What are the Celtic Festivals?

There are two Equinoxes (Spring and Autumn) when day and night are equally balanced. This is drawn as a wheel with Winter Solstice in the North, Summer Solstice in the South, Spring Equinox in the East and Autumn Equinox in the West.

The ‘wheel’ develops further with the cross-quarters - festivals in between the Solstices and Equinoxes.

Imbolc is at the beginning of February. Beltane the beginning of May. Lammas the beginning of August, and Samhain at the beginning of November. (They have many other names such as Candlemas, May Day, First Harvest and All Hallows Eve). These cross-quarter festivals mark the beginnings (and also endings) of the seasons, whereas the Solstices and Equinoxes mark the mid-way points.

Of course, this is all written from a UK perspective and would need to be adjusted when considered from other parts of the globe.



	They are gateways - entrances - natural festivals marking the annual dance of the Sun and the Earth. Times when our ancestors would have marked the cyclical nature of their lives and that of the natural world. Here in the consumerist West, we take so much for granted. Tuning into the festivals can help give you a greater appreciation for all the gifts that the Earth, Sun and Elements give us, and teach us to honour their importance in our daily lives. There are 8 Celtic Festivals in a calendar year - at approximately equal intervals. These are times when you can .... They are natural time-markers - gateways - pauses in the natural scheme of things when we can also pause and take stock of where we are - in the year, or in our lives ..... time to sow, grow, tend and harvest our personal, professional and/or spiritual ‘seed-intentions’. Most people will be familiar with New Years Resolutions. Seed-intentions are similar, but with additional focus. When they are sown within the structure of the Living The Wheel of the Year Development Group you receive the benefit of support and encouragement during their growing period and beyond. Life coaching from an Earth-centred perspective! The best known festivals are the Solstices - Summer Solstice celebrates the longest day/shortest night and Winter Solstice marks the shortest day/longest night. There are two Equinoxes (Spring and Autumn) when day and night are equally balanced. This is drawn as a wheel with Winter Solstice in the North, Summer Solstice in the South, Spring Equinox in the East and Autumn Equinox in the West. The ‘wheel’ develops further with the cross-quarters - festivals in between the Solstices and Equinoxes. Imbolc is at the beginning of February. Beltane the beginning of May. Lammas the beginning of August, and Samhain at the beginning of November. (They have many other names such as Candlemas, May Day, First Harvest and All Hallows Eve). These cross-quarter festivals mark the beginnings (and also endings) of the seasons, whereas the Solstices and Equinoxes mark the mid-way points. Of course, this is all written from a UK perspective and would need to be adjusted when considered from other parts of the globe.