Wheel of the year
The wheel of the year is the round of eight seasonal festivals kept in modern pagan practice: the two solstices, the two equinoxes and the four fire festivals between them. It marks the turning of the seasons, from Samhain in the dark of autumn to the harvest of Mabon.
Questions people ask
What are the eight festivals?
Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas and Mabon. Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mabon follow the sun; the other four are fire festivals on fixed dates.
When does the wheel of the year start?
There is no single answer. Many people begin with Samhain, others with Yule, when the days start to lengthen.
Updated October 30, 2026 · Alex Pervov, SHAMTAM