Esbats

    Esbats are rituals that occur on the full moon, and on a new moon as well.  There are many different types of rituals that can be done.  Some people use the time to just honor the Goddess, since She rules the night.  Many others use the time to create and perform spells, for a variety of reasons.  In general, full moons are a good time for creating spells to wrap something up; new moons are good for starting something new.  Esbats are also a good time to consecrate any new tools, or help charge any crystals/candles.  For sample Esbats spells/rituals, you can check in my Boook of Shadows.

*By the way, when I say spell I mean an act of raising and directing magick for a purpose, to help change or affect something.  When I say ritual, I mean more of a time for honoring either the Goddess or the God.

    Throughout one complete turn of the Wheel of the Year, there are 8 holidays that Wiccans observe.  The Wheel starts with Samhain, also known as Halloween to every one else!  Considered the new year, this is one of the most important holidays during the year.  But for purposes that will reveal themselves, I'm going to start with Yule, the first holiday after the new year.
 

Yule, Winter Solstice

    Yule, celebrated from December 21 to December 31, marks the longest night of the year, and the shortest day.  It's during this time that we celebrate the Goddess giving birth to the God, bringing him back into the world.  It's a time to honor the God, as it's his birthday!  As a way of celebrating, a Yule log is burned, to give life and power to the Sun.  A piece of the Yule log is saved, and protects the house until the next Yule, in which the same piece is burned again.  Many people associate this holiday with the Christain holiday Christmas.  In truth, the Pagan holidays was celebrated long before the Christians borrowed some of it's concepts and created their own holiday.  Example of the similarities are gift giving- many Pagans exchange small gifts at this time, as well as decorate trees, as a way of honouring nature.  The reindeer stag is also commonly associated with the God.
Candles/Colors: Green, Red, Gold, and White
Incense: Cedar, Pine, Bayberry

Candlemas/Imbolic

   Celebrated on February 2, Candlemas represents the beginning of spring, a time to banish the winter season from our minds.  The Goddess is now recovering from her birth to the God.  It's a time of refreshing, and reawakening within ourselves.  I always think of it as a time of "spring cleaning".  A good time to check over what you've got in your magickal cabinet.  Also a good time for dedication rituals, or a renewal if it's already been done.
Candles/Colors: Lavender, White, Green, Blue
Incense: Wisteria, Basil

Ostara/Spring Equinox

    The second of the three spring time holidays, Ostara is the day when night and day are of equal lengths.  Occuring in mid-March, it's a time where it's no longer winter, but it's not quite spring just yet; a time of balance.  The God is now growing to maturity, and the Goddess is reaping the Earth with fertility.  A good time for beginnings, and planting the seeds of new things, whether they be plants or ideas.  Eggs are often painted and place on the altar, another sign of honour that the Christians adapted into their holiday Easter.  Often times naming ceremonies will occur around this time.
Candles/Colors: Lemon Yellow, Light Green, Pale Pink
Incense: Rose, Jasmine, Strawberry, Sage

Beltane

    Celebrated on May 1st, Beltane is the last of the spring trinity.  Candlemas and Ostara are preparatory times of Beltane.  The union of the Goddess and God occurs at this time, celebrating love and union.  This holiday has always been one of my personal favorites- it's a time of celebrating the warm months to come, and the joining of two halves to make a whole.  Children, flowers, and faeries are commonly associated with Beltane.  A way of decorating or honouring the holiday is by adorning a tree with ribbons the colors of the holiday.
Candles/Colors: Bright Blue, Lavender, Warm Pink, Yellow, White
Incense: Lilac, Rose

Midsummer/Summer Solstice

    Held on the longest day of the year, Midsummer is the time when the Horned God is in his full glory.  A day to honour passion, and success.  Matters concering business and/or money are well dealt with on this day.  Also, anything that would need the power of male energy is key to Midummer.  It's a time between the fertility season of Spring, and the harvesting season of Autumn.
Candles/Colors: Gold, Green, Red
Incense: Frankencense, Myrrh, Pine

Lammas/Lughnassadh

   Celebrated on August 2, Lammas marks the first of the three harvest holidays.  It's a good time to restock your magickal cabinet with herbs.  It's the time to celebrate harvests, or to bless the crops.  A time of powerful magick.
Candles/Colors: Orange, Red
Incense:

Mabon/Autumn Equinox

   Celebrated on the first day of fall (Autumn Equinox) this is a time of balance.  The length of the day and night are equal.  This is a time when the God prepares to pass on (Samhain), and the Goddess prepares herself for nurturing the seed inside her that will soon be the God reborn.  Acorns and leaves can be placed on the altar for this holiday.
Candles/Colors:
Incense:

Samhain/Halloween

   Samhain marks the passing of the God, and also the beginning of a new year for Witches, as the God is preparing to be reborn through the Goddess.  This is the time when the Wheel of one year has ended, but like life- it contines on; a wheel.  This is also the time when the veil between the worlds is the thinnest.  A common thing to do on this holiday is set a table for loved ones that have passed, with offerings to them.  Now is when we prepare for winter, and the time of the Goddess.
Candles/Colors: Yellow, Black, Orange
Incense: