Across time and place, people have always noticed the turning points of the year… the longest and shortest days, the balance of light and dark, and the moments in between that signal change. These were more than dates on a calendar (especially because what we know as a “calendar” wasn’t always in place); they marked real shifts in the land and in daily life. Agricultural communities watched the sky and understood the natural changes in the air as a way to know when to plant or harvest, when to prepare for rest, and when to begin again.

Today, many know these celebrations as part of what’s called the Wheel of the Year - Samhain, Yule (the Winter Solstice), Imbolc, Ostara (the Spring Equinox), Beltane, Lammas, and Mabon (the Autumn Equinox). They’re often held in close regard by Pagans (Wiccans and Druids in particular), yet the meaning behind them is something anyone seeking to live more intentionally with nature’s rhythms can embrace.

Each celebration marks a turning of the season - the solstices and equinoxes anchoring the four main quarters of the year, and the cross-quarter days marking the transitions between them. Together, they remind us that nature doesn’t shift all at once, but in steady, meaningful steps… and that we move through our own cycles of growth, rest, and renewal, too.

These eight celebrations are more than just single days however, they are their own season entirely.

You can explore each of these seasonal celebrations below (along with the history, themes and practices of each) and discover how they continue to guide us in living more closely with the rhythm of the natural world.