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
Follow the Mabon House Adventures
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
The Season of Mabon : Six Things I am Ready to Release
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Mabon marked the last turn in the Wheel of the Year. The days are growing shorter, as we head toward the winter months. Just as with the moon phases and the waning light of the full moon, the waning daylight of autumn is a good time to release that which isn’t serving you anymore. This could be habits, things, or even people. As we move more fully into Autumn and the leaves fall from the trees here in Western Maine, I am taking this time to actively work on releasing these six things:
Screen time. During the Pandemic I found myself watching A LOT of Youtube. I follow a variety of content creators from around the world and I found myself enchanted by the lives of various vloggers. And it became really easy to just spend more and more time watching other people’s lives and less time working on my own. So now, when I have some downtime on the weeknights and weekends, I am more conscious about screen time and I don’t just automatically turn to youtube or other streaming services out of habit. I may opt to listen to music or a book on Audible instead. Or if my eyes aren’t too tired from work (hello middle age) I’ll do a few sudoku puzzles. I find sudoku enormously comforting, as it reminds me of my late grandmother, who I adored. Do you have any screen-free activities you like to do?
Doomscrolling. Popularized during the pandemic, doomscrolling has become second nature during my work day. At the peak of my doomscrolling, I was checking various news sites at least 5-6 times a day, despite the fact that there is literally never any good news in the headlines. So rather than go looking for the latest political gossip or confirmation that the world is still on fire, I opt to look through Pinterest or read some of my favorite blogs instead. I keep a bookmark folder on my browser, to make it easy to look at these sites rather than the news, if I have a few minutes of downtime at work. I still check headlines once in the morning, but after that I let it go for the rest of the day.
Anti-Aging. A few weeks ago I wrote about moving from Mother to Crone. Part of that transition has been embracing growing and looking older. As women we are taught that aging is akin to letting yourself go. Society tells us that age spots and wrinkles are things to be feared, rather than celebrated. I’m over the barrage of messaging that tells me I need to maintain the same face and body I had 10-20 years ago. So, while I still wear makeup and color my hair (for now) I do these things because I enjoy doing them, not because I am trying to look younger. Basically my mantra these days is This is my face, deal with it.
Body Commenting. Growing up in the toxic diet culture of the 80s and 90s, it is second nature for me to pay compliments to someone who has lost weight. It comes out of my mouth before I can stop it. “Wow you look soooo good!” Ugh, Lorri, really? I am just now realizing, this can be a really harmful habit and, unless the person brings it up first, it is just better to not comment on someone’s body. Period. Instead of body size, I’d rather focus on all the wonderful qualities of my friends, family and colleagues.
Retail Therapy. Back in January I shared I was on a no spend challenge, which has more or less continued through this year. It’s not that I haven’t bought anything new, but rather, I have become much more aware of why I want to purchase certain items. Often it is out of stress or boredom, rather than need. Retail therapy has always been an easy way to get out of dealing with my emotions. Letting go of the capitalist hold on my behavior has been one of the most liberating experiences of my life, so far. Opting to wait and see, rather than impulse buy has saved me a ton of money and allowed me to have much more space, both literally and figuratively. I am no longer bringing items into my home pell-mell, which I have to then find room for, or take care of and/or eventually get rid of. As someone who is deliberately trying to simplify her life, buying nothing is the easiest thing of all.
Worry. I am a worrier by nature. And depending on what’s happening at the time, my worry can grow exponentially, until it is interfering in my day-to-day life. I know that it’s impossible to eradicate worry completely from my life. But being able to recognize normal worry, versus unhelpful catastrophizing (which I can do in a split second - mad skills) means that I can process my emotions and get on with my day, rather than sitting in my own head being miserable*. One tool I like to use to help me manage my worry and anxiety is my Let It Go List.
*Gentle reminder that I am not a licensed-clinical-anything. These are just my experiences. If you feel like anxiety is getting the best of you, please consult with your primary healthcare provider.
So that’s what I ‘m doing, or continuing to do, for this last turn in the Wheel of the Year. Are you letting anything go of anything during this season of Mabon? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or connect with me over at Instagram.
Recommended Reading
