Samhain is probably the best known – and misunderstood – pagan holiday. Irish Gaelic for “Summer’s End” Samhain (pronounced Soo-Ween) is an ancient Pagan celebration marking the end of the harvest season and the start of the long, dark winter months.
For practicing witches, Samhain is the most holy of sabbats, marking the beginning of the Wheel of the Year. Long associated with death and ghosts, Samhain is thought to be a time when the veil between the seen and unseen world is the thinnest. The Latin American celebration of the Day of the Dead is borne out of this belief.
Modern Samhain Celebrations are a great time to set new intentions and goals for yourself. It is also a time to celebrate loved ones who have passed on.
SAMHAIN SYMBOLS
Colors: Black, brown, yellow, purle, gold, silver, red
Foods: Apples, pumpkins, roasted game birds, cider, dark wine, pears, root vegetables
Stones: Smoky quartz, amber, obsidian, pyrite, onyx, carnelian, turquoise
Symbols: bat, cat, blackbird, cauldron
Flowers: Calendula, sunflowers, wild gingseng, wormwood
Deities: Ishtar, Horned God, Orsis, Loki, Persephone, Cerrunnos, Dionysus
WAYS TO CELEBRATE SAMHAIN
Many traditional Halloween activities have roots in the ancient pagan celebration of Samhain. Jack-o-lanterns served as a beacon for departed spirits and those carved with scary faces were thought to keep evil spirits at bay. Halloween costumes were used as a sort of magick trick – if you dress up as who you want to be, it was more likely to come true.
If you want to take time to honor loved ones who have died, you can set up an altar with decorations and photos and other mementos. Samhain is a great time to gather with friends and family. You can throw a traditional costume party or host a bonfire.
DECORATE FOR SAMHAIN
You can skip the plastic Halloween decorations and instead use the vestiges of late Autumn to decorate your home for Samhain. including:
acorns
dried leaves
pine cones,
gourds and
dried flowers
POPULAR SAMHAIN FOODS
Popular Samhain foods include traditional autumn fare such as pumpkin pie, apples, cider, roasted meats, root vegetables, pears cinnamon and dark wine. To keep a Samhain party easy, make it a potluck and ask your guests to bring a favorite dish.
Samhain marks the beginning of the Wheel of the Year for Pagan traditions. It’s ancient roots helped shape modern autumn celebrations including Halloween. Pagan or not pagan, Samhain provides an opportunity to connect with family and friends, remember loved ones and look forward to a new season in life.
