Samhain is an ancient Pagan Celtic tradition and the time of year when the veil between this world and the world of the dead is at its very thinnest. At this time, the spirits of the dead traditionally mingle with the living. Celts believed that the very presence of these spirits could be used to help make predictions about the future.
Samhain means "the end of summer" and is also known as Shadowfest, Old Hallowmas, Martinmas, Hallowmas, the Witch's New Year, Third Harvest, Day of the Dead, Celtic New Year, Festival of Pamona, Santos and Celtic Winter. This time of year represents the final harvest before the arrival of winter.
Samhain makes its auspicious appearance each year on October 31st in this hemisphere and on May 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. It is now that the Dark Lord will pass into the Underworld and be re-born again at Yule.
Ancient Celts divided the year into two seasons -- the light season and the dark season. Beltane on May 1st was the start of the light season and Samhain on October 31st was the start of the dark season.
During Samhain, the Maiden and Mother are put aside when the Goddess emerges as the Crone. This is the very last of the three harvest Sabbats and marks the end of the growing season.
Taking stock of herds and grain supplies at Samhain and deciding which animals should be slaughtered for the upcoming winter season were all things that people did who owned livestock.
Friends and relatives that have died are invited to join in the Samhain celebrations. For this reason, in Ireland it is customary to leave plates of food on the table for extra guests and to leave candles in the window so that the spirits of ancestors can find their way in the dark. It is nice to keep a candle lit all night to guide the dead, provided the candle is never left unattended.
The tradition of going out trick-or-treating began originally as an old English practice where children went from door to door collecting cakes so that they could feed the wandering spirits of the night.
In the ancient past, Druids used to built large bonfires. People in the outlying communities would bring harvest food and animals that had been sacrificed to celebrate the passing of Samhain. After these festivals, Druids would re-light the fires in their homes from the bonfire as this was meant to protect them during the coming winter months.
During Celtic celebrations, costumes were usually worn. These costumes would invariably revolve around animal skins and an animal head, and the ancient Celts would take turns telling the fortunes of each other.
Samhain fires have been so popular through the years that back in 1860 one traveler noted that he saw over 30 fires lit up on the hillsides of Scotland one evening, with the shadows of dancing figures around each fire. Ashes from these fires were sprinkled liberally over fields to protect them during the winter months. This practice continued until World War I, although bonfires are still pretty widely seen in England and Ireland during Samhain.
Divination involving apples and nuts is a practice that is still continued in some places. Where one's future home will be, who will be a person's spouse, and how many children a person may have are all questions that are often asked.
If you choose to have an altar, there are many objects that can be used to decorate it at Samhain. Gourds, cider, autumn leaves, pumpkins, pine cones and pictures of deceased loved ones are all good ideas.
On Samhain, some Wiccans like to write down what they perceive as weaknesses onto a piece of paper and then toss the paper into a fire afterwards. This is symbolic of discarding old ways for new ones, and looking ahead to the coming year to turn weaknesses into strengths.
Deities that are associated with Samhain are Crone Goddesses like Lilith, Psyche, Rhiannon, Hecate, Inanna and Cerridwen.
Colors that are linked to Samhain are black, orange, yellow, brown, red, silver and gold, and these are all perfect colors for candles to place on your altar. Black is a wonderful color because it absorbs light, keeping you warm, and orange represents the magical nature of fires.
Onxy, obsidian and carnelian are three stones that are associated with Samhain.
Foods and drinks that can be eaten and drank on Samhain are apples, pumpkin pie, beets, turnips, hazelnuts, pomegranates, gingerbread, corn, nuts, cider and mulled wine.
The Samhain Holiday begins at sundown on October 31st. The nightide was always a time to be wary of walking alone in the countryside. So much more on this Night when the veils between the worlds of humans and spirits was at its thinnest. Traditional lore speaks of the dead returning to visit their kin and the doors to the Lands of the Sidhe (pronounced "shee") or Faery Realm being opened.
"The Feast of the Dead" ("Fleadh nan Mairbh") is laid out by many to welcome these otherworldly visitors and gain their favor for the coming year. Many folks leave milk and cakes ("Bannock Samhain" ) outside their door on Samhain Eve or set a place at their table for their ancestors who may want to join in the celebrations with their kin and family.
Some Witches use a chant at the beginning of the Feast to welcome their ancestors.
One of these, for example goes like this:
And so it is, we gather again,
The feast of our dead to begin.
Our Ancients, our Ancestors we invite, Come!
And follow the setting of the sun.
Whom do we call? We call them by name
(Name your ancestor that you wish want to welcome.)
The Ancients have come! Here with us stand
Where ever the country, where ever the land
They leave us not, to travel alone;
Flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone!
Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Great be their Power!
Past ones and present-at this very hour!
Welcome within are the dead who are kin,
Feast here with us and rest here within
Our hearth is your hearth and welcome to thee;
Old tales to tell and new visions to see!
It is also customary to light a new candle for the "new year". This ritual harkens back to the days when Samhain was one of only two days- the other being Beltaine-when it was considered correct to extinguish the "hearth fire" and then to re-light it. If your fire failed at any other time of the year, it was thought to be very bad luck indeed.
Upon the rekindling of the fire in the morning, this blessing was often said:
We Call Upon The Sacred Three:
To Save... To Shield... To Surround
The Hearth... The House... The Household
This Night, Each Night, Every Night.!
Many Witches of the Old Ways, actually celebrate "two" Samhains or Halloweens (Yes, some older traditions DO use the term "halloween"!). The "Old" date for Samhain occurs when the sun has reached 15 degrees Scorpio. (As a side note, the Catholic Church has "borrowed" this same day to celebrate the holiday of "Martinmas".) So if you follow this Way, you can always celebrate the "party aspect" with your friends on one date and the "worship" part with your kin on the other.
