Southern Hemisphere ... ?

[RubyRose]

Is it necessary for all those practicing Paganism or Wicca to convert the Sabbats? ... for example if done correctly, October 31st would not be Samhain but Beltaine ... I'm just wondering, because I convert the equinoxes, but I find it strage to swap the major celebrations, like Samhain, Yule and Ostara ... in otherwords, Halloween, Christmas, and Easter ... it is so wrong to swap some and leave others?

[Annyka]

Unless you are trying to follow a particular branch of paganism or wicca, you are free to celebrate and follow any way you wish. If you are a member of a coven, then you would follow their methods for celebration, if you are solitary, you choose.

I have recently been looking into celebrating the way you do. I feel it makes a lot of sense and see nothing wrong with it.

Blessings
Annyka

[Ari]

Most Australian Wiccans swap all the sabbats so that they occur during (the closest thing to) their correct seasons, so the majority right now are celebrating Beltane. Basically the rationale is that these are seasonal and earth-based celebrations, so keeping them in tune with what's naturally occuring in the area should be an important consideration, more so than keeping in tune with what northern hemisphere Pagans are doing. Of course, if you prefer to stick to the northern dates for your own reasons it's not like anyone's going to have a problem with that ;)

[Aidron]

Much like what was already stated, the sabbats, or solar festivals, are connected deeply to the seasons.

Imbolc or Candlemas occurs on February 2 here in the northern hemisphere and usually is celebrated to reflect the first stirrings of spring and how all life is about to once again thrive after a well deserved rest during the winter.

February is a winter month here, where below the equator it most certainly is not. I'm not quite sure what it is, spring perhaps?

Regardless, it wouldn't really fit in any other season as in the case of it already being spring, life has already returned and is not beginning to stir, and with summer it is really thriving, where as fall things are beginning to slow down and prepare for a long rest. See what I mean?

You're completely welcome to celebrate as you wish, but the foundation behind the sabbats is essentially to celebrate and attune with the change of the seasons where you are, since you are celebrating it for you afterall, not someone like me above the equator. ;)

[Ari]

February is a winter month here, where below the equator it most certainly is not. I'm not quite sure what it is, spring perhaps?

Not to complicate this thread, but transferring the finer details of sabbat symbolism is actually quite a big problem for Australians. We tend to still use the traditional dates (only for different Sabbats), but I can tell you that for at least 95% of Australia *nothing* is sleeping under snow at Yule ;) Imbolc is one of the most difficult sabbats to shift over unaltered, for that reason. By August, things are starting to warm up and flower very quickly (I spent Imbolc last year at the beach?!).

[Scarlettvixen]

Ruby its really up to how you feel
my feelings are that i follow a nature based religion
therefore i should follow whats shes telling me is happening here in sydney, not whats happening in london or washington dc

but i know other witches who do follow the northern hemisphere seasons
its totally up to u

[Scarlettvixen]

ohh and Raven
February is blazing summer here

[RubyRose]

Thanks guys, I think I was a little hurt, when, I posted about performing my very first Ritual ( in the post marked, Samhain ) and everybody came back with but your celebrated the wrong one ... it should be Beltaine ... so I was a little hurt ... but thanks ... I'm still learning and the commercial side of the major holidays is still with me, in terms of when to celebrate ... but yeah ... as for winter ... we don't get any snow here in Perth either ...

[vespertine]

Personally I change the dates of the sabbats according to the season.
You said but I find it strage to swap the major celebrations, like Samhain, Yule and Ostara ... in otherwords, Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.. well, the way i see it, is you get double the enjoyment. You have the sabbats on days which correspond with the season and STILL get to celebrate the commercial side of all these holidays when the time rolls around. You get three extra holidays!!! that's a great thing in my book! :D

[Scarlettvixen]

Ruby you know some americans forget that the southern hemisphere exists
just remind them that we have the opposite seasons
us southerners r the minority on here
so stamp ya feet and tell em lol

[RubyRose]

Okay *stomps feet* Quit telling me what do you you Americans ... lol ... heheh just joking

[elfmage]

I know this is an old thread, but I need the information on here for an assignment I am doing for my HSC (PM if you desperately want more info.).

Does anyone have a problem with my quoting what they have said?

Obviously, your privacy will be respected, using only screen-names, and no email addresses. PM me if you don't want your intellectual material cited, and it'll be excluded!

[Scarlettvixen]

I know this is an old thread, but I need the information on here for an assignment I am doing for my HSC (PM if you desperately want more info.).

Does anyone have a problem with my quoting what they have said?

Obviously, your privacy will be respected, using only screen-names, and no email addresses. PM me if you don't want your intellectual material cited, and it'll be excluded!

i dont have a problem in the least

[Theres]

Is it necessary for all those practicing Paganism or Wicca to convert the Sabbats? ... for example if done correctly, October 31st would not be Samhain but Beltaine ... I'm just wondering, because I convert the equinoxes, but I find it strage to swap the major celebrations, like Samhain, Yule and Ostara ... in otherwords, Halloween, Christmas, and Easter ... it is so wrong to swap some and leave others?

yes.

the sabbats are markers on the wheel of the year, not just arbitrary dates assigned for celebration. so if you look out your window and it is snowing (for example), then you can be pretty sure that it is NOT Midsummer!