Samhain

“Dancing 'round the flame of Summer's end-
sparks of golden yellow celebrate Samhain.
Twirling around tossing leaves in the air-
laughing and giggling while catching them in our hair.

The last harvest is in as turns the New Year
while the chill of Yule draws ever so near.
The dead will join our festive feasts,
giving glimpses of our past, present and future feats.

Come young maidens, mothers and crones-
Let the whispers of spirits rattle your bones.
Embrace the silence of the coming dark
and join the Sabbat's circle with open mind and open heart.”

‘Samhain’, by Robin Wester.

What is Samhain?

Samhain (pronounced ‘Sow-een’) is the pagan celebration of what we more commonly refer to as Hallowe’en. Samhain, also known as the ‘Festival of the Dead’, was incredibly important to our Saxon and Celtic ancestors. For the Celts there were two seasons: Winter, which ran from November 1st until the end of April, and summer from May 1st, a day also known as Beltane which later became our May Day. The Church later renamed the festival ‘All Hallows Eve’ (Hallow meaning Holy, or Holy Man/Saint) ostensibly removing all negative or rather, pagan and magickal connotations. This later became known as Hallowe’en, after which the Church made November 1st All Saint’s Day. Despite this, Hallowe’en was and still remains a far more pagan festival than one that is Christian.


Samhain, literally translated means ‘Summer’s End’ and for the Celts, the first of November was not only the beginning of winter, it was also the first day of their New Year. As such Samhain was the Celtic New Year’s Eve, and one of the great Sabbats.

The Celts were farmers, raising cattle and working the land. As such, they worked as one with nature, observing it’s cycles and treating the earth with respect. Being a pastoral people, Samhain marked a large transition in the Celts yearly routine; after bringing their cattle down from the fields, the people gathered in their homes to fill the long evenings with story-telling and crafts as the summer light died. At this point in the year, vegetation was dying all around them. Samhain marked the fact that with the death of the year, there would also follow it’s rebirth, with crops re-sown, and livestock coupled. Samhain was the celebration of the third and final harvest of the year, often symbolised with apples, one of the final crops. The growing time of the year was over; the earth harvested to begins its long sleep and regeneration. In addition to this, the importance of death was also observed. As sombre and uncommon as this may seem nowadays, death was an intrinsic part of nature and the earth’s cycle. For without death, rebirth would be impossible.

The Celts believed that when people died, they went to a land of eternal youth and happiness called ‘Tir nan Og’. Samhain was the time when the "veil between the worlds" was at its thinnest, and the living could communicate with their beloved dead in Tir nan Og. Traditions rising from this are those such as ‘dumb suppers’ where the table would be laid with a meal for loved ones passed, who’s spirits were welcomed into the home. Death was something natural and not to be feared. In the Celtic belief system, turning points were seen as magickal times, the turning of the year at Samhain was the most potent of all.

The Celts did not have our concept of evil, they did however believe that fairies were often hostile and dangerous to humans; having an innate knowledge of herbs and poisons, and the ability to use them in ways unknown to man. In addition to Tir nan Og, the dead were also believed to be dwell with the Fae, in ‘sidhe’ (pronounced "shee"), grassy hillside mounds that dotted the countryside. On the night of Samhain, the Fae were thought to trick humans into becoming lost in the mounds, becoming trapped forever. It was believed that no night was as dangerous as Samhain/Hallowe’en for the potential of provoking the Fae…a 17th century register of death lists three people frightened to death by fairies, and one led into a horse-pond by a will-o’-the-wisp.

As well as the Fae, many humans were also the cause of mischief at Samhain. Guising was a common practise that can be traced back to the time of the Druids. The Druids blackened their faces from the ashes of their sacred fires as a form of protection. Because this night belonged neither to one year or the other, Celtic folk believed that chaos reigned and the people would take the opportunity to cause a little trouble on this night - their last chance for some high-spirited fun before winter truly set in. Since the fairies were believed to be abroad on this night, an offering was frequently left for them on the steps of the house, in the form of food or drink to ensure blessings of the Fae in coming year, safeguarding their crops and health. Many people would imitate the fairies and go from house to house begging for titbits, as practical jokes would ensue if the owner of the house failed to supply a tasty treat.

Sadly this more positive attitude to death changed when priests trying to Christianize the pagans slowly convinced the majority of people that returning spirits were not to be welcomed, but forsaken instead. In late medieval times, ‘souling’ was the tradition, where poor folk would knock at doors on All Hallows Eve, and exchange prayers for the dead in return for food and drink. In the last century, guising became more of a form of entertainment, with songs and dances, and also appearances at festivals. However up to a century ago, guisers in Scotland are believed to have still practiced the custom of blackening their faces to hide them from the dead.

Folklore is indicative of many divination practices associated with Samhain. Among the most common were divinations dealing with marriage, weather, and the coming fortunes for the year, the latter of which were also a form of comfort in the long, dark and bitter winter months. The apple may have continued as such a symbolic Samhain fruit because the Romans combined two festivals with the Celtic Samhain: “Feralia” honoured the dead in late October, and “Pomona” honoured the Goddess of trees and fruit, strengthens the iconic connection. The apple is also the symbol of Venus, honouring fertility (as does Pomona) but also that of the Crone - her knowledge and wisdom. Divination was performed via such methods as ducking for apples, and apple peeling. Ducking for apples was a marriage divination. The first person to bite an apple would be the first to marry in the coming year. Apple peeling was a divination that was believed to predict how long your life would be. The longer the unbroken apple peel, the longer your life was destined to be.

A modern-day understanding

It is easy to see how many of our modern day customs (such as candle lanterns, costumes and bobbing for apples) have evolved, including the superstition that surrounds Samhain/Hallowe’en. More recently, the fruit most symbolic of Hallowe’en is that of the pumpkin. However, this is not a native fruit, and it was the turnip, which was once turned into a lantern (with much more effort than that of a pumpkin!). The turnip was hollowed, again, as a means to frighten away malevolent spirits from those who walked this night, or as some also believe, a light to guide the lost souls home. There is an incredible amount of symbolism in such lanterns. The light shining through the grinning mask is a reminder that even through the dark there is a light and energy that shines; yet it is hidden, dormant in the bulbs buried in the earth, and the sleeping seeds. The turnip/pumpkin is also seen as a mask, and symbolises transformation – not only for the time of year and season, but also of us. At this time of year, we can change our masks; change our lives and outlook for the better, casting away old incarnations of ourselves for better, happier, (and if we dare) truer selves. For a mask is not just a disguise, it is also a means of invocation – the calling forth of the self from deep within. For this we can call on the Crone, the ‘Wise One’, also epitomized by the grinning glowing mask of our Samhain lanterns.

Pumpkin carving

Pumpkin carving is a fabulous activity, and one with which you can be as artistic as you like. If you really wish to stick with tradition, a swede or turnip would be preferable, but be warned, it is a long and arduous process! Pumpkins are certainly much easier for children to hollow and carve as the cavity only requires the scraping of seeds, and the flesh is moist and easy to cut through.

A great way of designing your pumpkin is to give your child a black pen or pencil (thicker darker lines are preferable), and allow them to design a picture. The simpler the better, as intricate cuts require a dexterous hand. However, there is no need to stick to faces… let your imaginations run wild! Our pumpkins last year included a wolf howling at the moon, a witch on a broomstick, a ghost peeping around a door, in addition to the prerequisite faces!

Once you are happy with your designs, snip into the corners of your paper to allow them to be sellotaped to the pumpkin with ease. Now, following your outlines, punch through the paper with a thick blunt needle or bamboo skewer, marking the outline onto the flesh with a series of little dots. When you have finished, simply remove the paper (retaining it for reference) and start to carve with a small sharp knife, of for younger children, a specialist pumpkin saw which are now widely available at larger supermarkets. Don’t forget when you cut out your lid, to do it at an angle so it sits back in neatly!

For some extra tips and inspiration, http://www.pumpkincarving101.com is a wonderful website, whilst http://www.cyberhaunt.com/site/fun/carving/index.html has many wonderful stencils!

For younger children it can also be prudent to use a small torch, such as a maglite to illuminate your lantern, to ensure no burning of little fingers!



Snap Dragon

This game is a lovely activity for children who are afraid of the water used with the traditional version of ‘bobbing’ for apples, is that of ‘Snap Dragon’. For this activity, take your selection of apples, and thread through string with a darning needle, knotting at the base. Then suspend your apples from something appropriate, such as a washing line. The children now take turns to snap at the apples with their teeth whilst they have their hands behind their backs. The first child to take a bite is the winner.

In addition to this activity, children are always fascinated by the fact that if you cut an apple crossway rather than from top to bottom, you are left with the five-pointed star – sacred to the Goddess. Show them and give them half each as a prize!

Pass the Pumpkin

Using a hollowed out pumpkin lined with newspaper (or a carrier bag will do at a pinch), fill it with small wrapped treats, such as homemade biscuits or sweets, or even small spring bulbs which can be later used for the activity, ‘Bright Futures’. Using the same rules as ‘pass the parcel’, the children sit in a circle and pass the pumpkin until the (spooky!) music stops. The child then removes the lid, and takes a treat.

Bright Futures

Allowing a spring bulb per child, hand them out and explain that each little bulb contains light and energy, even though it will be planted in the dark ground throughout the winter. Once a plant pot, or part of the garden has been selected, go and plant your bulbs, giving each child a marker with their name on, (cutting strips of old plastic milk cartons and suchlike work brilliantly). The children can then see when their individual flowers will bloom come the springtime and gathering light.


Wishing you all a merry and magickal Samhain!