Paganism & Wicca - What Is A Sabbat?

 

The term Sabbat has two totally different meanings: 


• Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasa, Mabon, Litha, and Ostara are the eight main Wiccan festivals that celebrate the Wheel of the Year. 

• The word used by witch-hunters to denote large gatherings of witches; further information may be found in CALENDAR: Sabbat and under entries for each holy day. 


The most appropriate, neutral equivalent could be “witches' ball,” particularly because participants are characterized as dancing, eating, and generally rejoicing. 


  • Inquisition documents from Carcassonne and Toulouse in the fourteenth century seem to be the first to use the word sabbat to refer to the gathering of witches. 
  • The Sumerian shabbattu, "a soothing of the heart," was celebrated as a holiday every seventh day starting with the Full Moon celebration for the lunar god, from whence this idea migrated to Judaism. 
  • The term for witches was coined by Roman Catholic theologians to suggest that they were doomed heretics like Jews, and/or that Jews were witches. 


Related to - Akelarre and Sabbat in the CALENDAR.


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