The Wheel of the Year consists of eight Sabbats. All the Sabbats are solar in nature, marking the passing of the year with natural milestones.

Some break the Sabbats down into major and minor,

the major Sabbats being:

Samhain (Halloween)
Imbolc
Beltane (May Day)
Lughnasadh

The minor Sabbats are:

Yule (Winter Solstice)
Ostara (Spring Equinox)
Litha / Alban Hefin (Summer Solstice)
Harvest Home/ Mabon (Autumnal Equinox).

It is through these Sabbats that witches and pagans throughout the world mark the passing of the year with celebration and reverence for the deities and events that each represents.
These sacred days are as used by witches in the Northern Hemisphere.
The witches in the Southern Hemisphere reverse the Sabbats due to the opposite seasons.

Celebrating and Observing the Sabbats

How we choose to celebrate or observe the Sabbats is up to individual choice.
Some like to decorate their homes, perform ritual and prepare foods to mark the occasion. Some prefer to keep it simple and light a candle or burn some incense.

However you feel like marking the day is appropriate to you as an individual and it is your choice, there is no right or wrong.
A detailed article on each of the Sabbats will be coming soon as and when I get time to finish writing them :0)

I have compiled a table of information here that may assist you in preparing for the Sabbats…

Sabbat	Herbs	Incense	Colour	Decorations	Foods
Yule	Holly, Mistletoe, Rosemary, Oak, Pine cones	Bayberry, Pine, Cedar, Rosemary, Juniper	Red, Green, White, Silver, Gold	Yule log (oak or pine), Mistletoe, Wreaths, Strings of dried flowers and cinnamon sticks, Apples,Oranges, Yule tree	Nuts, Apples,Oranges, Caraway rolls, Mulled wine, Roast turkey
Imbolc	Snowdrop, Bay, Heather, First Flowers of the Year	Rosemary, Cinnamon, Wisteria, Frankincense, Myrrh	White,Orange, Red	Lamps, Besom (witch’s broom), Yellow flowers	All Dairy products, Curries, Onions, Chives, Garlic, Spiced wines, Seeds, Herbal teas
Ostara	Honeysuckle,Iris, Peony, Violet All spring flowers	Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry	Green, Yellow	Colored eggs, Green and yellow jellybeans, Rabbit Decorations, Spring Flowers	Seeds, Leafy Green Vegetables, Spiced or Flower Cupcakes, Fruits, Hard-boiled eggs
Beltane	Honeysuckle, St. John’s wort, Hawthorn,All flowers	Frankincense, Lilac, Rose	Green, Soft pink, blue and yellow	Maypole, Strings of beads or flowers, Ribbons, Spring flowers	Dairy, Oatmeal cakes, Cherries, Strawberries, Wine punches, Green Salads
Litha	Lavender, Camomile Roses, Daisy, Lily	Frankincense, Lemon, Rose, Wisteria, Lavender	Blue, Green, Yellow	Dried herbs, Potpourri, Seashells, Summer Flowers, Fruits	Summer Fruits, Ale, Mead, Fresh Vegetables
Lughnasadh	All grains, Grapes, Heather, BlackberrySunflower	Sandalwood Rose, Aloes	Yellow, Orange Green, Brown	Corn Dollies, Any Wheat weaving crafts, Shafts of Grain	Breads, Cider, Blackberry Pies and jellies, Rice, Meadowsweet tea, Berries
Mabon	Hazel, Corn, Acorns, Oak, Wheat Stalks,Cypress cones, Pine cones	Myrrh, Sage, Pine	OrangeDark red, Yellow, Brown	Acorns, Pomegranates, Pine Cones, Baskets of fallen leaves	Breads, Corn, Cornbread, Beans, Squash, Apples, Roots (carrots, potatoes, onions), Cider
Samhain	Pumpkin, Apple, Nuts, Thistle, Chrysanthemum, Broom, Oak leaves, Sage	Apple, Nutmeg, Sage, Mint	Black,Orange	Jack-o-lantern, Photos of deceased loved ones, Apples, Fall leaves, Autumn flowers, Squashes	Apples, Corn, Nuts, Cider, Mulled wine, Pumpkin Dishes, Cranberry muffins, Herbal teas