Samhain and Halloween

The Sabbat (holiday or festival) of Samhain, pronounced "sow-en", is also known as Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, Festival of the Dead, Feast of Apples, Third Festival of Harvest, All Saint's Eve, and by a couple other names. "Samhain" means "summer's end." It usually occurs on October 31 (which is either Samhain, or Samhain Eve), and/or November 1. Though, sometimes it is celebrated at the exact cross-quarter, when the sun is at 15 degrees (or half-way through) Scorpio (the astrological sign), usually around November 7. It is considered the most major Sabbat, or solar and seasonal holiday, of the nine or eight, most important Sabbats or festivals, of the year.

The ancient Celtic people and the Druids, about one thousand to three thousand years ago, celebrated a harvest festival and a festival for the dearly departed (or their ancestors) around this time of year, and basically called it Samhain, which is the ancient name for it.

The name, Halloween, from hallowed, meaning "holy," comes from All Saint's Day (November 1), which is the same as All Hallow's day, a day the early Catholic church set aside to remember the "holy ones" of God, which was a christianized form (though, obviously, the date and customs were stolen from the Ancient spirituality) to counter the Pagan Samhain, like most modern holidays that have descended down to us.

The ancient people lit bonfires, or balefires, at sunset, on hilltops, to bid farewell to the Lord of the Sun, or Horned Hunter of the Night, as he was and is believed to die at that time, and journey into the arms of the Mother Goddess, in the underworld or after-life, to be reborn of Her, again, at Yule (the winter solstice). Bobbing for apples was also a practice, because if you split an apple in half (in a certain manner), it reveals the mystical symbol of five-pointed star, or pentagram. Jack-o'-lanterns, from pumpkins, or turnips, were hallowed out and carved, with lit candle inserted within them, to ward off nasty spirits. Trick-or-treating is also an ancient custom, though, was taken much more serious than today, and practiced by adults, also. Games, chanting magickal verses, and sexual rites, had and can have also, part and place in Samhain. Of course, masks and custumes, too, have always been a part of Pagan antiquity, and of the modern practices of certain cultures, as well.

A supper or feast, using all black (or mainly black and orange) table-ware, perhaps with a black candle lit at each place, and a white candle at one seat (an unoccupied seat) to represent Spirit (Who is invited or asked to attend your supper), is another practice that is common in modern times. Sometimes extra places are set and one invites their physically departed loved ones to attend. The veil between the worlds (between the physical and spiritual or metaphysical) is thought to be the thinnest at this time of year, and it's believed that the "dead" return on the mystical night of Samhain (October 31). Also, I think it far better to be merry and festive in your activities and feast, than to sit there solemnly (why would your ancestors want to attend something depressing?). Too, Cakes for the Dead -- white cakes (can be like white cupcakes with white frosting) are baked for the physically living to consume, with the belief that the spirits will impart blessings per each cake eaten, and a couple cakes (or what you an spare) can be left outside for visiting spirits, as well, perhaps, an apple.

Divination, attempting to find out either the future, or the past, or past lives (incarnations), through the Tarot cards, rune stones, ouija boards (not completely recommended), meditation, mesmerism, and other methods, is common at this time, and is said to be the easiest to accomplish at this important point of the Wheel of the Year, as well.

A Pagan, or Wiccan, or Witch, Samhain Ritual:

Altar colors are black and orange, but can also be red, brown, green, and white (also, purple). Acorns, autumnal leaves, jack-o'-lanterns, oak leaves, and also, any symbols (modern or ancient) of Halloween, and/or Samhain, can be used as decorations.

Light some candles (at least three, taper candles would be good) and incense (Sandalwood is always a nice scent).

If you desire to cast the magick circle (usually of visualized, blue flame), purify the area with blessed, salted water (as well as with your incense and a flame of the candles), and invoke the Spirit guardians of the four quarters (associated with: east and air; south and fire; west and water; and north and earth), go ahead. However, if you do not feel the need to do such things, I wouldn't bother with all that time-consuming detail.

You can call upon your main goddess and god (with Whom you usually work), such as, Isis and Osiris, or Aradia and Cernunnos, or Artemis and Apollo, or any other deities, or the Goddess and God, and/or One Spirit, in general. At this time of year, you may wish to call upon a dark god and goddess, the "dark" deities are of death that must be so that new life can blossom, of the Mysteries, of rebirth, deep meditation, the New Moon, the waning sunlight as the days grow noticibly shorter, of strength, and other powerful forces, and you might want to invoke or call upon; and some possibles of deities to invoke, are: Anubis and Nephthys, Kerridwen (or Cerridwen) and Odin, Tammuz and Erishkigal, Hades and Persephone, and so on.

Of course, if it's not too cold to do a rite or ritual outside, then, that's always better, in personal opinion.

Note: the winter solstice or Yule happens usually around December 21.

Also, when it says "we," that can mean Pagans or Wiccans, in general, all over the world, so, the following rite is mostly already tailored to the Solitary practitioner, or else, to a group or coven.

Speak the following verses (confidently, and with passion), or some similar writing or speaking:

"Hail to You!
Lord of the Sun!
Waxing one of summer days
and waning one of winter nights;
God of Light and life,
Great Purifier,
You of Old, Who are
Horned Hunter of the Night,
Lord of Death, and of all that comes after,
and god of rebirth;
Lord of the Harvest --
who is now, cut down for the final time
to nourish and sustain our bodies
so that we may live through the winter.
The Sacred Flames burn for you
And the season of the Night is at hand;
Now begins, also, the time of the great illumination --
when we look within our souls,
on cold, winter days and nights,
to find our life, divine our great path,
and grow strong and rested, to plunge forward.

As you fade now
to journey into the Lands of the West,
and the sacred Womb of the Mother Goddess,
from which all life emerges,
and to which, all will return;
We bid you Hail and Fairwell!
Blessings upon You, fallen one of the Sun!
May you return,
ever strong, always victorious,
at the Winter Solstice.

And praise to You! Dark Goddess,
Ancient, aged, and Wise One,
Great Mother and Grandmother of all Mysteries,
divinations, and the deepest knowledge,
and Goddess of the dark nights, the waning Moon,
the winter of rest,
and of secrets revealed, and secrets hidden from view;
We glorify you!
And, Oh Great Mother of the Womb, Guardian of Life,
And Goddess Cerridwen, Keeper of the Cauldron of Immortality,
Embrace and accept your Dark Lord against your breasts as He returns to You,
To bring him forth, once again, as the Divine, Yule Child.

We Hail and Praise You,
And wish you a Merry Samhain and Halloween,
Oh Divine Goddess and God,
May many blessings, and all worship, be upon You, Forever!

Blessed Be! So mote it be." (c)(2001)

Celebrate the Simple Feast -- bless (to ask for blessings) bread or cakes, and red wine or juice, or any similar beverage, in the Names of the Goddess and God (also known as the Lady and Lord), and consume them. Perhaps, pour a libation of wine into a bowl for the Deities, and leave it on your altar, or outside.

Thank any deities you called, and also, the guardians should be bid farewell and thanked (if you called them). Uncast the magick circle of blue flame, if you cast one around you and the area, i.e., visualize it being taken up, again, or disappearing.

Then, feast, make merry, play games, watch movies Halloween movies, etc. Also, you could have sex, or masturbate (if you're as lonely), if you wanted to do so... It wouldn't be out of line, at all.

Note: one can simply say the verses (above), alone, if you are unable to, or don't wish to, do any more of a rite than that; and, while gazing at the setting sun, when it's just below the western horizon, is a good time to do it.

Plus, mirror magick, and lighting a red candle and walking down a lonely road on this night, to greet the spirits, and vortex magick, are other, appropriate ideas or practices. Use your imagination to figure out more things you can do to celebrate.

Blessed Be.