Samhain

October 31st is Halloween or Samhain (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne – Ireland/Scotland) - which literally means “summer’s end” and marks the third and final harvest. With the rise of Christianity, Samhain was changed to Hallowmas, or All Saints’ Day, to commemorate the souls of the blessed dead who had been canonized that year, so the night before became popularly known as Halloween, All Hallows Eve. It is the second “spirit night” of the year and marks the beginning of the Celtic new year, where the gods drew near to Earth at Samhain, so many sacrifices and gifts were offered up in thanksgiving for the harvest. The other spirit night is Beltane. Samhain is the time to connect with ancestors along with casting symbols representing personal prayers into the fire.  and at the end of the ceremonies, brands were lit from the great fire of Tara to re-kindle all the home fires of the tribe, as at Beltane. As they received the flame that marked this time of beginnings, people surely felt a sense of the kindling of new dreams, projects and hopes for the year to come.

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Originally the “Feast of the Dead” was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the “wandering dead”. Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition. Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos. The Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was was not advised. People dressed in white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the Nature spirits.

This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown into the fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved stone foretold of that person’s fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Goddess/God

A time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort

Symbolism of Samhain
Third Harvest, the Dark Mysteries, Rebirth through Death

Symbols of Samhain
Gourds, Apples, Black Cats, Jack-O-Lanterns, Besoms (Witch’s Broom)

Herbs of Samhain
Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak leaves, Sage and Straw

Foods of Samhain
Turnips, Apples, Gourds, Nuts, Mulled Wines, Beef, Pork, Poultry

Incense of Samhain
Heliotrope, Mint, Nutmeg

Colors of Samhain
Black, Orange, White, Silver, Gold

Stones of Samhain
All Black Stones, preferably jet or obsidian

http://www.celticspirit.org/samhain.htm
http://www.samhain.com/samhain.shtml

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/samhainlore.htm

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