night are perfectly even.

Beltane - May 1st. Overlaps with Walpurgisnacht and May Day. Celebrates the approach (or start) of summer. The half-way point to Samhain. The veil between worlds is very thin. Supposedly this is a night when faeries and other supernatural entities can be found to barter with, trade spells and potions, or just have festivals. It's a magical time and spring equivalent to Samhain.

Litha (Summer Solstice) Also called Midsummer Day / Night. In Ancient Greece (Before there were four seasons) there were just Summer and Winter. And this was the half-way point through the Greek summer. This is also the scientific start of summer. Longest day of the year. Shortest night. This is a magical time of year.

Lughnasadh (August 1st) the start of the Gaelic harvest season or Spooky Season (though for Halloween collectors that's actually July 5th). It's a celebration of the return of cooler weather.

Mabon (Autumn equinox). Equatable to Thanksgiving. Day and night are perfectly even. It's a day of balance. And the veil between worlds starts to thin, and magick is on the rise. This will reach its peak at Samhain. Mabon is a time to Feast and give thanks even though it's roughly one month before Canadian Thanksgiving and two months before American Thanksgiving.

[ayyy-imma-ninja]

Just finished the new fairy au drabble

And, even though it’s a small detail that’s only mentioned once, the fact that the fairies celebrate Yule too just makes me super happy

Which also makes me curious, do the fairies celebrate other similar holidays, like the Equinoxes, Summer Solstice, Ostara, etc?

they learned what they know of the holidays from Nan ^w^

and I am sure they do, but for now they celebrate Yule and Samhain. Once I do more research on the other pagan holidays I will have the fairies explore those, too.

[sovaghoul]

Celebrations

There are eight Sabbats, or holidays, in the Wiccan calendar, along with the thirteen Full Moons, of the year, commonly called Esbats.

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Four of the Sabbats are considered Major or Greater Sabbats, also called Fire Festivals. They are Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas. The other four occur at the two Solstices and two Equinoxes of each year, and are considered the Minor or Lesser Sabbats. Sometimes they’re named also, with the most common being Ostara, Midsummer/Litha, Mabon, and Yule. The Wheel of the Year, as the whole of the calendar is sometimes called, is an agricultural calendar, marking the seasons according to observable events, such as the first planting or the first harvest. It also tells the story of the life of the God, conveying how His life stages are connected to these agricultural events.

Each new year is usually considered to have its beginnings at Samhain (or Halloween), as the word Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”) means “summer’s end” in Gaelic, and it is believed by some that the ancient Celts divided the year into only two seasons, Winter and Summer. My theory of why the year begins with darkness, is a matter of honoring the Empty Nothing that is the beginning (and ending) of all things; before a new life is created, the womb in which it will grow is empty, and it then returns to that state after the birth.

The word “equinox” means “equal night,” and indeed at those two points of the year, there are equal hours of both daylight and darkness. “Solstice” means “Sun stands still,” and at those two points, there is the most/least sunlight (Summer/Winter, respectively), so the Sun seems to pause.

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The dates given below are those traditionally observed for the Sabbats in the Northern Hemisphere. However, some choose to figure them according to astrology, celebrating the Major Sabbats at the precise midpoints between the Solstices and Equinoxes, rather than fixed dates. As such, I’ve included those astrological “timestamps” as well.

🎃 Samhain – October 31 or Sun at 15° Scorpio – Beginning of Winter. A time for communion with and honoring the dead. It is believed that the Veil between worlds is thin on this night, and so Spirits and the Fae are more active, and divination will be more successful. The God is the Horned Lord of the Underworld now, rounding up the souls of the departed on the Wild Hunt. Some believe the Goddess also descends at this time, to retrieve the God and guide Him to His rebirth. Usually considered the Wiccan New Year. Sometimes considered the third and final of three harvest festivals, wherein the “harvest” is that of the year’s dead souls by the Lord of the Underworld. Any number of Gods associated with that realm and with death itself are commonly honored at this time, as well as ancestors and other loved ones who have passed on. This Sabbat is also called Halloween, which is a shortening of All Hallows’ Evening, “hallows” meaning essentially “sacred things.” The traditions of costumes, jack o’lanterns, and trick-or-treating are all old Pagan customs.

🎄 Yule – on or about December 21/Sun at 0° Capricorn – Midwinter. Rebirth, the Light returns. Yule comes from a Nordic word, “jul,” meaning “wheel,” and perhaps this refers to the “restart” of the year, the year beginning to turn again with the rebirth of the Sun. The Mother Goddess brings forth Sun God to renew the world. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree was originally a form of sympathetic Magick, reminding the trees to bear fruit in the coming Spring. Caroling door-to-door, or wassailing, and burning a Yule log, are also very old customs. Some see this as the beginning of the Oak King’s rule. Also simply referred to as the Winter Solstice.

🕯 Imbolc – February 2 or Sun at 15° Aquarius – Beginning of Spring. Cleansing, newness, advancement. The word has two possible origins: “oimelc,” meaning “ewe’s milk,” the time when mother sheep nurse their lambs; or “imbolg,” which means “in the belly,” interpreted as a reference to potential not yet realized. Indeed, the God is now realizing His own potential, finding His pure self and tapping into the creative fire. For some, this the Traditional time of Initiations. Others also celebrate the end of the Goddess’ Underworld journey at this time. Sometimes considered the first of three fertility festivals, the fertility of the mind, of ideas, the planning stages. Some choose to specifically honor the Irish Goddess Brighid at this time. Also called February Eve, Candlemas, or the Feast of Torches.

🥚 Spring Equinox – on or about March 21/Sun at 0° Aries – Mid-Spring. Balance, bringing forth the light, beginnings of life and fertility (where most of the symbols of Easter came from; rabbits, eggs, and baby chicks are all older, Pagan fertility symbols). This is a good time for Spring cleaning, physically and spiritually. Sometimes considered the second of three fertility festivals, honoring the new growth of the Earth, of plants and animals emerging again after the Winter. Some choose to specifically honor the Germanic Goddess Ēostre at this time. As this Sabbat is sometimes named fo Her. Also called Ostara, Eostar, or Lady Day. (Years ago, I came up with also calling it Vernalia, as another term for the event is the Vernal Equinox.)

❤ Beltane – May 1 or Sun at 15° Taurus – Bringing in Summer, growth, and celebrating fertility. The Lord and Lady consummate Their love. Dancing the Maypole is a staple celebration, symbolizing this union. The word refers to “bel fires,” an old tradition of building huge fires and driving livestock between them, meant to ensure their fertility. Additionally, people would leap over fires for their own fertility. For some, this is the Traditional time for Handfastings/weddings. Others considered it a day when rules surrounding marriage and commitment (i.e., monogamy) were suspended. Sometimes considered the third and final of three fertility festivals, where fertility is taken more literally, honoring the sacredness of sexuality. Sometimes spelled Beltainne or Bealtane, or referred to as May Day.

☀️ Midsummer – on or about June 21/Sun at 0° Cancer – Shining light, the longest day, merriment and celebration meant for all; even after Christianity became widespread, celebrations of Midsummer were a large event for entire towns with large public events that involved everyone. The God’s highest point of power, and so also the start of His decline. It's common to honor any number of Deities associated with the Sun. Some see this as the beginning of the Holly King’s rule. Also called Litha or the Summer Solstice.

🌾 Lammas – August 1 or Sun at 15° Leo – Beginning of Autumn. Harvest, bounty. The word comes from Gaelic meaning “loaf mass,” recognizing the sacredness and sacrifice of the grain. The Winter months approach and we must prepare for them. Sometimes considered the first of three harvest festivals, the year’s first harvests of grain and other vegetation. By some this Sabbat is also called Lughnassadh ("loo-nah-sah"), and specifically honors the Irish God Lugh, where contests of sport are held in honor of His trials from mythology.

🍁 Fall Equinox – on or about September 21/Sun at 0° Libra – Mid-Autumn. Balance again, but heading into decline instead of increase. The God retreats to the Underworld, a willing sacrifice. But the seed of new life still waits in the harvest stores. Sometimes considered the second of three harvest festivals, specifically when animals are slaughtered and their meat cured and stored for the coming Winter. It is often considered a time of reflection, and banishing what is no longer needed. Also called Mabon. (Since this is the Autumn Equinox, I came up with calling it Autumnus.)

To learn more about folkloric origins and traditions associated with the Sabbats, I invite everyone to check out Witches Sabbats. While not everything there aligns with these specific views, it is all nonetheless interesting information.

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Also important are the Full Moons, or Esbats, of each month. These are times to work Magick, casting spells for healing or prosperity, or doing other works (the Sabbats are generally not appropriate times, as the focus then is to turn the Wheel of the Year and celebrate the season). It is the specific time also to honor the Goddess and to attempt connection with Her, through meditation, channeling, or divination.

Other phases of the Moon can be celebrated as well, if one so chooses:

🌔 Waxing Moon – the phase just before Full. This is a time for spells having to do with growth and gain.

🌖 Waning Moon – the phase just after Full, a time for banishing what we no longer need.

🌑 New (or Dark) Moon – some believe this is a time for the Goddess to rest, as She is hidden by darkness, and therefore no Magick should be performed. Others feel it is a time to do Shadow Work, confronting the most difficult and hidden parts of ourselves.

There are many names for the 13 Full Moons of the year, depending on your culture/Tradition/practice. Some use these names to create a year-long story, similar to the Sabbats, and others take them individually to create unique Full Moon experiences that align to the time of year (so that, say, Full Moon ritual in May would look different from the one in December). Check out the image below for just a sample of the various names.

Next post: Elements

[the-hermit-at-midnight]

The Sabbats and the Wheel of the Year: Celebrating Nature's Rhythms

The Wheel of the Year is a sacred calendar observed by many modern Pagans and Wiccans, which revolves around the changing seasons and the cycles of nature. At the heart of this wheel are the Sabbats, the eight festivals that mark key points in the annual cycle. In this blog, we will delve into the significance of the Sabbats and how they contribute to a deeper connection with nature and the divine.

1. The Wheel of the Year

The Wheel of the Year is a symbolic representation of the Earth's journey around the sun, divided into eight major festivals, equally spaced throughout the year. These festivals are known as Sabbats and are celebrated to honor the changing seasons, the cycles of life, and the elements of nature. The Wheel is divided into two halves: the Light Half and the Dark Half, with four Sabbats in each.

2. The Quarter Days

The Wheel begins with the Quarter Days, which are the solstices and equinoxes:

- **Yule (Winter Solstice)**: Yule, celebrated around December 21st, marks the longest night of the year. It's a time of rebirth and renewal as the days begin to grow longer.

- **Ostara (Spring Equinox)**: Ostara, around March 21st, welcomes the return of spring when day and night are in perfect balance. It's a time for planting seeds and new beginnings.

- **Litha (Summer Solstice)**: Litha, around June 21st, marks the height of summer and the longest day of the year. It's a time of joy and celebration of the sun's power.

- **Mabon (Autumn Equinox)**: Mabon, around September 21st, celebrates the harvest season. It's a time of gratitude and reflection on the fruits of one's labor.

3. The Cross-Quarter Days

The Cross-Quarter Days fall between the Quarter Days:

- **Imbolc**: Celebrated around February 2nd, Imbolc signifies the first signs of spring's return. It's a time to honor the goddess Brigid and the hearth.

- **Beltane**: Around May 1st, Beltane is a fire festival celebrating fertility and the union of the god and goddess. It's a time for maypole dancing and bonfires.

- **Lughnasadh**: Occurring around August 1st, Lughnasadh is the first harvest festival, honoring the Celtic god Lugh. It's a time for games, feasting, and gratitude for the harvest.

- **Samhain**: Celebrated around October 31st, Samhain is the final festival of the year, marking the end of the harvest season. It's also considered the Celtic New Year and a time to honor the ancestors.

4. The Spiritual Significance

The Sabbats are not only a way to celebrate the changing seasons but also to connect with the spiritual aspects of life and death, growth and decay. They remind us of the cyclical nature of existence, encouraging us to live in harmony with the world around us.

The Sabbats and the Wheel of the Year provide a framework for those who follow nature-based spiritual paths to honor the Earth's cycles, connect with the divine, and find meaning in the ebb and flow of life. By celebrating these festivals, individuals can deepen their connection to nature and gain a greater understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things. Whether you're a practicing Pagan or simply curious about these traditions, the Wheel of the Year and its Sabbats offer a beautiful way to celebrate and embrace the ever-changing world around us.

[talonabraxas]

2024 Wheel of the Year (Sabbats) Pagan Wheel

Feb 2 – IMBOLC (also called Candlemas, Imbolg, and Saint Brigid’s Day) It is midway between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. This sabbat reminds us that the light is growing stronger and that the harshness of winter will start to fade. To celebrate the growing light, many Pagans will light candles on this holiday.

Mar 19 – OSTARA /Spring Equinox: light and darkness are in perfect balance on this day. Moving forward, daylight will continue to grow as we head into Spring. It is a time to celebrate balance and the arrival of Spring. It represents new beginnings and the freshness of a new day. What’s past is in the past and past and it’s time to move forward.

May 1 – BELTANE (also known as May Day) (pronounced BELL-tain) This is an exciting and energetic holiday that celebrates sexuality, fertility, and all of the life that comes with Spring. It is a time of great joy and celebration! Feel the creative energy of the Universe. It is a time of renewal and rebirth … a time to grow as a person and reinvent yourself if you so desire.

June 20 – LITHA / Summer Solstice The Sun is at its maximum strength … it is the longest day of the year. This is a season of growth, fruitfulness, abundance, and strength. It’s a great night to perform spells for money, abundance, and financial security … and the strength to do what you need to do to be successful.

June 23 – Midsummer’s Eve: the night before Mid-Summer (June 24). It is considered a night of potent magick. Many Witches will be performing rituals and casting spells on this night. It is also a night when fairies roam the land. If you work with the fairy realm, this is an important night for you!

Aug 1 – LAMMAS (also known as Lughnassadh) the first harvest festival. It celebrates the first grains harvested for baking bread. Celebrate by baking or buying a loaf of bread and sharing it as a celebration.

Sept 22 – MABON / Fall Equinox: the light and darkness are in balance on this day. But it marks the change from the light half of the year to the dark half of the year. Moving forward the darkness will grow longer and the daylight will grow shorter. It is a celebration of the second harvest festival and is celebrated by feasting and visiting with family and friends.

Oct 31 – SAMHAIN (pronounced SAH-win) (as known as Halloween) This is the Witches’ New Year! The veil between worlds is thinnest and the dead are thought to return and visit. It is a night to communicate with the spirits, spirit guides, and ancestors. It is also a night to work with Tarot cards and Crystal Balls!

Samhain is also a time when we come to terms with death and are openly encouraged to let go of our fears of it. It is a time when we acknowledge the hard moments of life that we usually don’t think or talk about. If there are things we need to let go of, Samhain is a good time to release them!

Dec 21 – YULE / Winter Solstice: The real reason that this time of year was celebrated .. before christianity existed. We are halfway through the dark part of the year. The darkness is at its peak…moving forward the light begins to grow stronger and days become longer. You can see why the newly formed cult of christianity, which is what it was at the time, choose this time of year for the birth of christ…the light grows strong and brighter…the Sun is reborn. Yule traditions include burning a Yule log, kissing under mistletoe, and placing an evergreen tree in your home to represent the sustaining of life during the winter.

[greenpanda-basicfakewitch]

Wheel of the Year | Sabbats Page One

Page two -> [In depth of the Wheel of the Year and the Summer/winter solstice and spring autumn equinox]

Just learned [as this is not my circle I'm frequently engaged in, remember whats common knowledge to you guys is new information to me] Sabbat = Origin was jewish and is appropriated and so it's not recocmended to use so others use Wheel of the year.

Why I don't call them Sabbats Blog Post -> Source Why I don't call them Sabbats/Tumblr -> Source *Little similair but goes into more detail about gardner etc. Wheel Of the Year Information -> [Source]

And so Wheel of the Year! Also words that might not be great to use;

Yule: December 19-23

Imbolc: February 1-2

Ostara: March 19-23

Beltane: April 30 – May 1

Litha/Midsummer: June 19-23

Lughnasadh: August 1-2

Mabon: September 20-24

Samhain: October 31 – November 1

And so with the above I am now in the position to pick out the rubbish out of this well, and see if the water is even usable at this point.

Most have stated that this is a hodgepoge luandry with a couple coloured socks in the mix and that others are made up/appropriated bastardized versions. Some are okay to use as long as you source the origins, not to claim it as wicca but state that for example Samhain is Irish descent, Yule or Norse descent etc.

Personally if it was up to me I would just do seasonal [speaking for myself but even when I tried to celebrate all the holidays I couldn't I was exhausted and all the STUFF you needed as a solitary which]

I don't know why it's not just split into the four seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Most you cannot use, but others I've been told not to disregard because celebrating them is whats keeping them alive before they fall to time. As long as you source them and say what is irish/ jewish/ norse and keep them in check you can still celebrate.

[Source] <- this is a tumblr blog post that goes into detail about the wheel of the year there 'are' some issues so I recocmend reading the comments/reblogs.

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[Source]

The 4 lesser Sabbats or quarter holidays are the two solstices and two equinoxes. They have origins in Germanic traditions and include: Yule (winter solstice) - Was told it was a pagan holiday, originally norse so far no ones brought up issues celebrating this one. Ostara (spring equinox) -> [Source] So online some people [and I myself who regurgitated and didn't realise] was told that Christians appropriated the old traditions from pagans/witches to use it into their beliefs they stold christmas from yule/ halloween from samhein and easter from Ostara. The blog touches on the misinformation that Ostara is NOT easter and explains why. Litha (summer solstice) From what I've been told Litha sometimes gets confused with the other one, and and Mabon (fall equinox). -> [Source] This person does just state the info as a fact and doesn't supply a source BUT others have discussed the topics and have backed up their statments so I trust it a little but in case you're like me and disregard information if it feels more like a personal opinion/ over fact.

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Okay this one I may still work on/edit when I get more information together because what I LOVE [sarcasm] about this site is that they are very vague about info and when someone makes a post THEN do they decide to be OH SO HELPFUL and tell me how WRONG I am ah gotta love tumblr.

[fierywitchy]

The Wheel of the Year

[plain text: The Wheel of the Year]

The Wheel of the Year was created by Gerald Gardner, in part based off what was known about ancient Celtic festivals celebrating the year passing, and he named the festivals - some what were known as the names the Celts and Germanic people used for them, some he invented himself. As such, it is a big part of Wicca, but many other witches use it throughout the year (and there are plenty who don't!). The dates listed below (with Gardner's names for the festivals) are for the Northern hemisphere, as the seasons pass oppositely in the Southern hemisphere, they are usually celebrated the other way around.

Samhain (31st October/1st November)

Yule (20-23rd December)(date of the winter solstice varies)

Imbolc/Candlemas (1st February)

Ostara (21st March)(spring equinox)

Beltane (1st May)

Litha (21st June) (summer solstice/midsummer)

Lughnasadh/Lammas (1st August)

Mabon (21st September)(autumnal equinox)

notes: Lughnasadh and Lammas are two separate festivals (historically) that happen on the same date; despite this, many people use the names interchangeably though they are not the same thing. The names Litha, Ostara, and Mabon have no properly verifiable historical basis and most likely have been made up by Gardner.

The two "main" holidays are considered to be Samhain and Beltane, often considered to be the two times when the veil between worlds is at it's thinnest.

Samhain can be linked to Halloween/All Hallows Eve (31st October) and All Saints Day (1st November) as well as Dia de los Muertes (1st/2nd November), reflecting how many cultures viewed it as a time with more spirits/saints/ghosts around. For many, Samhain is considered the "Witches New Year" and is the start of the Wheel of the Year. It marks the beginning of the darker half of the year, as shown in many stories surrounding the Wheel of the Year such as the Goddess and the Green Man, the Oak King and Holly King, and the cycle between the Wiccan Horned God and Triple Goddess.

Beltane happens at the opposite side of the year, and is also called May Day, traditions such as maypole dancing are commonly done at this time of year. It is a spring festival, the beginning of the lighter half of the year, and often associated with fertility and creativity.

Imbolc/Candlemas, also known as St Brighid's Day, is the midpoint between Samhain and Beltane, with Lughnasadh and Lammas being the midpoint between Beltane and Samhain. Imbolc is often associated with the saint Brighid, and happens at the same time as the Christian event Candlemas, although some people call Imbolc Candlemas without following the Christian traditions associated with the holiday. Lughnasadh was originally a festival associated with the Irish sun god, Lugh, and Lammas is originally a Christian holiday also referred to as "loaf mass day", which is where the tradition of baking bread on the 1st August comes from.

The solstices and equinoxes are minor holidays, with the equinoxes being the most minor. Yule is perhaps the most well known of these minor holidays, as Christmas is often referred to as Yuletide, due to the overlap in the Germanic regions and parts of Scandinavia where Yule was most commonly celebrated. Yule is the winter solstice - the time where the days are the shortest, and Litha (aka Midsummer) is the summer solstice - the time when the days are the longest. Ostara and Mabon were less commonly celebrated, hence the need for Gardner to come up with names for these holidays.

This concludes my (not so brief anymore) overview of the Wheel of the Year, my next long written post will likely be my personal usage of the Wheel of the Year and the issues with some of Gardner's names for the holiday (we do not have time to get into the issues with Gardner in general and plenty of people have summed it up a lot better than I can)

[breelandwalker]

Do you know any online calendars one can subscribe to for wheel of the year dates? My sibling is exploring Wicca and I’m having a hard time keeping up with the dates (especially the ones that move around on the “normal” calendar). I just want to say “happy [holiday]” on the right day… if you don’t know of any off the top of your head, no worries. I just couldn’t find anything with a quick google

Good question! I don't know of any in particular (although I bet my followers can suggest some helpful apps), but here are some tips for tracking those WOTY holidays.

You can always check for the seasonal solstices and equinoxes on a regular calendar. These are common enough observations that wall calendars and weather forecasts make note of them. The dates do vary a little bit from year to year, but around the 20th of the relevant month is usually a pretty good bet. Approximate dates are below.

Ostara (Spring Equinox) - March 20-22 Midsummer or Litha (Summer Solstice) - June 20-22 Mabon (Autumn Equinox) - September 20-22 Yule (Winter Solstice) - December 20-22

The other four holidays, based on the Celtic fire festivals still celebrated in parts of the Isles today, are a bit trickier, but thankfully they all line up with either the beginning or end of a particular month.

February 1-2 - Imbolc or Imbolg (shares dates with Candlemas, Groundhog's Day) April 30-May 1 - Beltane or Bealtaine (shares dates with Walpurgisnacht and May Day) August 1 - Lughnasadh or Lammas (Lammas also appears in certain liturgical calendars) October 31 - Samhain (shares the date with Halloween)

If you need to keep track, I try to put out a post every year with the important dates listed.

It's important to note that, much like other holidays, wishing someone a Happy Whatever at least CLOSE to the appropriate date is perfectly acceptable. Honestly, I think your sibling will be thrilled that you're even making the effort to begin with. That's a very kind thing to do and they will appreciate it!

Hope this helps!