The Celtic festival wheel is based on a solar calendar divided into four quarters (Solstices and Equinoxes) and cross-quarter days marking the midway points between the quarters. In ancient times, these dates marked the begininning and end of planting and harvesting cycles; the correct marking of time was essential to survival. The importance of the feasts went beyond agriculture, and were tied to important rites of passage- birth, marriage, death- and the life of the community revolved around these dates.
These cycles were associated with deities from the very beginning, and even after Christianity supplanted Paganism in Europe, the holidays were retained with much of their original character.
The eight principal feasts of the Celtic calendar are celebrated by modern Celtic religious groups, and some as folk holidays are still marked in Ireland and Scotland:
Samhain
October 31-November 1
Samhain was
the Celtic autumnal feast. Regarded as the New Year, it was marked with
elaborate feasts for the dead and ritual bonfires.
Winter
Solstice (Alban
Arthan, 'light of arthur')
December 21-22
The Winter Solstice marked the birth of the sun and was one of the most
importan t festivals of the year.
Imbolc
( 'in milk')
February 1-2
The annual holiday
Candlemas, the Festival of Lights, a Midwinter Festival. Known to Neopagans
and ancient Celts as Imbolc, a festival of the
Maiden Goddess and a traditional time to bless agricultaral implements (especially
the Plough) and livestock.
Vernal Equinox (Alban
Eiler 'light
of earth')
March
20-21
The Spring Equinox marks the beginning of spring; a fertility festival
celebrating new growth, marriage, fecundity
Beltane
April
30-May 1
Beltane honored Bel, the sun God, and was marked by bonfires, feasts, and
dancing. Today Beltanes is one of the most important Neopagan holidays.
Summer
Solstice (Alban Heruin, midsummer)
June
21-22
The Summer Solstice was the longest day of the year and was celebrated
with bonfires on the beaches.
It is the exaltation of the Sun at its peak of power.
Lughnasada (Assembly
of Lugh, pronounced 'Loo-nah-sah')
July 31-August 1
Lughnassadh was
the feast of the lightning-god Lugh of the Long Hand (Llew to the Welsh).
In ancient times, this was the feast of the corn-god, who represented the
life force of the crops, who was slain at harvest time and dwelt in the underworld
(often in the form of buried wine-jugs) until his rebirth at the winter solstice.
The date was kept by the Church under the name Lammas, or 'loaf mass.'
Autumn
Equinox (Alban
Elued, 'light of water')
September 21-22
The autumn equinox marked the decline of the summer season and the commencement
of the Harvest.
