An Exploration of Samhain
Most people are familiar with Samhain as the so-called “Pagan/Witches’ Halloween”. It is observed by many modern Pagans and witches as a festival of remembrance and a celebration of the dead. During this time, practitioners of magical traditions or Pagan spiritual paths may observe rituals to celebrate the lives of the dead, to honor their ancestors, or to strengthen their connection to the spirit world. This is commonly done through a variety of methods, including divination, ritual feasts, and spirit work.
Many of us are already familiar with Samhain as the Pagan predecessor to Halloween. It is one of the few Pagan and neo-Pagan customs that is actually mentioned in movies and television shows such as Hocus Pocus, Outlander and Supernatural. In the United States, many public schools teach about the Pagan roots of Halloween—though they may not refer to it by the name Samhain—in seasonal lessons which focus on the evolution of the holiday’s customs and beliefs. But where did our beliefs and customs as witches and Pagans come from? And how does our observation of Samhain in the twenty-first century link back to the observations we may be learned about in school?
The History of Samhain
As we know from previous adventures in our exploration of the Wheel of the Year, most of the claims surrounding the historical merit of the holidays observed by many members of the magical and neo-Pagan communities are a little dubious. Most of the holidays on the Wheel of the Year are actually modern creations inspired by assumptions about what pre-modern Pagan societies may have done. (And that’s fine. There is nothing wrong with a good ol’ modern holiday. After all, Christmas as we know it didn’t exist until Victorian times.)
Samhain is a little different in that we do have some historical context for its inclusion in what is usually marketed as a historical festival calendar. Samhain is mentioned in Irish writing that dates back to the 9th century, features prominently in a large body of Irish mythology and poetry, and may be linked to some of Irelands Neolithic archaeological sites. These early mentions are the first documentation of Samhain as a festival centered on the Spirit Realm (known in this context as the Otherworld or Tír na nÓg), observed through feasts, bonfires, ritual sacrifice, and large communal gatherings.
Though we can already see the correlation between early Samhain and our modern interpretation of it, more specific details of the observations of Samhain don’t become available until more modern writings and sagas. It is here that we achieve a clear view of Samhain as a festival marking the end of the harvest as well as the thinning of the Veil. This was a time when cattle would be moved closer to home for the winter and livestock was slaughtered to feed the community during the colder months. Ritual bonfires were lit to cleanse and protect the farms, homes, and communal spaces. And the Aos Sí—sometimes understood as spirits, fae, and even old gods—were said to visit the realm of the living. They were honored with offerings in exchange for protection from the harsh winter. At the same time, ancestral spirits were also believed to return to check in on their families and homes (where they were also given food offerings and a place at the dinner table). This period of the holiday’s evolution is also where the tradition of Trick-or-Treating, which stems from early modern Samhain tradition of mumming (going door-to-door, reciting poetry and stories in exchange for food).
Samhain & Hallowe’en
Hallowe’en as we know it is believed to have derived from a combination of customs from the festival of Samhain and the observation of All Saints’ Day, which was moved in the church calendar to November 2nd during the 9th century (during the same time that the first written documentation of Samhain appeared in Irish literature). This is commonly thought to be one of the Church’s many attempts to crowd out existing Pagan festivals by replacing them with similar church-approved observations. Unfortunately, it is difficult to separate these traditions past the early modern period, as many scholars simply referred to all Gaelic Hallowe’en customs as “Samhain traditions” into the 1800’s.
In the United States, Hallowe’en traditions were also influenced by Indigenous American beliefs and customs. Hallowe’en was brought to the United States by European settlers, where it was predominately observed in the South. Here, the customed of the settlers and the Indigenous groups in the region combined to influence what we observe as Hallowe’en in the United States. This combination of beliefs introduced many elements to the holiday, including Halloween parties, ghost stories, fortune-telling, and playing spooky tricks.
During the 19th and 20th century, there was an intentional effort to remove the spooky (along with a new tradition of violence and vandalism) from Hallowe’en and to transition it into a more family-friendly holiday. During this time, articles about Hallowe’en began to appear in children’s magazines and newspapers, featuring fun Hallowe’en games and stories; “delightful” Hallowe’en parties were advertised and detailed in local news; and citizens were warned against “pranks” and “mischief”.
Observing Samhain Today
Many witches enjoy the celebration of Samhain and Halloween—even those who may not observe rest of the Wheel of the Year. In the magical community, both Halloween and Samhain are often observed as a day to honor the dead, divine the future, and celebrate one’s connection to the Spirit Realm. It is also a good day for initiations (whether initiating an individual into a group or the solitary initiation of a witch by introducing themselves to the spirits or the Spirit Realm) and other dedications, as well as petitioning for the favor of spirit guides and sponsors. Samhain, like Hallowe’en, can also be a wonderful time for festivities that acknowledge and celebrate one’s “darker” or more primal sides by watching scary movies, telling ghost stories, dressing up, and engaging in all the usual Hallowe’en revelry. Here are a few more specific ideas how one might celebrate either Samhain or Hallowe’en as a modern practitioner.
Host or perform a ritual to honor the spirits of the dead. Veneration of the dead during Samhain has been documented since the early modern period of Irish literature on the subject. Traditionally, this would take the shape of inviting the household ancestors into the home, to take their place at the feast table. But there are many other ways to honor spirits in our modern and changing society. You may wish to honor the spirits of your spiritual ancestors, or the members of your community justice and equity. Many people light candles for the forebears of their magical and spiritual practices, or for the women and marginalized people who were targeted in “witch hunts”. Honoring the dead does not have to limited to your blood ancestry at all. You can take this time to honor any spirits of the dead that you want to.
Make an offering to your sponsors and guides. Many witches are guided through their craft building and working by various spirits, folkloric figures, and deities. Because this seasonal festival is known for its openness to the Otherworld or the Spirit Realm, it is an excellent time to make offerings to these guides to honor that relationship, ask for their continued aid and protection.
Embark on a new journey through initiation or dedication rituals. Whether you are new to your practice, ready to shift from one practice to another, or looking to reach out to new spirits as part of your magical working, this may be the perfect time to do so. Although initiations and dedications are commonly thought of as being the time at which a new member is brought into a coven or community, they can also be viewed as a sort of formal introduction between the practitioner and the Spirit Realm or a formal ceremony that marks the beginning of any new magical undertaking.
Communicate with the dead. Performing rituals to contact the dead has been done for ages, as a spiritual experience, a party game, or something in between. There are many people who enjoy hosting séances, working with the Ouija board, or other means of reaching out to the dead as part of their usual Halloween festivities.
Seek a deeper connection with your Spirit Self. The seasonal association with the Spirit Realm doesn’t just make it a good time for reaching out to the spirits of the dead. It is also a great time to try your hand at introspective spirit work. Communication with out own spirits can help us to strengthen our connection to the Spirit Realm, better understand the source and nature or our personal power, perform tools-free divination, and more.
Perform divination for the year to come. While the Spirit Realm is closer to ours than usual, practitioners of magic and divination have the opportunity to lean into the Spirit Realm for special insight and assistance in their readings. This is a good time to perform divination to guide your decisions, particularly with regards to your spiritual and magical practice.
Works Cited
HÓgáin Dáithí Ó. Myth, Legend and Romance: an Encyclopaedia of the Irish Folk Tradition. BCA, 1991.
Hutton, Ronald. The Stations of the Sun: a History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford University Press, 2001.
Lang, Cady. “What Is Samhain? Origin of Halloween Rooted in Pagan Holiday.” Time, Time, 30 Oct. 2018, https://time.com/5434659/halloween-pagan-origins-in-samhain/.
ODriscoll, Robert. The Celtic Consciousness. George Braziller Inc, 1998.
Disclaimer: Each of the Crowsbone writers and guest bloggers has their own magical background, beliefs, traditions and practices. These post represent the opinions, research and beliefs of the individual writers. We do not believe that they represent beliefs and rules associated with all magical practice or witchcraft; nor do they represent the beliefs and opinions of all of the Crowsbone community.