Esbat

The esbat is the ritual gathering that Wicca dedicates to the Moon, usually at the full moon, although some traditions also celebrate the new moon. While the sabbats follow the cycle of the Sun and the seasons, the esbats follow the lunar rhythm and centre on the Goddess. They are times for magical work, divination, meditation and gratitude, and in traditional covens they are also used for teaching. There are usually twelve or thirteen full moons a year, and many practitioners give them traditional names by month, such as the Wolf Moon in January or the Harvest Moon in autumn.