Samhain

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Information on the "End of Summer" festival, or the Samhain. Originally contributed by Doctor Voo.

Samhain is next after Mabon. This info is from http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/samhainlore.htm

Samhain Lore (October 31st).

Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) means ''End of Summer'', and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbat. It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two ''spirit-nights'' each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted.

Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort. Originally the ''Feast of the Dead'' was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the ''wandering dead''. Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition.

Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos. The Wee Folk became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans.

Traveling after dark was was not advised. People dressed in white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the Nature spirits. This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown into the fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved stone foretold of that person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic), Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest (Strega), and Samhuinn. Also known as All Hallow's Eve, (that day actually falls on November 7th), and Martinmas (that is celebrated November 11th), Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year.

Symbolism of Samhain:

Third Harvest, the Dark Mysteries, Rebirth through Death.

Symbols of Samhain:

Gourds, Apples, Black Cats, Jack-O-Lanterns, Besoms.

Herbs of Samhain:

Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak leaves, Sage and Straw.

Foods of Samhain:

Turnips, Apples, Gourds, Nuts, Mulled Wines, Beef, Pork, Poultry.

Incense of Samhain:

Heliotrope, Mint, Nutmeg.

Colors of Samhain:

Black, Orange, White, Silver, Gold.

Stones of Samhain:

All Black Stones, preferably jet or obsidian.

Here are some links to a couple videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip5skhlO9DI&feature=c hannel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUrgKz9Ge6s&feature=c hannel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5GFSd10_Ks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmdDQJBo-2w

 

Make sure to take out any spaces. And also, please feel free to share what you do at Samhain and put any links you think are good. -Doctor Cheniere Voo


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Added to on Aug 01, 2013
Last edited on Feb 02, 2019
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OCTOBER THE 31st SAMHAIN

On the same day as Halloween, Samhain is celebrated by pagans around the world.
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Oct 30, 2019
Is anybody getting together for samhain? I've been wanting to do some magic with people for a while

Oct 23, 2022
Getting together with some relatives thats it though

Oct 20, 2020
I liked the bone-fires info :)

Nov 10, 2020
I've already did this by myself yesterday/today

Oct 07, 2021
Rather basic, and not very specific. It is a fine start and should help give people ideas surrounding this holiday, but it needs an edit. Furthermore, holidays such as Day of the Dead and All Saints happen around Samhain and are not other names for the holiday. Samhain is based on an ancient Celtic tradition. Other holidays share similarities, but they are not Samhain but in another culture. Samhain is new year when spirits can return through the thinning veil. It is a time for remembrance, divination, and planning for the year ahead among many others.

Nov 11, 2021
Samhain is NEVER pronounced ''Sam-hayn;'' it's an old gaelic word and is only pronounced the first two ways.

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