sabbat

Sabbat is a term used in modern Paganism and Wicca to denote seasonal festivals that celebrate the cycle of the year and the changing of the seasons. Derived from the Latin sabbatum and historically linked to the word Sabbath, the concept in many traditions contrasts with Esbat, which are typically lunar-focused rites. In several paths, the Sabbats form the eight major holidays that comprise the Wheel of the Year.

The eight Sabbats are typically Yule (winter solstice), Imbolc (early February), Ostara (spring equinox), Beltane or May Day (early May), Litha (summer solstice), Lughnasadh or Lammas (early August), Mabon (autumnal equinox), and Samhain (late October or November). Some traditions use slightly different names or timings, and regional calendars may add supplementary festivals.

Practices at Sabbats commonly include rituals, offerings, feasting, seasonal foods, and symbolic decorations that reflect the respective season. Discourse, prayers, or invocations to deities, elements, or ancestral spirits are often part of the observance, and gatherings may be held outdoors when weather permits. The emphasis is typically on celebrating agricultural cycles, solar power, and the rhythms of nature, as well as community and ritual storytelling.

In other contexts, the term Sabbat also appears in fiction as the name of a vampire sect in the World of Darkness, a separate concept from the Pagan Sabbats. The two usages are distinct and belong to different genres and traditions.