The word Sabbat comes from the Greek work "sabatu", which means "to rest". The Sabbats are representative of the turning of the wheel and each honor different phases in the life cycle of the Goddess and the God. It is interesting to note that the eight Sabbats now known to modern Western pagans used to number only five: Bealtain, Midsummer, Lughnasadh, Samhain, and Yule.