A History of Samhain
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Samhain (pronounced Sah-Win) is an ancient Celtic festival that celebrates the last harvest of the season. Along with harvest celebrations, Samhain was also a time for remembering loved ones who have died. Many ancient Samhain traditions were woven into early Christian holidays, while other Samhain practices are still used today by witches, pagan and others who seek a spiritual path guided by the rhythm of the seasons.
Ancient Celtic Celebration of Samhain
Gaelic for Summer’s End, Samhain was believed to be a time for the earth to rest before another growing season started in the spring. Cattle were moved from the hills to the pasture for winter and the last of the harvest was gathered and stored for the long winter months. Once the work was complete, folks celebrated with bonfires and festivals.
It is believed that ancient Celtic tradition started each new day at sundown, versus the modern practice of sunrise. And so Samhain celebrations would begin at sundown on or around October 31st. Some modern pagan and Wiccan groups celebrate Samhain when the sun reaches 15 degrees scorpio, which is the exact midpoint between Autumn and Winter. Others opt to celebrate Samhain at the second full moon after Mabon.
According to Judy Ann Nock in her book The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year ancient Celts viewed Samhain as the time of Cailleach, the crone who rules the winter season, and offerings and sacrifices were made to her.
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Christianity, Samhain and Halloween
As Christianity grew throughout Europe during the Roman Empire and into the Middle Ages, many pagan holidays were adopted into the Christian Calendar, to promote assimilation to this new religion. In the Germanic lands, Ostara became Easter. In the British Isles Lughnasadh became Lammas and in Ireland, Samhain became All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Days (November 2).
According to Wicca Demystified by Bryan Lankford, the demonic aspects of Halloween are courtesy of the Medieval Christian Church, who turned stories of fairies into tales of demons, and ancestral spirits into doomed ghosts. The copting of pagan beliefs was another way that the Early CHristian church could solidify its power over conquered people. Salvation was only possible through the church and to deviate would result in your soul wandering in purgatory or worse. Costumes were worn during All Saints and Souls days to ward off evil spirits. The Irish emigration in the 19th Century brought these beliefs and customs to America, where they have solidified into a secular modern holiday we know as Halloween.
The Veil Between The Living and Dead
By the end of the harvest season, ancient Celts believed that by the end of October, the God had exhausted himself giving life to crops and died, causing the Goddess to enter a period of mourning which would last until the Winter Solstice. This may be one of the reasons that Samhain is believed to be a time when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Spirits can return to the life they left behind, and for one night, be close to their loved ones. It was (and still is) common to set up an altar with tokens of loved ones past or to leave an extra place setting at the table. According to Skye Alexander, in her book The Modern Guide to Witchcraft, Jack-o-lanterns were originally used as beacons for wandering spirits to help guide them home. The scary faces carved into the pumpkins were used to deter malevolent spirits from bothering the living.
Celebrating loved ones who have died is a global practice. The celebration of the Day of the Dead is another example of how ancient traditions, this time of pre-columbian mesoamerica, were blended with Christian All Saints & All Souls days, to form a new modern celebration.
Because of the strong connection between the living and the dead, Samhain is a popular time for contacting spirits through tarot or runes readings.
Modern Samhain & Witchcraft
Samhain marks a sacred day for practicing witches. It is seen as the beginning of the Witches' Year, when the cycle of death and rebirth begins once again. It’s time to let go of the things that no longer serve you and start afresh. Just as with a conventional new year, Samhain is a good time to set intentions for the months ahead. The Mabon House Wheel of the Year Planner is a great tool to help you organize your spiritual path and practice.
Samhain is a time of both life and death. The growing season is finished and the earth can rest. While it marks the start of a new Wheel of the Year, Samhain is also a time to remember departed family and friends. This balance of light and dark helps keep us rooted to love, while encouraging hope for the new seasons of life ahead.
How are you celebrating Samhain? Share in the comments below or over on Instagram.
