What is the Wheel of the Year?

The Wheel of the Year is an annual cycle of seasonal festivals, observed by many modern pagans, consisting of the year's chief solar events (solstices and equinoxes) and the midpoints between them. While names for each festival vary among diverse pagan traditions, syncretic treatments often refer to the four solar events as "quarter days", with the four midpoint events as "cross-quarter days". Differing sects of modern paganism also vary regarding the precise timing of each celebration, based on distinctions such as lunar phase and geographic hemisphere.

Observing the cycle of the seasons has been important to many people, both ancient and modern. Contemporary Pagan festivals that rely on the Wheel are based to varying degrees on folk traditions, regardless of actual historical pagan practices. Among Wiccans, each festival is also referred to as a sabbat , based on Gerald Gardner's view that the term was passed down from the Middle Ages, when the terminology for Jewish Shabbat was commingled with that of other heretical celebrations.Contemporary conceptions of the Wheel of the Year calendar were largely influenced by mid-20th century British paganism.  (Wikipedia)

The Eight Celebrations

Yule - Winter Solstice
Yule - Winter Solstice 21st Dec. The winter solstice, the rebirth of the Sun, is an important turning point, as it marks the shortest day, when the hours of daylight are at their least.

Imbolc
Imbloc (Candlemass, Imblog, Imbole) - February 2nd. This holiday is also known as Candlemas, or Brigid's Day. One of the 4 Celtic Fire Festivals. Commemorates the changing of the Goddess from the Crone to the Maiden.

Ostara - Spring Equinox
Ostara - Spring Equinox - March 21st/22nd. It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter or the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder

Beltane
Beltane 30th April - 1st May. This festival is also known as Beltane, the Celtic May Day. It officially begins at moonrise on May Day Eve, and marks the beginning of the third quarter or second half of the ancient Celtic year.

Litha - Summer Solstice
Summer Solstice - 21st/22nd June. Midsummer or the Summer Solstice is the most powerful day of the year for the Sun God, this Sabbat glorifies the Sun God and the Sun, and fire plays a very prominent role in this festival.

Lammas
Lammas: 1st August This is an Irish Gaelic name for the feast which commemorates the funeral games of Lugh, Celtic god of light, and son of the Sun.

Mabon - Autumn Equinox
Mabon. September 21-23. Technically, an equinox is an astronomical point and, due to the fact that the earth wobbles on its axis slightly , the date may vary by a few days depending on the year.

Samhain
Samhain: Halloween - October 31st. Samhain is one of our four Greater Sabbats, the highest holy day of witches. It is a cross quarter day, situated between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice.