Sabbat - Any one of eight Wiccan solar festivals, marked by the 4 solstices and equinoxes, as well as 4 dates inbetween them. They are (Celtic style names, others exist) Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain.

(See also: Sabbat, Pagan, Wicca Pagan Dictionary)

Balefire

(Bale- Anglo-Saxon: gift)

1)    A traditional fire lit outdoors and used during the Wiccan and Pagan holidays: Midsummer, Lughasadh, Mabon. and especially Beltane,

2)    The traditional communal bonfire of the Sabbats. The modern word “Bonfire” is synonymous with balefire, through it often has no religious significance.

(See also: Balefire, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

The Celestial Equator and the Ecliptic are two Great Circles. As such, they intersect at two points, the Equinoxes. When the Sun, which moves along the Ecliptic, occupies the point that crosses the Equator while heading South, it is the time of the Autumnal Equinox. Due to the Precession of the Equinoxes, the point of intersection moves completely around the sky in a 25,800-year cycle. This century it is in the western end of Virgo near the star Z ...

See also:

Autumnal equinox, Autumnal equinox - Astronomy, Autumnal equinox - The solar term Qiufen in Chinese astronomy, Autumnal equinox - Holidays

Read more here: » Autumnal equinox: Encyclopedia II - Autumnal equinox - Astronomy

Crone

1)    That aspect of the Goddess that is represented by the old women. She is symbolized by the waning moon, the carrion crow, the cauldron, and the color black. Her Sabats are Mabon and Samhain.

2)    A term of respect used for a witch who has passed menopause or who is over 50-56 years old.

(See also: Crone, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

In Gaulish, mapos means a young boy or (more rarely) a son. The -on- particle is frequently, but not exclusively, a divinising one. Besides the theonym Maponos, the root mapos is found in personal names such as Mapodia, Mapillus, and Maponius; mapo is also found in the Carjac inscription (RIG L-86). The root is Proto-Indo-European *makwos. (Delamarre 2003 pp.216-217). In Insular Celtic languages, the same root is found in Welsh, Cornish and Breton mab mea ...

See also:

Maponos, Maponos - Etymology of the Name, Maponos - Evidence for Maponos, Maponos - Was this god the British Apollo?, Maponos - Later versions of Maponos, Maponos - Welsh Mythology, Maponos - Irish Mythology, Maponos - Bibliography

Read more here: » Maponos: Encyclopedia II - Maponos - Etymology of the Name

CRONE:

1) Third aspect of the Mother Goddess.

2) A Witch of 50 or 56 yrs, or post menopause.

3) A term of respect. CRONING, then is the ritual which celebrates a person reaching this status. The Crone Goddess is symbolized by the waning moon, the carrion crow, the cauldron, and the color black. Her Sabbats are Mabon and Samhain.   She rules from Lughnasadh to Samhain, when the God aspects take over. The male counterpart can be a Sage or Seer depending on tradition.

(See also: CRONE, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

BALEFIRE - 1. Function is both magickal & practical. Used during Holidays: Beltane, Midsummer, Lughasadh & Mabon. (TRASB)

2. The tradition communal bonfire of the Sabbats. The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word boon meaning a “gift” or “something extra”. The modern word “Bonfire” is synonymous with balefire, through it often has no religious significance. (CMM)

(See also: BALEFIRE, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

The evidence is mainly epigraphic. Maponos (“Divine Son”) is mentioned in Gaul at Bourbonne-les-Bains (CIL 13, 05924) and at Chamalières (RIG L-100) but is attested chiefly in the north of Britain at Brampton, Corbridge (in antiquity, Corstopitum), Ribchester (In antiquity, Bremetenacum Veteranorum) and Chesterholm (in antiquity, Vindolanda). Some inscriptions are very simple such as Deo Mapono (to the god Maponos) from Chesterholm (AE 1975, 00568). At Corbridge are two dedications (RIB 1120 and RIB 1121) Apol ...

See also:

Maponos, Maponos - Etymology of the Name, Maponos - Evidence for Maponos, Maponos - Was this god the British Apollo?, Maponos - Later versions of Maponos, Maponos - Welsh Mythology, Maponos - Irish Mythology, Maponos - Bibliography

Read more here: » Maponos: Encyclopedia II - Maponos - Evidence for Maponos

SABBAT:

1) A Wiccan festival which celebrates the changing of the seasons.. A time of rejoicing and celebration, when no work is done, except in an emergency.

2) One of 8 holy celebrations of the Wiccan religeon.

3) Wiccan celebration of an aspect of the Sun (God) as opposed to Esbat, the celebrations of the Moon (Goddess). There are 4 Greater Sabbats: Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. These are associated with agriculture and animal husbandry (domestic like cow, sheep). The 4 Lesser Sabbats are: Mabon, Midsummer, Ostara and Yule. These are connected to astronomical occurences of Sun and related daylight hours.

(See also: SABBAT, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

The four cross-quarter festivals (often called 'fire festivals') of Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasadh and Samhain are historically authentic and well attested in mediaeval Ireland; they probably derive from the first century Coligny Calendar which, being a lunisolar calendar, does not correspond to fixed days in the solar calendar. The feast of Midwinter was indeed celebrated in England, being derived from the Roman feast of Saturnalia. However, the Wheel of the Year as such is a modern Wiccan construct, combining various traditions ...

See also:

Wheel of the Year, Wheel of the Year - Antiquity of the Wheel, Wheel of the Year - Gregorian months in the wheel of the year, Wheel of the Year - Astrological signs in the wheel of the year

Read more here: » Wheel of the Year: Encyclopedia II - Wheel of the Year - Antiquity of the Wheel

The Welsh had been Christian for many centuries before their former mythology was written down, and their gods had long been transformed into kings and heroes of the past. Many of the characters who exhibit divine characteristics fall into two rival families, the Plant Dôn (Children of Dôn) and the Plant Llyr (Children of Llyr). Welsh mythology - The children of Dôn. Dôn, daughter of Mathonwy, was the matriarch of one family. Her husband is usually given as Beli. Her children include: Arianrhod Gwydion Gilfaet ...

See also:

Welsh mythology, Welsh mythology - The Four Branches of the Mabinogi, Welsh mythology - Pwyll Prince of Dyfed, Welsh mythology - Branwen Daughter of Llyr, Welsh mythology - Manawyddan son of Llyr, Welsh mythology - Math son of Mathonwy, Welsh mythology - Lludd and Llefelys, Welsh mythology - Culhwch and Olwen, Welsh mythology - Characters, Welsh mythology - The children of Dôn, Welsh mythology - The children of Llyr, Welsh mythology - Other probable deities, Welsh mythology - Other characters, Welsh mythology - Arthurian characters, Welsh mythology - External link

Read more here: » Welsh mythology: Encyclopedia II - Welsh mythology - Characters

The Celtic calendar divided the year into two halves, the "dark" half, beginning with the month Samonios (the October/November lunation), and the "light half", beginning with the Giamonios (the April/May lunation). The entire year appears to have been considered as beginning with the "dark" half, so that the beginning of Samonios may be considered the Celtic New Year's day. All months began at full moon, and the celebration of New Year took place during the "three nights of Samonios" (Gaulish trinux[tion] samo[nii]), the full moon of ...

See also:

Samhain, Samhain - Etymology, Samhain - Ancient Celts, Samhain - Celtic folklore, Samhain - Neo-Paganism, Samhain - Pop culture references

Read more here: » Samhain: Encyclopedia II - Samhain - Ancient Celts

Irish samhain is from Old Irish samain, samuin, samfuin, referring to 1 November (lathe na samna, "samhain day"), and the festival and royal assembly at that date in medieval Ireland (oenaig na samna, "samhain night"). Its meaning is glossed as "summer's end", and the frequent spelling with f suggests analysis by popular etymology as sam "summer" and fuin "sunset, end". Old Irish sam "summer" is from PIE *semo- , cognates are Welsh haf, Breton hañv, Old Norse language sumar all meaning "summer" ...

See also:

Samhain, Samhain - Etymology, Samhain - Ancient Celts, Samhain - Celtic folklore, Samhain - Neo-Paganism, Samhain - Pop culture references

Read more here: » Samhain: Encyclopedia II - Samhain - Etymology

Three main types of sources provide information on Celtic polytheism: the minted coins of Gaul, the sculptural monuments associated with the Celts of continental Europe and of Roman Britain, and the insular literatures of Celtic mythology that have survived in writing from medieval times. All pose problems of interpretation. The pre-Roman coins of the 1st century BC and early 1st century AD bear no inscriptions, and their iconography derives partly from standardized Hellenistic numismatic prototypes and partly presents highly local emblems. ...

See also:

Celtic polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Extent of Celtic polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Research, Celtic polytheism - Syncretism with other forms of polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Cosmology and eschatology, Celtic polytheism - Worship, Celtic polytheism - Religious castes, Celtic polytheism - Druids, Celtic polytheism - Bards and filid, Celtic polytheism - Festivals, Celtic polytheism - Beltane, Celtic polytheism - Samhain, Celtic polytheism - Cults within Celtic polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Cult of Lugus-Mercurius, Celtic polytheism - Cults of tribalism lordly power and thunderous force, Celtic polytheism - Cult of radiance or healing, Celtic polytheism - Cult of youthful masculinity, Celtic polytheism - Cult of thermal spring-water, Celtic polytheism - Cult of impressiveness, Celtic polytheism - Cult of exaltedness, Celtic polytheism - Cult of Sucellos, Celtic polytheism - Cults of maritime forces, Celtic polytheism - Cults of craftsmanship, Celtic polytheism - Cults of agricultural gods, Celtic polytheism - Cult of terrestrial bounty, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the power of boggy terrain, Celtic polytheism - Cult of maternity, Celtic polytheism - Cults of femininity & majesty, Celtic polytheism - Cults of cyclicality in nature, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the trinitarian war-goddess, Celtic polytheism - Cults of fluvial water, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the stag’s vitality, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the bullish vitality, Celtic polytheism - Cult of horse power and horsemanship, Celtic polytheism - Deities, Celtic polytheism - The effect of Christianity, Celtic polytheism - Literature

Read more here: » Celtic polytheism: Encyclopedia II - Celtic polytheism - Research

This table shows some gods and goddesses believed to have comprised the Proto-Celtic pantheon along with the semantics of their names and their derivational forms. From this chart it will be seen that many, though not all, Celtic theonyms incorporate the element *-on- and this element seems to be used to denote divinity. It appears sometimes in *a grade form as *-an- and sometimes in zero grade form as *-n-. It is plausibly a Proto-Celtic form of the Proto-Indo-European lemna *H2en- *H2on- *See also:

Celtic polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Extent of Celtic polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Research, Celtic polytheism - Syncretism with other forms of polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Cosmology and eschatology, Celtic polytheism - Worship, Celtic polytheism - Religious castes, Celtic polytheism - Druids, Celtic polytheism - Bards and filid, Celtic polytheism - Festivals, Celtic polytheism - Beltane, Celtic polytheism - Samhain, Celtic polytheism - Cults within Celtic polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Cult of Lugus-Mercurius, Celtic polytheism - Cults of tribalism lordly power and thunderous force, Celtic polytheism - Cult of radiance or healing, Celtic polytheism - Cult of youthful masculinity, Celtic polytheism - Cult of thermal spring-water, Celtic polytheism - Cult of impressiveness, Celtic polytheism - Cult of exaltedness, Celtic polytheism - Cult of Sucellos, Celtic polytheism - Cults of maritime forces, Celtic polytheism - Cults of craftsmanship, Celtic polytheism - Cults of agricultural gods, Celtic polytheism - Cult of terrestrial bounty, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the power of boggy terrain, Celtic polytheism - Cult of maternity, Celtic polytheism - Cults of femininity & majesty, Celtic polytheism - Cults of cyclicality in nature, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the trinitarian war-goddess, Celtic polytheism - Cults of fluvial water, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the stag’s vitality, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the bullish vitality, Celtic polytheism - Cult of horse power and horsemanship, Celtic polytheism - Deities, Celtic polytheism - The effect of Christianity, Celtic polytheism - Literature

Read more here: » Celtic polytheism: Encyclopedia II - Celtic polytheism - Deities

As the religion of the ancient Celts, the shifts in the fortunes of Celtic Polytheism coincided with those of its people. The Celts, like other ancient Indo-European peoples, practised a form of polytheism, which reached the apogee of its influence and territorial expansion during the 4th century BC, extending across the length of Europe from Great Britain to Asia Minor. From the 3rd century BC onward their history is one of decline and disintegration, and with Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul (58 –51 BC) Celtic independence came to ...

See also:

Celtic polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Extent of Celtic polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Research, Celtic polytheism - Syncretism with other forms of polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Cosmology and eschatology, Celtic polytheism - Worship, Celtic polytheism - Religious castes, Celtic polytheism - Druids, Celtic polytheism - Bards and filid, Celtic polytheism - Festivals, Celtic polytheism - Beltane, Celtic polytheism - Samhain, Celtic polytheism - Cults within Celtic polytheism, Celtic polytheism - Cult of Lugus-Mercurius, Celtic polytheism - Cults of tribalism lordly power and thunderous force, Celtic polytheism - Cult of radiance or healing, Celtic polytheism - Cult of youthful masculinity, Celtic polytheism - Cult of thermal spring-water, Celtic polytheism - Cult of impressiveness, Celtic polytheism - Cult of exaltedness, Celtic polytheism - Cult of Sucellos, Celtic polytheism - Cults of maritime forces, Celtic polytheism - Cults of craftsmanship, Celtic polytheism - Cults of agricultural gods, Celtic polytheism - Cult of terrestrial bounty, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the power of boggy terrain, Celtic polytheism - Cult of maternity, Celtic polytheism - Cults of femininity & majesty, Celtic polytheism - Cults of cyclicality in nature, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the trinitarian war-goddess, Celtic polytheism - Cults of fluvial water, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the stag’s vitality, Celtic polytheism - Cult of the bullish vitality, Celtic polytheism - Cult of horse power and horsemanship, Celtic polytheism - Deities, Celtic polytheism - The effect of Christianity, Celtic polytheism - Literature

Read more here: » Celtic polytheism: Encyclopedia II - Celtic polytheism - Extent of Celtic polytheism

There are many traditions, sub-traditions, and lineages of Wicca; among these is Solitary Wicca, which is Wicca practiced by oneself and often in secret. Other Wiccan traditions include: Alexandrian Wicca Blue Star Wicca Celtic Wicca Christian Wicca Correllian Nativist Church (Correllian Wicca) Dianic or Feminist Wicca Eclectic Wicca Faery Wicca Feri Tradition Gardnerian Wicca Kemetic Wicca Odyssean Wicca Pagans for Peace Tradition Seax-Wica Shakti Wicca Stregher ...

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Wiccan traditions

The Samhain celebration survived in several guises as a festival dedicated to the dead. In Ireland and Scotland, the Féile na Marbh, the "festival of the dead" took place on Samhain. Samhain Eve, in Irish and Scots Gaelic, Oidhche Shamhna, is one of the principal festivals of the Celtic calendar, and is thought to fall on or around the 31st of October. It represents the final harvest. In modern Ireland and Scotland, the name by which Halloween is known in the Gaelic ...

See also:

Samhain, Samhain - Etymology, Samhain - Ancient Celts, Samhain - Celtic folklore, Samhain - Neo-Paganism, Samhain - Pop culture references

Read more here: » Samhain: Encyclopedia II - Samhain - Celtic folklore

Holiday - Buddhist holidays. Vesak Matsuri (in Japan, could also be considered a Shinto holiday) Blessed Rainy Day in Bhutan Holiday - Celtic Norse and Neopagan holidays. In the order of the Wheel of the Year: Samhain (Celtic): 31 October-1 November, Celtic New Year, first day of winter Winternights (Norse): 29 October-2 November, Norse New Year Yule (Norse): 21 December-22 December, winter solstice, Celtic mi ...

See also:

Holiday, Holiday - Public holidays, Holiday - Consecutive holidays, Holiday - Religious holidays, Holiday - Buddhist holidays, Holiday - Celtic Norse and Neopagan holidays, Holiday - Christian holidays, Holiday - Hindu holidays, Holiday - Islamic holidays, Holiday - Jewish holidays, Holiday - Bahá'í holidays, Holiday - The Northern Hemisphere winter holiday season, Holiday - Holidays traditionally in the winter holiday season, Holiday - Winter holiday greetings, Holiday - National holidays, Holiday - International holidays secular, Holiday - Other secular holidays, Holiday - Unofficial holidays, Holiday - No holidays?

Read more here: » Holiday: Encyclopedia II - Holiday - Religious holidays

Holiday - Buddhist holidays. Vesak Matsuri (in Japan, could also be considered a Shinto holiday) Blessed Rainy Day in Bhutan Holiday - Celtic Norse and Neopagan holidays. In the order of the Wheel of the Year: Samhain (Celtic): 31 October-1 November, Celtic New Year, first day of winter Winternights (Norse): 29 October-2 November, Norse New Year Yule (Norse): 21 December-22 December, winter solstice, Celtic mi ...

See also:

Holiday, Holiday - Public holidays, Holiday - Consecutive holidays, Holiday - Religious holidays, Holiday - Buddhist holidays, Holiday - Celtic Norse and Neopagan holidays, Holiday - Christian holidays, Holiday - Hindu holidays, Holiday - Islamic holidays, Holiday - Jewish holidays, Holiday - Bahá'í holidays, Holiday - The Northern Hemisphere winter holiday season, Holiday - Holidays traditionally in the winter holiday season, Holiday - Winter holiday greetings, Holiday - National holidays, Holiday - International holidays secular, Holiday - Other secular holidays, Holiday - Unofficial holidays, Holiday - Vanishing holidays, Holiday - No holidays?

Read more here: » Holiday: Encyclopedia II - Holiday - Religious holidays

The indigenous Celtic beliefs and ways have had a large impact on the modern Celtic cultures. Mythology based on (though, not identical to) the pre-Christian religion was common place knowledge in Celtic speaking cultures up to today, though it is now dwindling. Additionally, many unofficial saints are believed in, such as Brìd in Scotland (Brighid in Ireland), which have the same names as known deities. Various rituals involving acts of pilgrimage to sites such as hills and sacred wells which are believed to have curative or ...

See also:

Celtic mythology, Celtic mythology - Historical sources, Celtic mythology - Julius Caesar’s comments on Celtic Religion and their significance, Celtic mythology - Branches of Celtic mythology, Celtic mythology - Celtic deities, Celtic mythology - The gods of the ancient Celts, Celtic mythology - The gods of Ireland, Celtic mythology - The gods of Wales, Celtic mythology - The Dagda, Celtic mythology - The Morrígan, Celtic mythology - Belenus, Celtic mythology - Lúgh/Lug, Celtic mythology - Other gods, Celtic mythology - Temples, Celtic mythology - Celtic worship, Celtic mythology - The druids, Celtic mythology - Significance of Prophecy in Druidic Ritual, Celtic mythology - Modern remnants, Celtic mythology - Druidism?

Read more here: » Celtic mythology: Encyclopedia II - Celtic mythology - Modern remnants

There are many traditions, sub-traditions, and lineages of Wicca; among these is Solitary Wicca, which is Wicca practiced by oneself and often in secret. Other Wiccan traditions include: Alexandrian Wicca Blue Star Wicca Celtic Wicca Christian Wicca Correllian Nativist Church (Correllian Wicca) Dianic or Feminist Wicca Eclectic Wicca Faery Wicca Feri Tradition Gardnerian Wicca Kemetic Wicca Odyssean Wicca Pagans for Peace Tradition Seax-Wica Shakti Wicca Stregher ...

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes, Wicca - Bibliographical and Encyclopedic Sources, Wicca - Academic Studies

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Wiccan traditions