The Sabbats are the eight Pagan holidays related to the passage of the sun, which is sometimes personified as a God. A lot of Wiccans have a story of how the God is born at Yule, grows to manhood, impregnates the Goddess at Beltane, and dies at Samhain only to be reborn again at Yule. Because they are based on the Sun, they mostly occur at the same time in the calendar year.
I am slowly including posts for each Sabbat. Each post goes into what is celebrated at each Sabbat, ways to culturally celebrate, and some suggestions for rituals at each.
Imbolg (February 1st or August 1st for the southern hemisphere)
Beltane (May 1st or November 1st for the southern hemisphere)
Midsummer (Summer Solstice)
Lughnasadh (August 1st or February 1st for the southern hemisphere)
Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
Samhain (October 31st or April 31st for the southern hemisphere)
The Esbats are the 12-13 Pagan holidays related to the passage of the moon. They usually coincide with the new moon or the full moon. The moon is often personified as a Goddess. Because women’s bodies (mostly) change on a 28-day cycle, the moon is often associated with females. When I have finished with the posts for the Sabbats, I will then focus on the Esbats.