How to Host a Dumb Supper
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Often associated with Samhain or Halloween, a "Dumb Supper" is an old tradition with European roots. It involves setting a place at the dinner table for the spirits of the deceased and observing a silent (aka Dumb) meal in their honor. A Dumb Supper can be a solo activity or you can invite friends and family to join. A Dumb Supper is intended to be a celebration of life, similar to the idea of Day of the Dead, when people honor their loved ones who have passed on with festivities and special foods. A Dumb Supper is an easy and simple ritual to do at home, as part of your Wheel of the Year journey.
The History of a “Dumb Supper”
There are a few theories of where and when the concept of a Dumb Supper originated. Some credit the Dumb Supper as an 19th century Appalachian tradition, while others claim it was born out of British love traditions, dating as far back as the 17th century. Early versions were usually centered around young women who would host a “Dumb Supper” as a way to find out who they would marry. There were various customs around hosting a Dumb Supper, including serving everything backwards and eating the meal at midnight.
This association between Halloween and love divination continued into the early 20th century. It was common to send a loved one a Halloween card, in the same way we might send Valentine’s Day cards today. The appeal of a Dumb Supper at Halloween also fits into the Victorian/Edwardian fascination with the occult that swept through Western Europe and the United States at the turn of the 20th century.
Dumb Supper’s eventually faded away as a tradition during the mid-20th century. More recently the custom as been revived by neo pagans as part of Samhain celebrations. Rather than a focus on love divination, the modern Dumb Supper is more in spirit of the Day of the Dead Celebrations of Latin America. Spirits of loved ones who have passed on are invited to the dinner, as a way to honor them and celebrate their life.
How to Host a Dumb Supper
Like many Wheel of the Year traditions, there is no right or wrong way to host a dumb supper. It can be a solo activity or you can host a gathering of friends and family to participate. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish to make it.
Here is a general guide for hosting a simple Dumb Supper that doesn’t require a lot of prep time or special items.
Decide on a date for your Dumb Supper. Traditionally, it's held on Halloween night or during the Samhain festival. Choose a quiet, dimly lit location, such as your dining room or outdoors in a peaceful garden. Arrange a table with a single place setting for each spirit you wish to invite. Place a candle at each setting.
Invite the spirits you wish to communicate with. You can do this through a simple spoken invitation or by writing their names on slips of paper and placing them under the appropriate plates.
Cook a simple meal with foods that were meaningful to your deceased loved ones or are associated with the season, such as apples, bread, and root vegetables. This book has some great Samhain-inspired recipes.
Before starting the meal, invite the spirits to join you in your own words or with a traditional invocation. Express your love and respect for them and invite them to communicate with you if they wish.
Sit down at the table and start the meal. Serve each guest, whether in person or in spirit. Eat in silence and contemplate the memories and presence of the spirits you've invited.
After the meal, leave the room. If there are more than one person at the Dumb Supper, each person should leave the room one at a time.
Let the candle burn itself out. (But also keep an eye on it, for safety).
References & Recommended Reading
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Cross Quarter Days
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Cross Quarter Days are a set of four holidays that fall about halfway between the solstices and equinoxes. These days have been celebrated for centuries in various cultures around the world and have a rich history and significance. In the Wheel of the year, the Cross Quarter Days correspond with the celebrations of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.
The origins of Cross Quarter Days goes back much further than the modern Wheel of the Year. These days were celebrated by many ancient cultures, including the Celts, the Norse, and the Romans. These cultures saw these holidays as a way to mark the passing of the seasons and to give thanks for the blessings of nature.
Imbolc
The first Cross Quarter Day of the calendar year is Imbolc, which is celebrated on February 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and August 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. This holiday marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Often associated with the Celtic Goddess Brigid, Imbolc was known as Candlemas in medieval times, as it was traditional to light candles on this day to welcome the return of the sun.
Beltane
The second Cross Quarter Day of the calendar year is Beltane, which is celebrated on May 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and November 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. This holiday marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Beltane is a time of fertility and growth, and it is traditional to decorate with flowers and perform fertility rituals. Beltane is also known as May Day and is associated with the goddess Flora.
Grab Your Free Cross Quarte Day Printable. Be sure to check out the Free Member’s Library for more Mabon House Printables.
Lughnasadh
The third Cross Quarter Day of the calendar year is Lughnasadh, which is celebrated on August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere. This holiday marks the beginning of the harvest season and is a time of thanksgiving. It is traditional to hold feasts and give thanks for the bounty of the earth. Lughnasadh is also known as Lammas and is associated with the Welsh god Lugh.
Samhain
The fourth and final Cross Quarter Day of the calendar year is Samhain, which is celebrated on October 31st in the Northern Hemisphere. This celebration marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Samhain is a time of remembering the dead and is often associated with Halloween. It is traditional to leave food and drink out for the spirits of the deceased. This custom can be seen today in the Latin American celebration of the Day of the Dead.
Despite their ancient roots, Cross Quarter Days are still very much a part of modern culture. Many people continue to celebrate these holidays as a way to connect with the natural world and to honor the cyclical nature of life. Cross Quarter Days are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and practice living intentionally with the seasons.
References and SUGGESTED READING
There are lots of great books that discuss the history of the Wheel of the Year and offer ideas for modern celebrations of the Cross Quarter Days.
Wicca Demystified by Bryan Lankford gives a good overview of modern Wiccan observances of the Wheel of the Year
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