I wasn’t always a fan of the holiday that most of America refers to as ‘Halloween’. As a matter of fact, I loathed it. I found that the weather was depressing and It was the precursor for the icy chill of winter. These days, I see Samhain (pronounced SOW-en)as representing new beginnings and the planting of seeds that can be nurtured through the darkness of winter.
What is Samhain?
I came across this article by Author Jason Mankey that describes the relationship between Samhain and Halloween perfectly. Halloween, as we celebrate it, is a relatively recent creation, but it has its roots in the Celtic celebration that is known as Samhain.
Samhain, for most modern Pagans and Druids (at least in the States), exists over a three-day period beginning with the 31st of October and ending on the 2nd or 3rd of November. But Samhain in Gaelic literally means ‘November’. So, really, Samhain is the entire month of November. Another great article on Samhain was written by fellow author, teacher, and elder John Beckett which outlines a bit more about the timing of Samhain and what it represents.
During this time of Samhain, we literally feel the ‘thinning of the veil’ between our world and the world of Spirit, The Otherworld, the place of our Ancestors. This is the time that we review all of what we’ve done over the past year and, since it marks the Pagan New Year, what we wish to accomplish in the year to come. We call to our ancestors, we offer them food, drink, and tokens of remembrance, and we sit in silence in hopes of hearing what they have to say to us.
The Focus of Samhain
While some of us only observe Samhain precisely from sunset on October 31st until sunset on November 1st, many of us observe the holiday for three days or for the entire month of November. It really is up to the individual to use their intuition to find what feels right, but the focus is almost always on working with the Ancestors and meditating on the cycle of life and death (and, of course, rebirth.)
So, we know three main focuses of Samhain:
- Honoring the Ancestors
- Marking the Celtic (and Pagan) New Year
- Acknowledging the Darker Aspects of Life (Death and letting go)
But there are other things we focus on as well. The end of the harvest season is here, and we are starting to turn towards winter. The Cailleach has started to walk toward the door of her hut, bringing frost with her each step of the way. She will reign over the dark half of the year, and we will see her transform back into the maiden as we approach Beltane once more.
How To Mark New Beginnings at Samhain
Some ideas to start with, particularly if you are new to celebrating Samhain, are:
- Hold a Silent Supper
- Decorate using items from Nature
- Revitalize or create an Ancestor Altar
- Begin drafting a Gratitude Journal
- Read a book on a Samhain theme (Ancestors, death, etc.)
- Volunteer your time (perhaps at a local cemetery)
- Create a new photo album (and make it an Ancestor collage book)
- Create (or use one you find you like) a ritual recognizing the death of the Horned God (Cernunnos) who is believed to pass with the death of the year, only to be reborn at Yule (the Winter Solstice).
- Meditate on the Ancestors of not only family, but of tradition and of other aspects of your life such as your career.
Sowing the Seeds of Tomorrow
Embracing Samhain is to embrace the cycle of renewal and reflection; it’s a time to honor those who walked the path before us and to chart the course for our own journey ahead — a time of new beginnings. Whether you’re setting an extra place at your silent supper, collecting crimson leaves for your altar, or simply sitting in contemplation of the ever-turning wheel of the year, you are participating in a tradition as ancient as the rolling hills and as personal as the hearth fire.
As you consider the closing of one year and the dawning of another, ask yourself:
What seeds will you plant in the dark, fertile soil of this Samhain season that will bloom in the cycles to come?
How will you make this time of introspection and remembrance uniquely yours?
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