Neo-Paganism - Holy days

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Every day is holy, but pagans celebrate a number of festivals during the year. As paganism is a nature religion, the festivals fall on astronomical dates or at the change of seasons or are agriculturally derived. Wiccans call the festival calendar 'the wheel of the year'. Magick is particularly powerful on these `power days'.

Each festival is a celebratory event with different rites/activities. There are eight Sabbats (festivals), four major and four minor. Each community celebrates those Sabbats that are important to it.

Ritual belongs to each festival. The basic steps of Wiccan ritual can be performed individually, in a small group or in covens. In the thirteen esbats18 per year the general ritual is followed with the addition of communion and meditation.

Sabbat ritual usually involves enactment of myth or 'theatre', and Sabbats are often celebrated all day with picnics, seminars and drumming (Ravenwolf: 89).

Neo-Paganism - Sexuality in ritual

Neo-Paganism - Barriers and bridges to Christian faith

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