Happy Samhain
About 4000 BCE tribal people split their year in half. In the spring, around the modern day May Day, the people would send their livestock out into the field to graze. This celebration is called Beltane (light half of the year). Around the modern day Halloween (dark half of the year) they would bring the livestock back in from the fields. At this time bonfires would be lit and the tribal people would celebrate.
In 2300 BCE an ancient race of people began to migrate into Europe. These people are believed to be the Celts. In 350 BCE the Celts invaded Ireland and Britain. They raised animals and celebrated a 3-day harvest festival. This festival is called Summer’s End and the Celtic New Year. On this day all of the hearth fires in Ireland were doused and then relit from a central need-fire located at Tlactga, which is 12 miles from Tara and maintained by the Druids. On this night the living could access Tir na n’Og which is the Land of the Dead. The Celts started the practice of leaving food at the table to welcome the departed. The Celts believed there was an invisible veil, which existed that, separated the worlds of the living and the dead. At sundown on the last day of their year this veil was the thinnest and allowed the living to communicate with the dead. On Samhain it was believed that the faeries would roam the countryside creating mischief.
When Christianity began in Ireland around the 4th or 5th centuries CE the priests were trying to figure out the problems they were facing with the Celts and their holidays. They were adamant about losing their customs. The Christians bribed the Celts. They changed a few of the holiday names. Samhain became All Hallows Eve. The priests taught the Celtic peasants that the faeries that came on Samhain were actually demons and the spirits of the dead were actually terrible ghosts. Now remember, this concept of demons was something new to the Celts. The Christians associated the Land of the Dead with their own concept of Hell. Stories began arising from the Christians that had nothing to do with anything. They began telling the Celts about the faeries being. Stories began arising from the Christians that had nothing to do with anything. They began telling the Celts about the faeries being fallen angels who belonged neither in Heaven or Hell and were doomed to walk the Earth for eternity.
Samhain once was a celebration centered on the honoring of the Gods of the harvest, preparing for the winter and asking for protection and welcoming the spirits of loved ones. Because of the Christianity religion this time of year now became known for the demons looking for souls, the hell fires awaiting unsuspecting souls and for death. The Catholic Church thought that if they made this holiday scary that it would put a stop to it.
So, how did we ever get witches into this holiday? Women were a very important part of the Celtic religion, in most ancient religions. Women were honored just like men. Not in Christianity. In those days the Christian church sought to rid themselves of Pagans and wise women. The church began telling people that women had no souls and weren’t important. In the Dark Ages approximately 1.5 million women and children were murdered because they would not give up their Pagan ways. This was known as the “Burning Times”.
The Celtic women were the strongholds of the families back then. Though the Celts accepted the Christianity way at first they were reluctant on giving up their family traditions or lifestyles. The church did not like he free thinking of the Celts. Anything that the church did not like or that didn’t follow their ways was evil. Thus, Celtic women became known as witches and were evil. The church viewed Samhain as evil and as the Celts primary celebration and New Year it became evil also. Thus was born the association of Witches and Halloween.
Originally All Saints Day was celebrated on May 13, 610 CE and honored the Christians who were murdered for their dedication of their faith. In the 7th century the date was changed to November 1st. If you remember the eve of Samhain was on October 31st and Samhain was on November 1st. Pope Gregory IV in 835CE announced that ALL saints would be celebrated on this day. The holiday was moved to this date because the Pagans refused to give up their fire festivals and honoring of the dead. The church believed that since they couldn’t stop the practices that if they put their own holiday on the same date maybe the pagans would start celebrating them. Since the honoring of the dead was already being celebrated this day then the honoring of the dead saints seemed appropriate. All Saints Day became Hallowmas. The Eve of All Hallows Day became All Hallows Even, which eventually became Halloween. All Souls’ Day is celebrated on November 2nd. Over the many centuries since Halloween has picked up many customs and has lost many.
Samhain originally gave Pagans a way to deal with death and the mystery of dying. Today we are still trying to understand this. The early church would have loved to have done away with Samhain but were forced to accept the holiday.
Samhain is one of the four Greater Sabbats, a cross quarter day. It is the highest holy day of Witches. Our New Year. It is the last chance to prepare the herbs for winter, when faeries work their mischief. It is the Day of the Dead, a time when we can remember and visit our loved ones who have passed on.
Symbols: Jack-o’-lanterns, black cats, ghosts, bats, scarecrows
Waning moon
Goddesses: All crone goddesses, Hecate, Cerridwen, the Morrigan, Ishtar, Kali, Rhiannon, Beansidhe, Isis
Gods: Osiris, the Horned God, Cernunnos, Odin, Bran
Incense: Sandalwood, copal, benzoin, sweetgrass, wormwood
Candles: Black, orange, autumn colors
Tools: Cauldron and besom
Divination: Runes, scrying, tarot cards, pendulum, mirror, crystal balls
Plant: Apple, pumpkin, grain, mugwort, acorn, oak leaf, gourds, rosemary
Stone: Onyx, carnelian, obsidian, bloodstone, jet, smoky quartz
Animal: Owl, black cat, bat
Altar decorations: Fall flowers, autumn leaves, apples, pumpkins, ears of corn, grain, corn dollies, nuts, seeds, chestnuts, images of loved ones who have died
Food: Nut breads, roasted nuts, gingerbread, meat, apple and pumpkin dishes, doughnuts, popcorn, cakes, red foods
Drink: Apple cider, mulled cider, mulled wine, mead
Costumes, trick-or-treating, masks, harvest funs, rituals, witches’ ball.
Samhain is the most magickal night of the year. It is a time to be outside, a night that is not a night. A night for change. This is a time for candle magick, past life working, mirror spells, astral projection.
Ritual fires: Bonfire – to protect the family or land. Bale fire – to erase negativity. Torches for the dead. Extinguish all fires on this night and relight from a newly lit fire. Put a candle in a window to help your loved ones spirit to come home. Light a candle in a jack-o’-lantern outside to help the spirits and faeries find their way.
Meditation: Deep, inner reflection. Think about changes, transitions, passage, beginning and endings, mortality, reincarnation.
Spirit work: This is the night when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest. Some things to do on this night with the dead could be have a dumb supper, séances, ouija boards. Bury some apples around outside so the hungry spirits will have food. Leave plates of food out for the spirits. Set an extra dish at the table for a loved one.
Tonight is a great night to visit the faerie realm but remember to leave there before dawn or you will forever remain there enchanted and unable to return.
This is the Celtic New Year. Release and cleanse yourself of old habits, relationship, and any thing negative. Settle debts, make amends and repair items. Renew the security spells on your home. Cleanse your home for the New Year.
Gods and Goddesses connected with Samhain
