Samhain begins at sundown on 31st October, on All Hallows Eve (Halloween), and ends at sundown November 1st. Although back in Celtic times, the celebration spread over 3 nights of feasting. These feasts consisted of:
Samhain is primarily about Life, Death and Rebirth. Symbolised by the apple, which goes through it's own cycle every year. The Apple grows fat and juicy, drops to the ground where it will die off and decay into the earth. Spending time in the earth through winter, it will transform and grow anew (from it's seed). In the Spring, it will shoot up anew as a seedling, and grow into a tree, which will later bear fruit - and we are back at the beginning of the cycle - the falling Apple.
Samhain is also the Celtic New Year, life from the past year has just died, now is a time of transformation in the dark, like a caterpillar in a chrysalis, life will be reborn anew in the Spring. Now is a good time to get rid of anything you no longer want in your life, and embrace any changes you want to make in your life. It's also a time to evolve and grow as a person, perhaps spend the winter months learning a new skill, crafting old things into new things, transforming things both within and without.
At this time of year, in many cultures, it is considered the time when the veil between this world and the spirit world is at it's thinnest. For Mexicans, it is a time for honouring the dead, as they celebrate "Dia de Los Muertos - The Day of the Dead". They make altars in the home, with skeletons or calaveras, foods and drinks as offerings to their deceased loved ones. They welcome their dead back home, to celebrate and party with them, so glad for them to be back with them. It is a time of happiness and joy. For them, death is nothing to be feared, but celebrated. The Mexican Day of the Dead takes place on November 1st, and usually goes on until at least the 2nd of November, so why not incorporate a little Day of the Dead theme celebrations on one of your feast nights?
Samhain should be celebrated and enjoyed It is a special and often the most favourite sabbat of the year. So however you choose to celebrate Samhain, enjoy this special time.
- The End of the Harvest
- Honouring the Animals
- Honouring the Ancestors (Family Bloodline, those that have passed)
Samhain is primarily about Life, Death and Rebirth. Symbolised by the apple, which goes through it's own cycle every year. The Apple grows fat and juicy, drops to the ground where it will die off and decay into the earth. Spending time in the earth through winter, it will transform and grow anew (from it's seed). In the Spring, it will shoot up anew as a seedling, and grow into a tree, which will later bear fruit - and we are back at the beginning of the cycle - the falling Apple.
Samhain is also the Celtic New Year, life from the past year has just died, now is a time of transformation in the dark, like a caterpillar in a chrysalis, life will be reborn anew in the Spring. Now is a good time to get rid of anything you no longer want in your life, and embrace any changes you want to make in your life. It's also a time to evolve and grow as a person, perhaps spend the winter months learning a new skill, crafting old things into new things, transforming things both within and without.
At this time of year, in many cultures, it is considered the time when the veil between this world and the spirit world is at it's thinnest. For Mexicans, it is a time for honouring the dead, as they celebrate "Dia de Los Muertos - The Day of the Dead". They make altars in the home, with skeletons or calaveras, foods and drinks as offerings to their deceased loved ones. They welcome their dead back home, to celebrate and party with them, so glad for them to be back with them. It is a time of happiness and joy. For them, death is nothing to be feared, but celebrated. The Mexican Day of the Dead takes place on November 1st, and usually goes on until at least the 2nd of November, so why not incorporate a little Day of the Dead theme celebrations on one of your feast nights?
Samhain should be celebrated and enjoyed It is a special and often the most favourite sabbat of the year. So however you choose to celebrate Samhain, enjoy this special time.
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