changing seasons and to celebrate the hunt and harvest. Modern witches use these dates to celebrate life and to perform rituals to honor their interpretation of the meaning of these days. The minor holidays are celebrated in relation to the solstices and equinoxes. The holidays are as follows (Hawkins):October 31: November Eve - Samhan (Halloween), Calan GaeafCirca December 21: Winter Solstice - Yule, Alban ArthanCirca January 31: February Eve - Bridget, Candlemas, Imbolc, Imbolg, OimelcCirca March 21: Spring (Vernal) Equinox – Ostara, Alban Ellir, EostarCirca April 30: May Eve – Beltane, Walpurgis Night, Cyntefyn, RoodmassCirca June 21: Summer Solstice – Alban Hefin, Litha, MidsummerCirca July 31: August Eve – Lughnasadh, Lammas Eve, Lady Day EveCirca September 21: Autumn (Fall) Equinox - MabonWitches take part in various rituals that symbolize their faith and strong sense of belief. Some of these rituals include magick*, meditation, channeling, and divination. Most often, these acts are carried out to promote health, happiness, harmony and spiritual growth and awareness. Wiccans do not feel the need to use their skills and abilities to profit in material ways, nor do they use them for any unkind purpose.When most people think of witches, they think of the stereotypical Hollywood image, complete with black hat and dress, long pointy nose sans wart, and of course the broomstick and black cat. That is a far cry of the real thing. Many modern witches are your everyday, garden-variety woman and man on the street. For the most part, you probably wouldn’t know who they are unless they told you, which is something that a lot of witches are afraid to be open about. Although Wicca has been accepted by our own government and many others as a valid religion, many witches still fear persecution from other religions and people based on folklore, rumors, and fear of the unknown. Even in these modern times, not everyon...
