Spellcraft And EarthMagick

Samhain History

Samhain is pronounced sowen, soween, saw-win, saw-vane or sahven, but not sam-hayne.

Other names for Samhain include Samhuin, Samain, Saman, Oidhche Shamhna, Hallowe'en, Halloween, Hallows, Hallowtide, Shadow Fest, Allantide, Third Harvest, Harvest Home, Geimredh, Day of the Dead (Feile na Marbh), Feast of the Dead, Spirit Night, Candle Night, November Eve, Nutcrack Night, Ancestor Night and Apple Fest, Oíche Shamhna, All Hallow's Eve, Hallontide, Old Hallomas, Hallowmass, Martinmas, Martinmass, Shadowfest, Nos Calan Gaeaf, and All Soul's Day.

October 31 is when many pagans and most witches celebrate the Greater Sabbat commonly called Halloween or Samhain (a corruption of 'Sainfuin- sain meaning summer and fuin meaning ending). It is a cross quarter day, situated between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Astrologically, Samhain marks the rising of the Pleiades. November 1 is the actual date of Samhain but like other Celtic derived festivals it is celebrated on its eve. November 1 is New Year's Day for witches, as it was for the Babylonians

The ancient festival of Samhain was held in honor of the Sun God's death and transition to the dark lands of the Underworld where he then resided as Lord of Death. This was the time that the old Celtic peoples came to terms with death and pondered on their own meeting with the Dark Lord. This day is considered the highest holy day of most witches. Samhain (Summer's End), is the best-known, or most widely used Celtic name for this holiday.

Another day that is thought to be derived from Sanhain is All Soul's Day. This is actually a Christian holiday that was first celebrated in 993 A.D. Originally the Romans celebrated their Ferralia, in February. They visited the graves of their relatives to offer up prayers and sacrifices were made at bonfires. In trying to convert the 'heathens" of the time the Church decided to change the date of this festival to November the second and changed its name to All Souls Day.

This major festival has several aspects. It is considered the third (meat) harvest, New Year's Eve, the Day of the Dead (the dead are honored as they were by the ancient Celts & Egyptians and even now in Mexico) and a night that the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is thinnest. It is thought that divination is easier and more powerful, the fairy folk create mischief on this night, and that our lost loved ones are nearer to us (and thus easier to contact) for this reason. One reason to contact those who have passed on would be to strengthen our karmic ties to them in order to be assured we will incarnate in our next life with them.

Rituals on this night generally include remembering and honoring our loved ones and our ancestors. We may also celebrate reincarnation and another tradition is called the "dumb supper". This entails that while we feast on all the wonderful items available at the last harvest we set a place or for our departed family members. You might set photos or other mementos upon the table and tell stories or jokes and remember wonderful times shared by you and those who have passed on to their next great adventure.

It is not unusual to ask your ancestors' spirits to aid and assist you in whichever form/s of divination you prefer to use. Some of most common and oldest forms of scrying used are tarot, fire or flame, and mirror. You might also try a dark bowl or cauldron filled with liquid, crystals, pendulums, runes, or reading tea leaves. Guided meditations or astral travel for the purpose of past life regression and/or for the purpose of knowing or learning something specific from one's ancestors, are very successful on this night

Also on this night we note the absence the Sun (the god), who will be reborn at Winter Solstice as the Child of Promise. The Crone is called upon for comfort; the dying God is mourned. The Sun God's power is at it's weakest, and the Moon Goddess' power is at it's strongest. (remember this when doing any magickal working on this night or even at this time of year)

Some other traditions and customs include -

Today's trick or treating may come from several places and traditions of old. An old Irish peasant practice called for going door to door to collect money, bread cake, cheese, eggs, butter, nuts, apples, etc., in preparation for the festival of St. Columb Kill. The custom seems to have originated not with the Irish Celts, but with a ninth-century
European custom called souling. Another old tradition that may be connected to this new one was the begging for soul cakes made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead
remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven. Other's might also beg offerings in exchange for prayers for one's self-particularly in exchange for promises of prosperity or protection against bad luck

Since this is the New Year many find it valuable to become introspective, and "soul-search." It is a good idea to consider what we have done both in actions and deeds over the previous year and what we might like to change or accomplish in the New Year.

Some Wiccan Samhain rituals include the practices of writing down on paper all of the negative things about yourself, or in your life, that you'd like to banish, and then burning them in a cauldron

It is a tradition for some to leave a plate of food outside the home of the souls of the dead. A candle placed in the window guides them to the lands of eternal summer, and burying apples in the hard-packed earth "feeds" the passed ones on their journey.

Ancient customs, superstitions and traditions:

In Ireland the festival was known as Samhein, or La Samon, the Feast of the Sun and people gathered at the ritual centers of the tribes, for Samhain was the principal calendar feast of the year.

Celtic tradition says that all those who die each year must wait till Samhain before crossing into the spirit world where they will begin their new lives.

The Irish and the Scots have the ancient custom of burning black taper candles in all of their windows for protection against evil or malignant spirits. They also place plates of food and vessels of beverage outside their homes, usually by the front and back doors, to "appease" wandering spirits in the hopes of preventing malicious acts by those spirits...

In the country year, Samhain marked the first day of winter, when the
herders led the cattle and sheep down from their summer hillside pastures to
the shelter of stable and byre.

Late October was the nut harvest for the ancient Celts, and also the time for slaughtering those animals that were needed for the survival of the people who raised them or who might not make it through the harsh winter. It was a time to begin salting winter's supply of meat. By this time, the harvest fruits, vegetables, and grains had already been put away for winter storage.

The Celts extinguished their fires in their homes on Samhain so that all the Celtic tribes could relight their fires from the Druidic fire that was kept burning in the Middle of Ireland, at Usinach, (Gahagan). In Ireland and Scotland, the custom of extinguishing one's home fire and relighting it from the festival bonfire has continued into modern times.

In some parts of modern Scotland, young people still celebrate by building bonfires on hilltops and high ground, and then dance around the flames. The fire is known as Hallowe'en bleeze, and custom once included digging a circular trench around the fire to symbolize the sun

The Druids were supposed to believe that the Lord of Death gathered all the spirits of the dead who had been made to enter the bodies of animals as punishment for their sins and redistributed them, on Hallowe 'en, the last day of the Celtic year. It was also believed that the spirits of the dead came back to their old haunts at this time. Fires were lit to guide them home and to frighten away evil spirits.

In Ireland the greatest assembly was the 'Feast of Tara,' focusing on the royal seat of the High King as the heart of the sacred land, the point of conception for the New Year. In every household throughout the country, hearth-fires were extinguished. All waited for the Druids to light the new fire of the year --not at Tara, but at Tlachtga, a hill twelve miles to the north-west. It marked the burial-place of Tlachtga, daughter of the great druid Mogh Ruith, who may once have been a goddess in her own right in a former age.

At one time, as recorded in Glenlyon in 1882, every house lit its own bonfire in front of the door. Bracken or heather torches were lit from this fire and the family walked in procession --headed by the father, mother, and each child in order of age plus any other relatives living there - three times sunwise around the house, carrying this torch in their right hand, to protect the house and family, including the livestock, from the evil eye, illness or death. After this they threw the torches into a heap and started a bonfire around which they danced. Queen Victoria took part in this ceremony at Balmoral.

A farmer sometimes accompanied by his herds would circle the boundaries of each field to ensure prosperity for the oncoming year. This was a throwback to the calendar of the Druids who considered that Samhain was the first day of the New Year.

An old Belgian Samhain custom was to prepare special "Cakes of the Dead" (small white cakes or cookies). A cake was eaten for each spirit honored with the belief that the more cakes you ate, the more the dead would bless you!

Stones were buried in the ashes of the fire. These were marked, as on other occasions, so that they could be identified by their owners. When the fire was moored the stones were examined for omens.

In many parts of England, it was believed that the ghosts of all persons who were destined to die in the coming year could be seen walking through the graveyards at midnight on Samhain.

Many of the ghosts that people thought they saw were said to be evil. For protection, jack-o-lanterns with hideous candle-lit faces were carved out of pumpkins and carried as lanterns to scare away the malevolent spirits.

Sweethearts placed a pair of nuts on the fire. If they burned quietly they would have a happy marriage but if they sparked it would be a fiery one.

Of all the turning points of the Celtic year, the gods drew near to Earth at Samhain, so many sacrifices and gifts were offered up in thanksgiving for the harvest. Personal prayers in the form of objects symbolizing the wishes of supplicants or ailments to be healed were cast into the fire, and at the end of the ceremonies, brands were lit from the great fire of Tara to re-kindle all the home fires of the tribe, as at Beltane. As they received the flame that marked this time of beginnings, people surely felt a sense of
the kindling of new dreams, projects and hopes for the year to come.

After the bonfires had burned out the ashes were sprinkled over the fields to protect them during the winter months and, of course, they also improved the soil at the same time.

It is said that lighting a new orange candle at midnight on Samhain and allowing
it to burn until sunrise will bring one good luck, however according to an old
legend, bad luck will befall those who bake bread on this day or journey after
sunset.

Another old Samhain custom was to light a fire on the household hearth which would burn continuously until the first day of the following spring.

Huge bonfires were also lit on the hilltops at sunset in honor of the old Gods and Goddesses, and to guide the souls of the dead home to their kin.

It is said that if you go to a crossroads at Halloween and listen to the wind, you will
learn all the most important things that will befall you during the next twelve months.

It was on Samhain that the Celtic Druids tallied their livestock and mated their ewes for the coming Spring.

Many people in various parts of the world consider it to be extremely unlucky to look at their reflection in a mirror by candlelight on Samhain.

Many people also believe that mirrors are the gateways to the other worlds, and cover mirrors with black cloths to keep the gateway closed.

A burning candle placed inside a hollowed out pumpkin or jack-o-lantern on Samhain works to keep evil spirits and demons at bay.

For good luck, burn black and orange candles on Samhain. Black and Orange are the traditional colors of Samhain and Halloween. On this day their magickal vibrations are at their peak.

If a candle should suddenly go out by itself on Samhain, as thought being blown out by wind or by breath, this is said to be a sign that a ghost has come to call.

Always burn new candles at Samhain to ensure the best of luck.

Likewise, it's s not a good idea to burn Samhain candles at any other time of the year. To do so may cause you to experience bad luck and/or strange happenings over which you will have no control.

Gazing into the flame of a candle on Samhain will enable you to peer into the future.

It is believed that if a person lights a new orange-colored candle at midnight on Samhain and lets it burn until the sun rises, he or she will be the recipient of good luck. However, according to an old legend from Europe, any person who bakes bread or journeys after
sunset on Samhain (Halloween) runs the risk of conjuring forth bad luck in great abundance.

And last but not least some Samhain Moon Lore -

If the moon is new on Samhain, this indicates that the coming year will be fertile ground for new beginnings to take place, such as the start of a new project, a new career, or even a new way of thinking. For those desiring children, a new moon at Samhain is a lucky omen, indicating a new birth within a year's time.

If the moon is waxing on Samhain, this indicates good luck throughout the coming year. It also indicates growth and an increase of all things that are positive nature.

If the moon is full on Samhain, this ensures that the powers of all forms of magick and divination practiced on this night will be at their greatest. A secret wish made at midnight will be realized within the coming year. Do not be surprised if an experienced of a psychic nature awaits you in the very near future.

If the moon is waning on Samhain, this can be an omen of either good or bad consequences. It can indicate the elimination of such things as bad habits, unhealthy relationships and obstacles within the coming year. Or it can point to a decrease (such as in one's health) or a loss of some kind soon to take place.

If the moon is in the dark phase on Samhain, this is believed to be a very negative omen. Exercise extreme caution in all of your endeavors within the next twelve months, and it wouldn't hurt to protect yourself by wearing or carrying any type of amulet or
talisman designed to ward off bad luck and misfortune.