| Wiccan Practitioners usually have an altar in their | | | | There are also other celebrations that are held during |
| home (inside or outside) where they honor the | | | | the full or new moon which are usually smaller |
| Goddess and God. Certain Wiccan groups believe that | | | | gatherings, usually at night and held outdoors. These |
| the Deities are all one although they may be | | | | are called Esbats. |
| worshipped as separate entities or energies. | | | | Samhain, the last harvest of the year is usually held in |
| The altar usually includes figurines, candles and | | | | the Northern Hemisphere (the southern hemisphere |
| sometimes tools that represent the Deities. The | | | | follows a similar natural calendar tuned to their |
| Deities are invoked with mental powers and invited | | | | harvest cycles). |
| to stay for the rituals. After the spell, the Deities are | | | | The next celebration is the Yule or Winter Rite which |
| thanked and their energies are allowed to leave. The | | | | is followed by Imbolc or Brigid's day. Brigid is the |
| energy of the Deity is believed to exist in the | | | | Celtic Goddess of Fire, poetry, healing, childbirth and |
| figurines or candles during the time that they are | | | | Unity who is celebrated as a powerful Triple Goddess. |
| invoked and allowed to stay. | | | | Some Wiccans create a bed or resting place in their |
| Wiccans often celebrate the existence of the power | | | | house for this Deity. |
| of the Deities in everyday life. The Moon and Sun are | | | | Ostara or Festival of Trees is the time Easter is |
| believed to be associated with the Goddess and the | | | | celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere. This holiday is |
| God energies. Wearing jewelry in the shape of the | | | | named after the Goddess Ostara and symbolizes the |
| Moon or the Sun and decorating the house or person | | | | rejoining of the Goddess with her lover-consort. |
| with similar symbols are used in many Wiccan | | | | Ostara is also considered to be the virgin Goddess of |
| traditions to invoke the powers of the Deities for | | | | Spring. It is considered bad luck to wear new clothes |
| protection. | | | | before Ostara, and people work through the winter |
| One of the most important ways that Wiccans honor | | | | to make new clothes that they can wear on this day. |
| their deities is by celebrating the Sabbats which | | | | This may be the reason there is so much emphasis |
| coincide with the Lunar or Solar cycles. Eight major | | | | on new clothes for Easter. Lambs and Rabbits were |
| festivals, spaced at even intervals during the year are | | | | part of the ancient Ostara celebration and they too |
| celebrated by Wiccans. These festivals are called | | | | seem to have been passed over to the current |
| Sabbats and they are seen as the days designated | | | | Easter holiday festivities. |
| for celebrating the cycles of life, death and rebirth. | | | | |