Sabbat Correspondences Samhain celtic ~ Summer's End, pronounced "sow" (rhymes with 'now') "en" (Ireland), sow-een (Wales)

- "mh" in the middle is a "w" sound - Greater Sabbat(High Holiday) - Fire Festival Oct 31-Nov 1(North Hemisphere) - Apr 30-May 1 (South Hemisphere) AKA: The Great Sabbat, Samhiunn, Samana, Samhuin, Sam-fuin, Samonios, Hallowe'en, Hallomas, All Hallows Eve, All Saints/All Souls Day(Catholic), Day of the Dead(Mexican), Witches' New Year, Trinoux Samonia, Celtic/ Druid New Year, Shadowfest (Strega), Martinmas or Old Hallowmas (Scotttish/Celtic) L Samhna (Modern Irish), Festival of the Dead, Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess), Hallowtid e (Scottish Gaelis Dictionary), Feast of All Souls, Nos Galen-gae-of Night of the Winter Calends (Welsh), La Houney or Hollantide Day, Sauin or Souney ( Manx), oidhche na h-aimilise-the night of mischief or confusion(Ireland), Oidhche Shamna (Scotland) Animals/Mythical beings: bats, cats, dogs, pooka, goblin,medusa, beansidhe, harpies Gemstones: black stones, jet, obsidian, onyx, carnelian Incense/Oil: frankincense, basil, yarrow, lilac, camphor, clove, wood rose, wormwood, myrrh, patchouli, apple, heliotrope, mint, nutmeg, sage, ylang-ylang Colors/Candles: black (ward off negativity), orange (good luck), indigo, homemade apple or mint scented herbal candles to light jack-o-lanterns or for altar candles Tools/Symbols/Decorations: black altar cloth, Halloween items, jack o' lanterns, oak leaves, acorns, straw, balefire, besom, black cat, black crescent moon, cauldron, divination tools, grain, magic mirror, mask, bare branches, animal bones, hazelwood, pictures of ancestors Goddesses: The Crone, Hecate (Greek), Cerridwen (Welsh-Scottish), Arianrhod (Welsh), Caillech (Irish-Scottish), Baba Yaga (Russian), Al-Ilat (persian), Bast (Egyptian), Persephone (Greek), Hel (Norse), Kali (Hindu), all Death & Otherworld Goddesses Gods: Horned Hunter (European), Cernnunos (Greco-Celtic), Osiris (Egyptian), Hades (Greek), Gwynn ap Nudd (British), Anubis (Egyptian), Coyote Brother (Native American), Loki (Norse), Dis (Roman), Arawn (Welsh), Sacrificial/Dying/Aging Gods, Death and Otherworld Gods

Essence: magick, plenty; knowledge, the night, death & rebirth, success, protection; rest, new beginning; ancestors; lifting of the veil, mundane laws in abeyance, return, change Dynamics/Meaning: death & transformation, Wiccan new year,wisdom of the Crone, end of summer, honoring, thinning of the veil between worlds, death of the year, time outside of time, night of the Wild Hunt, begin new projects, end old projects Purpose: honoring the dead, especially departed ancestors, knowing we will not be forgott en; clear knowledge of our path; guidance, protection, celebrating reincarnation Rituals/Magicks: foreseeing future, honoring/consulting ancestors, releasing the old, power, understanding death and rebirth, entering the underworld, divination, dance of the dead, fire calling, past life recall Customs: ancestor altar, costumes, divination, carving jack o' lanterns, spirit plate, the Feast of the Dead, feasting, paying debts, fairs, drying winter herbs, masks , bonfires, apple games, tricks, washing clothes Foods: apple, pumpkin pie, pomegranate, pumpkin, squash, hazelnuts, corn, cranberry muffins, bread, ale, cider and herbal tea Herbs: allspice, broom, comfry, dandelion, deadly nightshade, mugwort, catnip, dittany of Crete, ferns, flax, fumitory, mandrake, mullein, dragon's blood, sage, straw, thistles, oak(leaf), wormwood (burn to protect from roving spirits) Element/Gender: water/male Threshold: midnight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ----------------------------------------------------------------------Yule Lesser Sabbat - Winter Solstice, circa Dec 21

AKA: Jul ("wheel", Old Norse), Saturnalia (Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide (Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn's Day, Alban Arthuan, Christmas (Christian~ December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year Animals/Mythical beings: yule goat (nordic), reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, Kallikantzaroi-ugly chaos monsters (greek), trolls, phoenix, yule elf, jule gnome, squirrels, wren/robin Gemstones: cat's eye, ruby, diamond, garnet, bloodstone Incense/Oils: bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron Colors/Candles: gold, silver, red, green, white Tools/Symbols/Decorations: bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells, mother & child images Goddesses: Great Mother, Befana (strega), Holda (teutonic), Isis (egyptian), Triple Goddess, Mary (christian), Tonazin (mexican), Lucina (roman), St. Lucy (swedish), Bona Dea (roman), Mother Earth, Eve (Hebrew), Ops (roman Holy Mother), the Snow Queen, Hertha (German), Frey (Norse) Gods: Sun Child, Saturn (rome), Cronos (Greek), Horus/Ra (egyptian), Jesus (christian-gnostic), Mithras (persian), Balder (Norse), Santa Claus/Odin (teutonic), Holly King, Sol Invicta, Janus (God of Beginnings), Marduk (Babylonian) Old Man Winter Essence: honor, rebirth, transformation, light out of darkness, creative inspiration, the mysteries, new life, regeneration, inner renewal, reflection/introspection Dynamics/Meaning: death of the Holly (winter) King; reign of the Oak (summer) King, begin the ordeal of the Green Man, death & rebirth of the Sun God; night of greatest lunar imbalance; sun's rebirth; shortest day of year Purpose: honor the Triple Goddess, welcome the Sun Child

Rituals/Magicks: personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends, Festival of light, meditation Customs: lights, gift-exchanging, singing, feasting, resolutions, new fires kindled, strengthening family & friend bonds, generosity, yule log, hanging mistletoe, apple wassailing, burning candles, Yule tree decorating; kissing under mistletoe; needfire at dawn vigil; bell ringing/sleigh-bells; father yule Foods: nuts, apple, pear, caraway cakes soaked with cider, pork, orange, hibiscus or ginger tea, roasted turkey, nuts, fruitcake, dried fruit, cookies, eggnog, mulled wine Herbs: blessed thistle, evergreen, moss, oak, sage, bay, bayberry, cedar, pine, frankincense, ginger, holly, ivy, juniper, mistletoe, myrrh, pinecones, rosemary, chamomile, cinnamon, valarion, yarrow Element/Gender: earth Threshold: dawn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Imbolc (im-molc) (em-bowl'g) - Major Sabbat (High Holiday) - Fire Festival February 1,2 - when the sun reaches 15 degrees Aquarius AKA: Imbolg (Celtic), Candlemas (Christian), Brigantia (Caledonii), Oimelc, Festival of Light, Brigid's (Brid, Bride) Day, La Fheill, An Fheille Bride, Candelaria (Mexico), Chinese New Year, Disting-tid (Feb 14th, Teutonic), DisaBlot, Anagantios, Lupercalia/Lupercus (Strega), Groundhog Day, Valentines Day Animals/Mythical beings: firebird, dragon, groundhog, deer, burrowing animals, ewes, robin, sheep, lamb, other creatures waking from hibernation Gemstones: amethyst, garnet, onyx, turquoise Incense/Oil: jasmine, rosemary, frankincense, cinnamon, neroli, musk, olive, sweet pea, basil ,

myrrh, and wisteria, apricot, carnation Colors/Candles: brown, pink, red, orange, white, lavender, pale yellow, silver Tools/Symbols/Decorations: white flowers, marigolds, plum blossoms, daffodils, Brigid wheel, Brigid's cross , candles, grain/seed for blessing, red candle in a cauldron full of earth, doll, Bride's Bed; the Bride, broom, milk, birchwood, snowflakes, snow in a crystal container,evergreens, homemade besom of dried broom, orange candle annointed in oil (see above)can be used to symbolize the renewing energy of the Sun's rebi rth. Goddesses: Virgin Goddess, Venus, Diana, Februa, Maiden, Child Goddess, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Vesta, Gaia, Brigid, Selene (Greek), Branwen (Manx-Welsh) Gods: young Sun Gods, Pan, Cupid/Eros (Greco-Roman), Dumuzi (Sumerian) Essence: conception, initiation, insight, inspiration, creativity, mirth, renewal, dedication, breath of life, life-path, wise counsel, plan, prepare Dynamics/Meaning: first stirring of Mother Earth, lambing, growth of the Sun God, the middle of winter Purpose: honoring the Virgin Goddess, festival of the Maiden/Light Rituals/Magicks: cleansing; purification, renewal, creative inspiration, purification, initiation , candle work, house & temple blessings, welcoming Brigid, feast of milk & bread Customs: lighting candles, seeking omens of Spring, storytelling, cleaning house, bonfires, indoor planting, stone collecting, candle kept burning dusk till dawn; hearth re-lighting Foods: dairy, spicy foods, raisins, pumpkin, sesame & sunflower seeds, poppyseed bread/cake, honey cake, pancakes, waffles, herbal tea Herbs: angelica, basil, bay, benzoin, celandine, clover, heather, myrrh, all yellow flowers, willow

Element/Gender: earth/female Threshold: midnight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ostara ( Oh-star-ah) - Lesser Sabbat - Spring/Vernal Equinox, March 20-21st when the Sun enters Aries AKA: Ostre, Oestre, Eostre, Rites of Spring, Eostra's Day, Lady Day, First Day of Spring, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Alban Eiler, Bacchanalia Animals/Mythical beings: unicorn, merpeople, pegasus, rabbit/easter bunny, chicks, swallows, snakes Gemstones: rose quartz, moonstone, amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, red jasper Incense/Oil: african violet, lotus, jasmine, rose, magnolia, sage lavender, narcissus, ginger, broom, strawberry Colors/Candles: gold, light green, grass green, robin's egg blue, lemon yellow, pale pink, anything pastel Tools/Symbols/Decorations: colored eggs, baskets, green clothes, shamrock, equilateral cross, butterfly, cocoons, sprouting plants; violets, lily, spring wildflowers, new clothes, lamb, hare/rabbit Goddesses: Eostre (Saxon Goddess of Fertility), Ostara (the German Goddess of Fertility) (Teutonic) Kore, Maiden, Isis, Astarte (Persia, GrecoRoman), Ishtar (Babylonian), Minerva (Roman), Youthful Goddesses. Faerie Queen, Lady of the Lake (Welsh-Cornish), the Green Goddess Gods: Hare, Green Man, Youthful Gods, Warrior Gods, Taliesin, Lord of the Greenwood (English), Dagda (Irish), Cernunnos (Greco-Celtic), Pan (Greek), Adonis (Greek) Essence: strength, birthing, completion, power, love, sexuality, embodiment of spirit, fertility, opening, beginning

Dynamics/Meaning: the God comes of age, sexual union of the Lord & Lady, sprouting, greening, balance of light and dark Purpose: plant and animal fertility, sowing Rituals/Magicks: spellcrafting, invention, new growth, new projects, seed blessing Customs: wearing green, new clothes, celtic bird festival, egg baskets coloring eggs, collecting birds eggs, bird watching, egg hunts, starting new projects, spring planting Foods: light foods, fish, maple sugar candies, hot crossed buns, sweet breads, hard boiled eggs, honey cakes, seasonal fruits, milk punch, egg drinks Herbs: acorns, celandine, tansy,cinquefoil, crocus, daffodil, dogwood, Irish moss, ginger, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, rose, hyssop, linden, strawberry, voilets Element/Gender: air/male(solar) Threshold: dawn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Beltane (beel-teen or bell-tayn) bel is`shining/brilliant', tene is 'fire'. Hence, Beltane means "brilliant fire, - Major Sabbat (High Holiday) Fire Festival April 30-May 1st AKA: Bhealltainn, Bealtaine, Beltaine, Beltinna, Lady Day; Samhradh; La Baal Tinne May Eve, May Day, Walspurgis Night, Rudemas, Walburgal, Giamonios, Shenn do Boaldyn, Galan Mae, Whitsun, Rudemas, Festival of Tana (Strega) Animals/Mythical beings: the white cow, goats, giants, rabbits, honey bees, faeries, satyrs, pegasus Gemstones: emerald, orange carnelian, sapphire, rose quartz, lazuli, sapphire, yellow agate, bloodstone

Incense/Oil: passion flower, frankincense, tuberose, vanilla, lilac, rose Colors/Candles: red & white (symbolizing God and Goddess), dark green, dark yellow, rainbow spectrum, blue, pastels, all colors Tools/Symbols/Decorations: maypole & ribbons, flower crowns, fires, bowers, fields, May baskets, white flowers and ribbons, daisy chain, flower chaplet, white wine in clear crystal glass, chalice, butterchurn, blackthorn & hawthorn branches, seasonal fruit Goddesses: May Queen, Flora, Maia, Flower Goddesses, Lady of the Greenwood, Divine Couples, and Goddesses of the Hunt, Aphrodite (Greek) Blodewedd (Welsh), Erzulie (Voodun) , Baubo (Greek), Rhea (Cretean), Prithvi (Hindu) Gods: May King, Jack in the Green, Horned God (European), Herne (Greek), Green Man, Bel (Celtic), Baal (Phoenician), Gods of the Hunt, Essence: compassion, youthful play, exhuberance, sensuality, pleasure, action Dynamics/Meaning: sacred marriage of the Lord and the Lady, arrival of the Tuatha de Dannan in Ireland Purpose: fertility festival, celebrate 1st day of Celtic summer, 1st day of the light half of the year Rituals/Magicks: The Great Rite, love, romance & fertility magicks, elf & faery power, offerings to elementals, crop blessings, relighting sacred fires, divination, building shrines, fire-calling, honoring house guardians, snake dancing, bathing faces in the morning dew of May to retain their youthful beauty Customs: maypole erection, dancing around the maypole, bonfires, jumping fire, mating, picking flowers, making flower baskets, frolicking throughout the countryside, archery tournaments, sword dances, feasting, drinking and music, moving the herds to high pasture Foods:

dairy, honey, oats, red fruits, herbal salads, red/pink wine punch, large round oatmeal/barley cakes, sweets Herbs: almond, angelica, damiana, hawthorn, hibiscus, saffron, ash tree, bluebells, cinquefoil, daisy, frankincense, hawthorn, ivy, lilac, marsh marigold, meadowswe et, primrose, roses, satyrion root, woodruff, yellow cowslip, yarrow Element/Gender: air/male Threshold: dawn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Litha Lesser Sabbat - Summer Solstice circa June 21 AKA: Midsummer, Letha, Feill-Sheathain (Scotland), Alban Hefin (Druidic), Alban Heruin, Midsummer's Eve, St. John's Eve, Bonfire Night, Gathering Day (Wal es), the Feast of Epona (ancient Gaul) and Vestalia (ancient Rome). Animals/Mythical beings: wren, robin, horses, cattle, satyrs, faeries, firebird, dragon, thunderbird Gemstones: lapis lazuli, diamond, tiger's eye, all green gemstones, especially emerald and jade Incense/Oil: heliotrope, saffron, orange, frankincense & myrrh, wisteria, cinnamon, mint, ros e, lemon, lavender, sandalwood, pine Colors/Candles: blue, green, gold, yellow and red Tools/Symbols/Decorations: the sun, oak, birch & fir branches, sun flowers, lilies, red/maize/yellow or gold flower, love amulets, seashells, summer fruits & flowers, feather/flower door wreath, sun wheel, fire, circles of stone, sun dials and swords/blades, bird feathers, Witches' ladder Goddesses:

Mother Earth, Mother Nature, Venus, Aphrodite, Yemaya, Astarte, Freya, Hathor, Ishtar, all Goddesses of love, passion, beauty and the Sea, and Pregnant, lusty Goddesses, Green Forest Mother; Great One of the Stars, Goddess of the Wel ls Gods: Father Sun/Sky, Oak King, Holly King, Arthur, Gods at peak power and strength. Essence: humility, fire, partnership, nourishment, relationships, fertilization, nurturin g Dynamics/Meaning: crowning of the Sun God, death of the Oak King, assumption of the Holly King, end the ordeal of the Green Man Purpose: rededication to the Lord and Lady, beginning of the harvest, honoring the Sun Go d, honoring the pregnant Godddess Rituals/Magicks: nature spirit/fey communion, ks. The battle between Oak King, ing year (can be a ritual play), f Merlin) "A Midsummer Night's Customs: bonfires, processions, all night vigil, singing, feasting, celebrating with othe rs, cutting divining rods, dowsing rods & wands, herb gathering, handfastings, weddi ngs, Druidic gathering of mistletoe in oak groves, needfires, leaping between two fir es, mistletoe(without berries, use as a protection amulet), women walking naked thro ugh gardens to ensure continued fertility, enjoying the seasonal fruits & vegetables , honor the Mother's fullness, richness and abundance, put garlands of St. John's Wort placed over doors/ windows & a sprig in the car for protection Foods: honey, fresh vegetables, lemons, oranges, summer fruits, summer squash, pumperni ckel bread, ale, carrot drinks, mead Herbs: planet healing, divination, love & protection magic God of the waxing year & Holly King, God of the wan or act out scenes from the Bard's (an incarnation o Dream", rededication of faith, rites of inspiration

anise, mugwort, chamomile, rose, wild rose, oak blossoms, lily, cinquefoil, lave nder, fennel, elder, mistletoe, hemp, thyme, larkspur, nettle, wisteria, vervain (verb ena), St. John's wort, heartsease, rue, fern, wormwood, pine,heather, yarrow, oak & ho lly trees Element/Gender: fire Threshold: evening/dawn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lughnasadh (Loo-nas-ah) Major Sabbat (High Holiday) - Fire Festival August 1, 2 AKA: Lunasa (meaning August), Lughnasaad, Lughnasa (Celtic),First Harvest, August Eve , Feast of Cardenas, Feast of Bread, Tailltean Games (Irish), Teltain Cornucopia ( Strega), Ceresalia (Ancient Roman) Harvest Home, Thingtide (Teutonic), Lammas (Christian) . Laa Luanys, Elembious, Festival of Green Corn (Native American) Animals/Mythical beings: griffins, basilisks, roosters, calves, centaurs, phoenix Gemstones: aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx, yellow diamondsand citrine Incense/Oil: wood aloes, rose, rose hips, rosemary, chamomile, eucalyptus, safflower, corn, passionflower, frankincense, sandalwood Colors/Candles: red, orange, golden yellow, green, light brown, gold, bronze, gray Tools/Symbols/Decorations: corn, cornucopias, red, yellow flowers, sheaves of grain (wheat, barley, oats), first fruits/vegetables of garden labor, corn dollies, baskets of bread, spear, cauldron, sickle, scythe, threshing tools, sacred loaf of bread, harvested herbs , bonfires, bilberries, God figures made of bread or cookie dough, phallic symbols Goddesses:

the Mother, Dana ( Lugh's wife & queen ), Tailltiu (Welsh-Scottish), Demeter (Gr eek), Ceres( Roman grain goddess..honored at Ceresalia), the Barley Mother, Seelu (Che rokee), Corn Mother, Isis (Her birthday is celebrated about this time), Luna (Roman Moon Goddess), other agricultural Goddesses, the waxing Goddess Gods: Lugh (Celtic, one of the Tuatha De Danaan), John Barleycorn, Arianrhod's golden haired son Lleu ( Welsh God of the Sun & Corn where corn includes all grains, not just maize), Dagon (Phoenician Grain God), Tammuz/ Dummuzi (Sumerian), Diony sus, plus all sacrificial Gods who willingly shed blood/give their life that their people/lands may prosper, all vegetation Gods & Tanus (Gaulish Thunder God), Taranis, (Romano-Celtic Thunder God), Tina, (Etruscan-Thunder God), the waning G od Essence: fruitfulness, reaping, prosperity, reverence, purification, transformation, change, The Bread of Life, The Chalice of Plenty , The Ever-flowing Cup , the Groaning Board (Table of Plenty) Dynamics/Meaning: Lugh's wedding to Mother Earth, Birth of Lugh; Death of Lugh, Celtic Grain Festi val Purpose: honoring the parent Deities, first harvest festival, first fruits grains & drink to the Goddess in appreciation of Her bounty, offering loaves of sacred bread in the form of the God (this is where the Gingerbread Man originated!) Rituals/Magicks: astrology, prosperity, generosity, continued success, good fortune, abundance, magickal picnic, meditate & visualize yourself completing a project you've start ed Customs: games, the traditional riding of poles/staves, country fairs, breaking bread wit h friends, making corn dollys, harvesting herbs for charms/rituals, Lughnasadh fir e with sacred wood & dried herbs, feasting, competitions, lammas towers (fire-buil ding team competitions), spear tossing, gathering flowers for crowns, fencing/swordpl ay, games of skill, martial sports, chariot races, hand-fastings, trial marriages, dancing 'round a corn mother (doll) Foods:

loaves of homemade wheat, oat, & corn bread, barley cakes, corn, potatoes, summe r squash, nuts, acorns, wild berries (any type), apples, rice, pears, berry pies, elderberry wine, crab apples, mead, crab, blackberries, meadowsweet tea, grapes, cider, beer Herbs: grain, acacia, heather, ginseng, sloe, cornstalks, cyclamen, fenugreek, aloes, frankincense, sunflower, hollyhock, oak leaf, wheat,myrtle Element/Gender: fire/female Threshold: noon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mabon MAY-bon, MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon or MAH-bawn, - Lesser Sabbat Fall/Autumn Equinox, September 21-23 AKA: Michaelmas (September 25th, Christian), Second Harvest Festival, Witches' Thanksgiving, Harvest Home (Anglo-Celtic), Feast of Avalon, Wine Harvest, Festival of Dionysus, Cornucopia, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Chung Ch'iu (China), Night of the Hunter, Alban Elfed "The Light of the Water" (Caledonii/ Druidic-celebrates Lord of the Mysteries), Winter Finding (Teutonic, from Equinox 'til Winter Night or Nordic New Year, Oct 15th.) Animals/Mythical beings: dogs, wolves, stag, blackbird, owl, eagle, birds of prey, salmon & goat, Gnomes, Sphinx, Minotaur, Cyclops, Andamans and Gulons Gemstones: yellow agate, carnelian, yellow topaz, sapphire, lapis lazuli & amethyst Incense/Oil: pine, sweetgrass, apple blossom, benzoin, myrrh, frankincense, jasmine, sage wood aloes, black pepper, patchouly, cinnamon, clove, oak moss Colors/Candles: brown, green, orange, red, deep gold, scarlet, yellow, russet, maroon, all autumn colors, purple, blue violet & indigo Tools/Symbols/Decorations: indian corn, red fruits, autumn flowers, red poppies, hazelnuts, garlands, grains especially wheat stalks, and colorful, fallen leaves, acorns, pine & cypress cones, oak sprigs, pomegranate, statue/or figure to represent the Mother Goddess, mabon wreath, vine, grapes, gourd, cornucopia/horns of plenty, burial cairns, apples, marigolds, harvested crops, burial cairns,

rattles, the Mysteries, sun wheel, all harvest symbols Goddesses: Modron (Welsh), Bona Dea, Land Mother, Aging & Harvest Dieties: the Triple Goddess-Mother aspect, Persephone, Demeter/Ceres, Morgan(Welsh- Cornish), Snake Woman (aboriginal), Epona (Celtic-Gaulish), Pamona (roman), the Muses (greek) Gods: Mabon ap Modron (Welsh), Sky Father, Wine Gods, Aging Gods, John Barleycorn , the Wicker-Man, the Corn Man, Thoth (Egyptian), Hermes, Hotei (Japanese), Thor, Dionysus (Roman), Bacchus (Greek) & all wine Deities Essence: beauty, joy; fullness of life, harvest of the year's desires, strength; laughter; power; prosperity, equality, balance, appreciation, harvest, protection, wealth, security, self-confidence, reincarnation Dynamics/Meaning: death of the God, assumption of the Crone, balance of light and dark; increase of darkness, grape harvest, completion of the harvest Purpose: second harvest festival, new wine pressing/making preparation for winter and Samhain, rest after labor, Pagan day of Thanksgiving, honoring the spirit world,celebration of wine Rituals/Magicks: Celtic Festival of the Vine, prosperity rituals, introspection, rituals which enact the elderly aspects of both Goddess & God, past life recall Customs: offerings to land, preparing for cold weather, bringing in harvest, cutting willow wands (Druidic), eating seasonal fruit, leaving apples upon burial cairns & graves as a token of honor, walk wild places & forests, gather seed pods & dried plants, fermenting grapes to make wine,picking ripe produce, stalk bundling; fishing,on the closest full moon (Harvest Moon) harvesting corps by moonlight. Foods: cornbread, wheat products, bread, grains, berries, nuts, grapes, acorns, seeds, dried fruits, corn, beans, squash, roots (ie onions, carrots, potatoes, etc), hops, sasssafras, apples, pomegranates, carrots, onions, potatoes, roast goose or mutton, wine, ale, & cider Herbs: myrrh, thistle, tobacco, oak leaf, hazel, mums, hops, acorns, marigold, rose, sage, milkweed, solomon's seal, aster, fern, honeysuckle, benzoin, myrrh, passionflower, pine & cedar, ivy, hazel, hops, cedar

Element/Gender: water Threshold: evening adapted from: Edain McCoy,"The Sabbats: A New Approach to Living the Old Ways"