Samhain is the pagan celebration we now refer to as Halloween. It takes place at the end of October and beginning of November in the Northern Hemisphere and at the end of April and beginning of May in the Southern Hemisphere.
This is one of the pagan holidays known as Cross-Quarter Days, which mark the points in between Equinoxes and Solstices. These holidays were celebrated with Celtic Fire Rituals, and traditionally bonfires were lit to mark the occasion.
The other Cross-Quarter Days are Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh. When the bonfire was burning, people would jump over it for protection or with an intention in mind, and some would herd their animals through the smoke of the bonfire in order to protect them.
Samhain (pronounced sow-wen) is also known as The Witch’s New Year. This idea comes from the Celtic belief that each day began at sunset. Samhain also marks roughly the midway point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Since the Winter Solstice marks the longest night and shortest day, it is seen as a time of rebirth, when the god of light is reborn and the days begin to get longer again.
As we are in the time of fall, when trees lose their leaves, less crops can be grown and harvested, and the overall theme is to turn inward, this is seen as a time of winter, decline, and death.
The observance of Samhain comes from the belief that at this time of year, more spirits are walking the earth. Jack O’Lanterns were carved out of cabbages and turnips, the vegetables available in Western Europe before colonization of the New World, to scare away spirits that could mean people harm. Costumes were worn so people could disguise themselves from the spirits, who would get confused and think they were someone else.
There are some who will say that at this time of year the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, making it a good time to communicate with ancestors, loved ones, or other spirits we connect with. I think this is often said because we’re all paying attention to the presence of spirits more, which can help them interact with us (which can be a good or bad thing, depending on the spirit).
Some of the symbols associated with Samhain are Acorns, Besoms (brooms), Cauldrons, Bones, Pumpkins, Seeds, and Apples. Pumpkins are a vegetable of the New World, and have been incorporated into our modern day celebrations of Samhain and Halloween.
Samhain Plants & Herbs
Aconite - Acorn - Alder - Apple - Aspen - Belladonna - Blackthorn - Calamus - Catnip - Chervil - Cypress - Damiana - Dittany of Crete - Elder - Fumitory - Galangal - Hellebore - Hemlock - Henbane - Honeysuckle - Hop - Ivy - Juniper - Mullein - Myrrh - Parsley - Pumpkin - Rosemary - Rowan - Sage - Thistle - Valerian - Vervain - Wormwood - Yew
If you’d like to celebrate Samhain, you can carve a pumpkin as a ritual item. You can carve in symbols are that are significant to your magical practice. Since this is a time where protection is seen as necessary, you can carve protective symbols into your Jack O’Lantern, or carve one with a face and give it protective powers for you and your home. Either before or after you carve it, place your hands on your Jack O’Lantern and tell it exactly who or what you want to be protected from, and how far this blanket of protection reaches.
Since the translation of Halloween is to “All Hallow’s Eve,” I’m of the belief that Halloween actually takes place on November 1, which is similar to the original celebration of Samhain and corresponds with the beginning of Los Dias de Los Muertos, or the days of celebrating the dead in Mexico, which are somewhat similar.
Therefore, celebrate on whichever day you like and makes sense for your schedule. On the night or day of Samhain, you can also practice divination for the upcoming year and see what messages are in store for you. You can use tarot cards, a pendulum, scrying, runes, bones, whatever speaks to you.
If you’re looking for some insight for this time of year, check out Kajora Lovely’s Halloween Tarot Reading.
Blessed Samhain!
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