A Calendar of Church and School of Wicca Holidays

    Beltane -- May Day
              Since the Church and School of Wicca has been in operation, we have celebrated Beltane all over the nation. You are welcome to come join us in the celebration.
     Beltane has been traditionally celebrated on May Day, but if you are to maintain accuracy within the Wiccan calendar, look to celebrate this festival on the full moon closest to May 1. This holiday commemorates when farmers led their cattle from winter shelter to the summer pasture. Often the cattle were driven between two fires to purify them. Current celebrations include the erecting of a phallic symbol and dancing around it to promote fertility in the fields. It is a fire festival.

    Litha -- Summer Solstice
               The summer solstice is traditionally the longest day of the year. Even if you are not Wiccan, it is good to commemorate the transition of the solar year. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, then you will probably celebrate the summer solstice on the day the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn which would give you the most light. For the Northern Hemisphere, the sun's peak at the Tropic of Cancer determines our summer solstice day.

We view summertime as a great time to go camping at Brushwood Folklore Center. You can usually find a Frost or two there for Sirius Rising.

    Lugnasad -- "Lammas"
             Although Wiccans do not usually celebrate mass, which is a ritual that can include drinking blood as is done in other churches, not within Wicca, "Lammas" is a common name for the Lugnasad first fruits of harvest festival. Often one burns leaves, stems and vines to spread them on the fields to help with fertilizing them while the fields rest during the winter. The beginning of the winter composting process starts during this festival with the harvesting of early crops, thanking nature for the bounty, and re-fertilizing these fields while they rest. This helps reinforce the fertility of paganism. It is an earth rites festival.

     Mabon -- Autumn Equinox

                   The Autumnal Equinox is a good time to acknowledge the solar year and changing of the sun's influence as the sun passes over the equator during earth's wobbly spin around the sun. This holiday is usually celebrated around September 23.
Click here for Pagan Pride Day coming to an area near you!

   Samhain -- Hallowe'en
              Samhain is held at the Hunter's Moon near November 1. Again, we do not celebrate this holiday on Hallowe'en or All Hallows Eve--the traditional Catholic holiday. This time of year is considered the time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest. One can communicate with departed loved ones or help those who need it with their transitions into the spiritual realm. It is a time to burn the phallic symbol erected long ago on Beltane, preparing it for the hearth fire present with the Yule log in December. Any ashes from the fires can be plowed back into the fields, again to help the earth regain her fertility after having proferred her human stewards such wonderful bounty during the growing season. Many consider this festival the lunar new year. It is an air festival.
To see what the Church and School of Wicca is doing on this date, click here for our Samhain gathering.

    Yule -- Winter Solstice
              The solar new year is often celebrated closest to December 22, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This is traditionally the time when Wiccans exchange gifts, light candles and thank the deities that the sun has been re-born after the longest night.

   Imbolc -- Groundhog's Day
              While you may traditionally celebrate Imbolc sometime around February 1, it is a lunar holiday. It celebrates when the ewes start to lactate, foretelling the birthing of their lambs. This is considered a first sign that the earth is re-awakening from the winter's slumber. It is a water festival although many celebrate this as a fire festival honoring Brigid.

   Ostara -- Vernal Equinox
              Ostara is the solar signal that Spring is returning to the Northern Hemisphere as the sun makes another pass across the equator. Celebrated on or around March 22, check your almanac for the best times to celebrate the sun's return to the longest days of the year and the growing season.

Click here for our travel and teaching schedule outside of these events.



The Church and School of Wicca prefers to do things the old fashioned way, hoping that less mail gest lost than email. If it is very important to contact us, please use the information below keeping in mind that we are a church and like donations to help cover our expenses when we respond to your very important inquiries. Thank you and blessed be. The Volunteers!

Mail: PO Box 297-IN, Hinton, WV 25951-0297 USA

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