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Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne)
means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter
half of the year commences on this Sabbat.
It is generally
celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is
one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a
magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily
suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating
with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they
journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time
to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father,
symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort.
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.
Various other names for this
Greater Sabbat are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas
(Scottish/Celtic), Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest (Strega), and Samhuinn. Also
known as All Hallow's Eve, (that day actually falls on November 7th), and
Martinmas (that is celebrated November 11th), Samhain is now generally
considered the Witch's New Year.
Symbolism of
Samhain:
Third Harvest, the Dark Mysteries, Rebirth through Death.
Symbols of Samhain:
Gourds, Apples, Black Cats,
Jack-O-Lanterns, Besoms.
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.
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