Paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft

One question I keep seeing as I read Wicca 101 books and online sources is, "What is the difference between Paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft?" Marietta at Witchy Words does an excellent job of explaining the difference. Allow me to offer a brief explanation with the use of one of her visuals.

Paganism  encompasses many different types of earth-based religions with a reverence for nature. Wicca is a specific type of Paganism based on ancient European traditions and folklore combined with some modern practices. In the 1950s, Gerald Gardner published both fiction and non-fiction books that popularized Wicca. Witchcraft is the non-religious use of magick (k is sometimes added to distinguish between true magick spells and sleight of hand). As you can see, there can be some overlap between Paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft.

I consider myself a Neo-Pagan Witch. Neo-Paganism is used to differentiate between modern and ancient practices of Paganism, but they're used somewhat interchangeably. Paganism may draw from ancient practices, and there are many different kinds of Paganism, but I suspect a lot of Paganism today is Neo-Paganism. My religious practices include celebrating Wiccan holidays. I prioritize nature-based spirituality and rarely perform magick spells.

Do you consider yourself a Pagan, Wiccan, or Witch?

Sabbats

A sabbat, according to Merriam-Webster's second definition, is any of eight Neo-Pagan religious festivals commemorating phases of the changing seasons. These special days mark the seasonal quarters and cross quarters in the Wheel of the Year. Below is a short description of each with Northern Hemisphere dates in parentheses and alternate names in italics.

Yule (December 21st, plus or minus a day or two)
Winter Solstice, Midwinter
Longest night of the year. A time to look within and plan for the future. Rebirth. Colors include red, green, and white.

Imbolc (February 1st through 2nd)
Candlemas, Brigid's Day
Celebration of the coming of spring. Purification and renewal. The secular equivalent is Groundhog Day. Colors include white, red, and pink.

Ostara (March 21st, plus or minus a day or two)
Spring Equinox, Vernal Equinox
Equal day and night. A time to celebrate balance. Fertility of people, animals, and the land. Colors include pastel pink, pastel blue, and pastel green.

Beltane (April 30th through May 1st)
May Eve/May Day
Celebration of fertility, sexuality, and life. An auspicious day for handfastings and weddings. Colors include bright red, blue, and yellow.

Litha  (June 21st, plus or minus a day or two)
Summer Solstice, Midsummer
Longest day of the year. A celebration of the sun. Colors include gold, white, and blue.

Lughnasadh (July 31st through August 1st)
August Eve, Lammas
Loaf mass. First of three harvest festivals. Wheat and grains. A celebration of the Celtic god Lugh. Colors include yellow, orange, and brown.

Mabon (September 21st, plus or minus a day or two)
Fall Equinox, Autumnal Equinox
Equal day and night. Second of three harvest festivals. Grapes and wine. Thanksgiving. Colors include orange, brown, and gold.

Samhain (October 31st through November 1st)
Halloween, November Eve
Third of three harvest festivals. End of summer and start of winter. The veil between the living and the dead wanes thin. Witches' New Year. Colors include black, orange, and blood red.

My sabbat rituals are still evolving, but I like my celebrations to included guided imagery from Magical Meditations by Yasmine Galenorn. Magical Meditations is an excellent book that I borrowed from a library and enjoyed so much that I decided to purchase. One of my favorite things about this book is that Galenorn includes suggested plants, incenses, oils, crystals, and candles in the Guidelines for Use sections to go with each meditation.

How do you celebrate the sabbats?