The yearly celebrations which are observed within traditional Witchcraft are known by many names: festivals, tides, holy days, and sabbats (although the term sabbat is something that is used less frequently and introduced in more recent times). These celebrations are scattered throughout the year and mark specific times within the harvest year. The number of yearly celebrations observed differs between traditions. Some of the most common of these celebrations are found on the solstices and equinoxes, and then on the days that resides directly between the closest solstice and equinox. Other traditions calculate these cross-quarter days, and place them on the full or new moon of the respective month, and still others have their own mean of calculating the date of observance.

Historically, the solstices and equinoxes were celebrated on the twenty-fourth day of the respective month, with the celebration beginning on the previous evening. In the old reckoning, days were counted from sunset to sunset. Whereas the solstices and equinoxes are determined by solar phenomena, the cross-quarter days are a lunar celestial phenomena.

Some traditional Witches still follow the old way of reckoning the festivals, whereas others have adapted to following the modern calendar. Most do not follow a year with both the quarter and cross-quarter days. Although some will observe both, most follow one or the other; not to mention other festivals which are scattered sporadically throughout the year and are particular to certain cultures, traditions, and in same cases specific to just a single family.