Wheel of the Year
Samhain (Halloween)
Samhain pronounced ‘sow-win (‘sow ‘as in ‘cow’) or Halloween (All Hallow’s Eve) is celebrated around the 31st of October and signals the start of the dark half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Samhain (Halloween)
What is Samhain?
It is a fire festival that falls halfway between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice.
Samhain is not a ‘devil worshipping or satanic festival’ as some believe, rather it is an ancient Celtic tradition and celebration of thanks for the harvest. Samhain actually stands for ‘sum-end’ or ‘summer’s end’.
It is also a time to remember those who have died as well as the ancestors.
The ancient Celts as well as modern-day druids, witches, wiccans, and pagans view Samhain as the most important of the fire festivals on the Wheel of the Year.
The opposite of Samhain is Beltane, which is celebrated on 1st May in the Northern Hemisphere.
Ancient Celtic Traditions
In the old days, during the traditional three days and three nights of Samhain, villagers would be joined by the druids, who would light a village fire.
Animals would be sacrificed, and branches from the fire would be taken into homes to light the hearths.
Villagers would also be required to show themselves to the local chief or king.
This was a festival to honour the ancestors, as the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest during this time.
Households left offerings outside homes for the faeries or Sidhe (pronounced ‘she’), as well as those spirits who had no family.
People dressed up to prevent being kidnapped by the faeries. Silly pranks were also played and blamed on the faeries.
Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, people began to carve turnips (not pumpkins), attach them to strings and sticks, and walk about with them. Pumpkin carving was a modern American tradition.
Trick or Treating which came from old Irish and Scottish practices, saw young people dress up in costumes, go door to door, and sing songs to the dead.
They were originally given oranges, nuts, and sometimes cakes as payment (not sweets).
The tradition of a ‘Dumb Supper’ also started during this time. At night houses would be left unlocked, and the ancestors were set a place at the table. At dinner, families would remember their ancestors and tell stories about them.
The True Meaning of Samhain
Samhain is ultimately a time of reflection – of letting go of the old and making way for the new.
This is a time of transformation and connection with both the physical and supernatural worlds.
It also reminds us of the cyclic nature of our lives and how we are connected to those who came before us.
Celebrations around the world:
The Day of the Dead – Día de Los Muertos. This ancient Aztec tradition is celebrated in Latin America, Mexico, and Spain.
People visit their ancestor’s graves and decorate them with flowers and candles.
Day of the Dead
Cities, towns, and villages hold street parades, and the locals believe that the spirits of the ancestors walk amongst the living.
St. Francis of Assisi
In Italy, people celebrate Ognissanti on 1st November, where they honour the martyrs and saints of the Catholic Church.
Sicilians believe that the dead leave small gifts or sweets for children; whereas in Lombardy, people leave a jug of water in the kitchen for the dead to drink when they visit.
Guatemalans celebrate the Festival de Barriletes Gigantes. People make kites from paper and bamboo and decorate them with symbols of their ancestors.
The kites are flown in the sky as a way to communicate with those who have passed. This tradition goes back 3,000 years.
Festival de Barriletes Gigantes
Ways to celebrate Samhain:
- Decorate your home with pumpkins, gourds, and apples.
- Light candles
- Remember those who have died by looking at photographs or keepsakes.
- Have a bonfire at night and watch the flames dance.
- Share a meal with family or friends.
My grandfather
Johannes Stephanus Gouws
My great grandmother
Sarah Prinsloo (nee Watkins)
Wishing you a reflective time of transformation and connection.
With blessings
Lee-Anne 
Loved hearing about the true meanings of Samhain, now it all makes it more meaningful. Thanks
Thank you so much Pam for your lovely comment 🙂