Faerie Festivals take place at crossover points in the   seasons.  Crossover points are times "in between" when   there is a shift in an energy pattern such as  Spring and   Summer Equinox and Summer and Winter Solstice.  The   Fey also celebrate the four festivals of Imbolc, Beltane,   Lammas and Samhain.  The Fey do love a great party! Don't   forget to leave them a special treat of food and drink.

 

 

 

 

 

Imbolc  - February 2

Imbolc is a time when life begins to stir in the belly of the Earth Mother, a crossover point between the depths of Winter into the beginnings of Light.   The Hag or Dark Fairy gives way to the young and radiant Maiden.

 

Faeries like a neat and tidy home so now is a good time to do a good house cleaning and throw out or give away that which is no longer needed in your life.  

 

 

Imbolc Faerie Magick could include lighting candles and placing them in your windows and around your home and asking the Fey Folk to bless your upcoming projects for the year.  Pledge a special act of caring for the natural world (the world of the Faeries) in return.

 

Ostara – Spring Equinox March 21

Ostara is a very powerful crossover point when day and night are balanced before tipping towards longer days and shorter nights.  The Faeries are very busy taking care of all the newly blooming flowers and may be glimpsed in your garden while you work to clear away the winter debris. 

Ostara Faerie Magick could include planting some special seeds while asking the Fey for help tending them.  Visualize the Faeries love and care while humming or singing as you plant.

Place water in a pottery or glass jug and leave it out in the noon sun.  Ask the Faeries to bless it, and imagine them dancing around it and touching it with their glimmering fingers.  Use the water to give your houseplants a special spring blessing.

 

Make contact with the Green Man who is a powerful Nature Spirit by walking alone in the woods.  Know that he is watching you; you may catch a glimpse of him behind a tree or in the lacework of budding leaves. 

 

 

 

Beltane -  May 1

 Beltane is a crossover point marking the beginning of the Celtic Summer.  It is a joyful and sensuous festival filled with flowers and beauty, singing, dancing, feasting and love. Beltane marks a very important transition for the Faerie Folk, it was the time that the Gaelic Celts landed on the shores of Ireland.  The last of the magickal people of the Island retreated from the world of humans into the Hollow Hills and became the people of the Sidhe. 

 At Beltane you will find the Faeries dancing and swaying with bluebells in the woods, skipping in sunshine, and happily flitting from flower to flower in your garden.  They are not above stealing butter or parts of a ritual fire, and delight in hiding peoples possessions only to have them reappear at unexpected times and places. 

 Beltane Magick could include rising early on May Day and washing your face in the dew to ensure beauty during the coming year.

 

 Sit quietly at dusk and listen for the sound of the Faerie Queen Rhiannon riding past on her white horse. You may glimpse the shimmer of her sea blue cloak, and if she touches your heart you will be filled with love and inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

Litha – Midsummer June 21 or 22

Litha is the most magickal crossover point of the year when the sun is at its full strength and stands still at Summer Solstice before beginning to recede as we move into the waning half of the year.  The Faerie Folk are very active, playing pranks and even stealing away the young and beautiful to join them in the Hollow Hills.

Litha Magick could include picking St. John’s Wort to break any unwanted Faerie enchantment and drive away depressing.  If you pick St. John’s Wort on Midsummer’s Day and carry it, you will remain cheerful, or if you wish to become pregnant pick it while walking naked in the garden. 

 

Look for water nymphs or the Lady of the Lake herself rising from the luminous depths.  Allow yourself to open to your unconscious and let yourself be transformed.

 

 

 

 

Lammas – August 1

Lammas or Lughnasadh is the festival of Lugh the Celtic Lord of the Tuatha de Danann whose name means “Bright One”.  Lammas is a major Faerie Festival when the Fey folk begin to prepare for the long winter ahead.  Processions of them may be seen as a line of twinkling lights moving about the countryside.

 At Lammas there is an underlying theme of death, the Corn Spirit must be sacrificed in order to reap the harvest.  If you walk in fields of ripe wheat you may feel the anger of the nature spirits at what shall be taken from the earth. 

 Lammas Magick  may include gathering up some ears of wheat, tying them in a bunch with red thread to make a winter charm to hang over your hearth.  Pledge an act of caring for the earth as an offering for what you take from it. 

 Bake bread and use the rising of the dough as a spell to ensure prosperity.  As you knead the dough say “As this dough swells, so may my fortunes increase.”  Don’t forget to leave some of the breadcrumbs outside for the Faeries.

 

 Lugh is the Lord of the Waning and he dances his dance of death through the waving fields of grain.  Stand on the edge of a wheat field and see the shimmer and sway that betrays the presence of Lugh.  Take a few moments to feel respect for the Earth and the Wheel of Life

 

 

 

Mabon - Autumn Equinox Sept 20 -23 

 At Mabon we are poised between Light and Dark, caught in a moment of perfect balance before the scales tip towards the darkness of winter.  The veil between the worlds begins to thin, and it is easier for the spirit world to visit us.  

It is a time of industry and putting aside the fruits of the harvest. Canning, freezing, drying and gathering are all Mabon activities.   The weather is beginning to change, some days are sun-kissed and warm, while on other days ground mist forms in the morning, and the weather is damp and chill.

The blackberry is a most magickal faerie plant, but beware of picking the berries after the end of September, lest you incur the faeries wrath.  Leave a piece of blackberry pie for the Fey folk to enjoy and they will bless you.  If you can find a blackberry bush that forms an arch and faces east/west, crawl through it three times on a sunny day to be healed of physical ills.

The Autumn Equinox is a time to honor the Faery Queen, Mab, who is the Goddess in her guise as wise-woman and Lady of Magick. She will bring you dreams and visions, and will encourage you to take back your own personal power.  Toast Mab outdoors at the Full Moon closest to Mabon with a chalice of  wine. Raise your glass to her, drink some wine, then pour the rest on the ground as an offering.

 

 

Samhain - October 31 

At Samhain, the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, allowing the spirit world to walk among us more freely. It is a time of mystery, transformation, and deep connection to the unseen. As the wheel of the year turns to darkness, the Faerie realm grows closer, and their magickal presence can be felt in the crisp autumn air.

Samhain is the season of letting go and honoring the end of cycles. It is also a time to celebrate the Faerie folk, who are most active during this sacred transition. Leave offerings of apples, nuts, or milk at the base of trees or at crossroads to honor the Fey and invite their blessings. Be mindful, though, for the Faeie folk at Samhain are powerful and not to be trifled with—treat them with respect and kindness.

 

Blackthorn and hawthorn, both sacred to the Faerie realm, hold special significance at this time of year. Carry a

branch of blackthorn to protect yourself from mischievous spirits, or leave a small token of thanks near a hawthorn tree to ensure goodwill. When walking through the woods or near hills suspected to be fairy mounds, take care not to disturb these sacred places.

 

Samhain is also a time to honor the Shadowland Faery , who rules over the dark half of the year. She is a guide through the shadowy realms, offering wisdom, visions, and transformation. Light a candle in her honor at midnight, and leave a small offering of a tiny lit jack-o-lantern or Halloween treats outdoors. Speak your wishes or ask for guidance, and she may bless you with dreams or insights.

 

This is a time to embrace the magick of endings and beginnings, to honor both the seen and unseen, and to walk gently with the Faery folk during this sacred season.

Yule - December 20 - 22 

At Yule, the darkest night of the year gives way to returning light, and the Faerie realm is alive with celebration. The Winter Solstice marks a time of renewal, hope, and connection to the unseen magic that surrounds us. As the wheel of the year turns toward brightness, the Fey draw closer, their presence sparkling in frost-touched forests and crisp winter air.

Yule is a season of rebirth and honoring the cycles of life. It is also a time to celebrate the Faerie folk, who revel in the magic of this sacred season. Leave offerings of spiced cider, dried fruits, or pinecones decorated with ribbons near evergreens or at natural crossroads to honor the Fey and invite their blessings. Remember to treat the Faerie folk with respect and gratitude—this is a time of mutual exchange, not expectation.

 

Holly and ivy, both sacred to the Faery realm, hold special significance during Yule. Carrying a sprig of holly can protect you from negative energies, while weaving ivy into wreaths or garlands is said to invite the Fey’s goodwill into your home. Evergreen trees, symbolic of eternal life, are also favored by the Faery folk. Decorate them with natural ornaments such as cranberries, oranges, or acorns to honor their connection to the season.

 

Yule is also a time to honor the Winter Queen, who guides the turning of the seasons and holds deep wisdom within the stillness of the season. Light a candle in her honor on the longest night and offer mulled wine, honey, or a sprig of mistletoe as a gesture of respect. Speak your hopes for the coming year, and she may grant you dreams of insight or inspiration.

 

This is a season to celebrate the magic of renewal, to honor the hidden and the seen, and to walk gently alongside the Faery folk during this time of transformation and returning light. Embrace the gifts of Yule and let its enchantment guide you into the new year.

 Source: The Fairy Bible by Teresa Moorey, RM BOS