Cross-Quarter Days and The Wheel of the Year
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The Wheel of the Year is divided into eight seasonal celebrations. Four of these seasons (Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mabon) align with either a solstice or equinox. The other four seasonal celebrations (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh) are midpoints within a season, also known as a cross-quarter day. These four days are rooted in ancient Irish Celtic culture as seasonal fire festivals. Today, the cross-quarter days offer an opportunity to pause reflect, set intentions, and give thanks.
Early Origins of the Cross-Quarter Days
Seasonal observances are largely universal in ancient cultures. Astrology, lunar phases and seasonal changes all served as a guide for ancient communities. Planting, harvesting and hunting were all done in cadence with these monthly and seasonal changes happening throughout the year.
In Irish lore, cross-quarter days are also known as the ancient Celtic fire festivals, as bonfires figure prominently in the celebration of each one. It’s important to note that according to Irish mythology, the ancient Irish Celts marked the start of each season with these fire festivals, rather than viewing them as a midpoint for each season. As Christianity spread throughout Europe in the early Middle Ages the traditional fire festivals/ cross-quarter days were incorporated into the Church calendar as various saints days. As late as the 19th Century, cross-quarter days were when British and Irish tradition servants hired, rents due and school terms started.
Cross Quarter Days and The wheel of the year
Within the Wheel of the Year, cross-quarter days each fall exactly at the midpoint (cross) of each season (quarter). Samhain is the midpoint between Autumn and Winter; Imbolc is the midpoint between Winter and Spring; Beltane is the midpoint between spring and summer; Lughnasadh is the midpoint between summer and autumn. Today, modern pagans and those following a nature based spiritual path observe these seasonal midpoints in a variety of ways, including festivals, parties and feasting.
One of the reasons I follow the Wheel of the Year is because I am drawn to the natural cadence of the seasons. My energy ebbs and flows with natural sunlight and I draw strength from the long periods of rest in the darker months. The cross-quarter days are always a time of transition for me - it is when I balance being present and enjoying the current season, while also looking ahead and thinking about what I need to get done.
Do you follow the Wheel of the Year? Share in the comments below or over on Instagram
References & Recommended Reading
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year (affliate link)
https://www.almanac.com/quarter-days-and-cross-quarter-days
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/halloween-derived-from-ancient-celtic-cross-quarter-day/ https://www.learnreligions.com/quarter-days-and-cross-quarter-days-2562061
More about the wheel of the year
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A History of Samhain
Disclaimer: This website uses affiliate links, meaning: at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. If you’d prefer to support local retailers in your area, independent booksellers can often order specific books for you and have them delivered to the store for pick up, for the same price as ordering online.
Samhain (pronounced Sah-Win) is an ancient Celtic festival that celebrates the last harvest of the season. Along with harvest celebrations, Samhain was also a time for remembering loved ones who have died. Many ancient Samhain traditions were woven into early Christian holidays, while other Samhain practices are still used today by witches, pagan and others who seek a spiritual path guided by the rhythm of the seasons.
Ancient Celtic Celebration of Samhain
Gaelic for Summer’s End, Samhain was believed to be a time for the earth to rest before another growing season started in the spring. Cattle were moved from the hills to the pasture for winter and the last of the harvest was gathered and stored for the long winter months. Once the work was complete, folks celebrated with bonfires and festivals.
It is believed that ancient Celtic tradition started each new day at sundown, versus the modern practice of sunrise. And so Samhain celebrations would begin at sundown on or around October 31st. Some modern pagan and Wiccan groups celebrate Samhain when the sun reaches 15 degrees scorpio, which is the exact midpoint between Autumn and Winter. Others opt to celebrate Samhain at the second full moon after Mabon.
According to Judy Ann Nock in her book The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year ancient Celts viewed Samhain as the time of Cailleach, the crone who rules the winter season, and offerings and sacrifices were made to her.
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Christianity, Samhain and Halloween
As Christianity grew throughout Europe during the Roman Empire and into the Middle Ages, many pagan holidays were adopted into the Christian Calendar, to promote assimilation to this new religion. In the Germanic lands, Ostara became Easter. In the British Isles Lughnasadh became Lammas and in Ireland, Samhain became All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Days (November 2).
According to Wicca Demystified by Bryan Lankford, the demonic aspects of Halloween are courtesy of the Medieval Christian Church, who turned stories of fairies into tales of demons, and ancestral spirits into doomed ghosts. The copting of pagan beliefs was another way that the Early CHristian church could solidify its power over conquered people. Salvation was only possible through the church and to deviate would result in your soul wandering in purgatory or worse. Costumes were worn during All Saints and Souls days to ward off evil spirits. The Irish emigration in the 19th Century brought these beliefs and customs to America, where they have solidified into a secular modern holiday we know as Halloween.
The Veil Between The Living and Dead
By the end of the harvest season, ancient Celts believed that by the end of October, the God had exhausted himself giving life to crops and died, causing the Goddess to enter a period of mourning which would last until the Winter Solstice. This may be one of the reasons that Samhain is believed to be a time when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Spirits can return to the life they left behind, and for one night, be close to their loved ones. It was (and still is) common to set up an altar with tokens of loved ones past or to leave an extra place setting at the table. According to Skye Alexander, in her book The Modern Guide to Witchcraft, Jack-o-lanterns were originally used as beacons for wandering spirits to help guide them home. The scary faces carved into the pumpkins were used to deter malevolent spirits from bothering the living.
Celebrating loved ones who have died is a global practice. The celebration of the Day of the Dead is another example of how ancient traditions, this time of pre-columbian mesoamerica, were blended with Christian All Saints & All Souls days, to form a new modern celebration.
Because of the strong connection between the living and the dead, Samhain is a popular time for contacting spirits through tarot or runes readings.
Modern Samhain & Witchcraft
Samhain marks a sacred day for practicing witches. It is seen as the beginning of the Witches' Year, when the cycle of death and rebirth begins once again. It’s time to let go of the things that no longer serve you and start afresh. Just as with a conventional new year, Samhain is a good time to set intentions for the months ahead. The Mabon House Wheel of the Year Planner is a great tool to help you organize your spiritual path and practice.
Samhain is a time of both life and death. The growing season is finished and the earth can rest. While it marks the start of a new Wheel of the Year, Samhain is also a time to remember departed family and friends. This balance of light and dark helps keep us rooted to love, while encouraging hope for the new seasons of life ahead.
How are you celebrating Samhain? Share in the comments below or over on Instagram.
More From Mabon House
Seven Thrift Ideas for Your Wheel of Year Celebration
The Wheel of the Year sabbats are opportunities to pause and celebrate the changing of the seasons, both within and around you. When you are just starting out, it can feel like you have to buy all.the.things in order to celebrate each sabbat properly.
The Wheel of the Year sabbats are opportunities to pause and celebrate the changing of the seasons, both within and around you. When you are just starting out, it can feel like you have to buy all.the.things in order to celebrate each sabbat properly. You may need certain items like candles or vessels, or fabric in a specific color that corresponds with that sabbat. Or maybe you are throwing a dinner party and need additional place settings and serving dishes. Thrift stores, charity shops and even yard sales are all great places to stock up on items for your Wheel of the Year celebrations.
Anyone who’s been following along on my Instagram knows that I love thrift store finds. Most of my home decor is thrifted or second hand finds. I love thrifting because it's affordable and more sustainable than buying new. I can often find higher quality items than what is available in local box stores.
Here are seven things that you can usually find for pennies on the dollar at your local thrift store:
Candles
I often find nice quality candles, new in the original packaging at my local thrift store. Candles are useful for altars, centerpieces or add a specialness to an ordinary day. Imbolc especially embodies candles as part of its celebration.
Dishes
A beautiful table doesn’t have to cost a lot of money (looking at you Pottery Barn). I love (and I mean LOVE) picking up vintage dishes whenever I’m thrifting. I am especially partial to Blue Willow china because it’s easy to find and adds an instant charm to any meal. Plus it reminds me of Jessica Fletcher’s kitchen from Murder She Wrote.
Along with place settings, I have scored most of my nice serving dishes from my local thrift store, including mixing bowls, various size platters, small serving vessels and pitchers.
Table Linens
Along the same lines of thrifted dishes, thrifted table linens are an easy and inexpensive way to dress up your dinner table. Along with vintage tablecloths and napkins, I often pick up handmade doilies and dresser scarves to use throughout my house or on my altar, if I am setting one up.
Picture Frames
I love adding framed printable art and quotes to my seasonal decor. It’s usually free or very low cost and easy to swap out as the seasons change. To make my thrifted frames look more cohesive, I’ll often give a mismatched collection a coat of spray paint. And whenever I find an oversized frame (bigger than 8x10) I’ll grab it, because they are harder to find and surprisingly pricy to buy new.
Baskets
Woven baskets offer beauty and function for your entire house. I use them for holding bread on the dinner table, to store magazines or craft projects and corral clutter in my office. In the autumn, to celebrate Mabon, I like filling small baskets with dried flower bouquets from the garden and placing a larger basket of fresh red apples on our kitchen counter.
Faux Greenery
Not everyone has ready access or a budget for fresh flowers and greenery, especially in the winter months. Thrift stores are an excellent place for scoring gently used fake plants, picks and flowers. I use faux greenery to add a little color and texture to places in my house where real plants won’t make it, such as my kitchen which gets little direct sunlight. For my Wheel of the Year celebrations, I will add faux greenery for sabbat decorations.
Now, some might argue that using fake greens goes against the very essence of a nature based spiritual path. I argue that it is the intent that you have when using any item, real or fake. Plus I feel it's a bit elitist to assume that everyone can pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers for their Wheel of the Year celebration. I say do what you can, where you are, with what you have.
Clothes
Easily half of my wardrobe is thrifted. If you are looking for a special outfit for your Wheel of the Year celebration, thrift stores and consignment shops are a great place to look. ThredUp is another resource, if you don’t live near any good quality second hand clothing stores. I wrote a whole post on how to shop online for thrifted clothes. Buying second hand clothes is one of the best ways to avoid fast fashion and reduce the environmental footprint of your wardrobe.
As you plan for your next Wheel of the Year celebration, I hope that these tips have helped inspire you. Be sure to visit the Member’s Library for Free Wheel of the Year Printables, calendars, art and more!
