Samhain: 6 Ways to Celebrate
If you ask most people what the holiday at the end of October is called you will get a resounding answer of: HALLOWEEN! Trick or treating and dressing up in costume is a huge part of our culture and childhoods. However, just like many things, there is an origin story to Halloween that not many people know.
Samhain (Sow-wen) is an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition and pagan festival. It’s celebrated at the end of October and beginning of November to welcome the harvest and bring the dark half of the year. It was a time of year where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to keep the spirits away. They believed that the barriers between the spirit realm and the physical world were the thinnest at this time of year, which allowed easier interaction between them.
October 31st specifically became known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.
It still kept most of the traditions of Samhain and was brought to America in the 19th century by Irish immigrants bringing their heritage across the sea. We must thank the Irish and the Scottish for really making Halloween what it is today. They created the practice of putting on costumes and going door to door. They also sang to the dead and all this was called mumming. The trick part is also an ancient practice but back then tricks were blamed on the fairies.
Modern day witches, however, still practice Samhain in the more traditional sense.
They use this time to honor ancestors and nature. A bonfire can still take the center stage of any witch’s celebration to truly bring the spirit of the holiday from the ancient Celtic tradition. This time is also considered the start of the New Year for pagans and wiccans, in their Wheel of the Year. Looking to the upcoming year can also be a huge part of this holiday with readings or other forms of divination. With spirits and ancestors being closer than ever, it makes the divination tools that much more powerful and accurate.
Just like everything else this year, Samhain and Halloween will be celebrated differently because of the pandemic. Here are 6 ways to celebrate Samhain this year that can either be solo or completely socially distanced and safe!
Reflect on your Year!
This year has been a doozy for everyone. We all have been dealing with things we never imagined we would ever have to deal with. Take this time to really sit and think about the past year and your mental, emotional journey through it. Look through pictures, journals, and anything else you have used to chronicle your life this year. Sit with yourself and truly check in. Congratulate yourself for making it through a tumultuous year and all your successes. Journal your experience so you can look upon where you are now, a year from now.
Do a Reading!
Get out your preferred divination tools and use them to connect and seek guidance for the year to come. This time of year is absolutely the strongest connection you can get with spirits and ancestors. Write down any messages you receive. Also this is a perfect time to do a 12 card reading, one card for every month of the upcoming year. Write down what cards you get and the corresponding month and see if it was accurate.
Make a Bonfire!
Either alone or with others, if you can stay far enough apart, create a huge bonfire in true Samhain tradition! Write down anything from the past year that you are wanting to rid yourself of and cast it into the fire! Let go of whatever was on that paper and be ready to make changes in your life for the upcoming year. If the weather is bad or a bonfire isn’t plausible for you, you can also do this with a fireplace or a cauldron inside.
Take A Nature Walk!
Take a quiet, contemplative walk out in nature. Take everything in around you, notice the energy, the colors, the sounds, and your own feelings. Do this alone and really be open to any messages you may receive. Reflect on death and rebirth as a part of life and nature. Find a nice spot to sit and mediate for as long as you like. Gather items that call to you and use them to decorate your space at home. Which brings us to…
Decorate your Space!
Think of all the seasonal imagery wrapped up in October. Fall colors, especially orange and black, pumpkins, corn, apples, acorns. Candles! Be as natural or as kitschy Halloweeny as you want, there is no wrong way to decorate! If you have an altar or sacred space, incorporate all these things onto it as well. You can take it a step further and create an altar for your ancestors. Use heirlooms and photographs to honor them. Light candles in their memory and speak their names. Talk to them, honor them, and allow yourself to be open to any messages you may receive.
Learn about your Ancestors!
Contact some of your older relatives and ask for stories and memories about family members that have passed on. Share the stories with others and give thanks. Don’t forget to add new ancestors to your altar!