Note: Due to seasonal differences, these celebrations are reversed in the southern hemisphere and Beltane activities would be appropriate there. Visit our Sabbat Calendar page for more information on celebrating Beltane.
Sunset on Samhain (October 31) is the traditional beginning of the Celtic New Year. This is the time of year our ancestors gathered the last harvest and brought the animals in from the fields. Today, few of us need to worry about harvesting crops or tending to animals. However, we can still honor this special Pagan Holiday through a number of traditional activities.
One popular tradition is to say goodbye to summer with a feast of fruits or vegetables from the fall harvest. In Celtic countries, they would honor those who had left this world by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the “wandering dead”. This was known as the “Feast of the Dead”. Some practitioners still carry out that tradition by leaving a single candle lit in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. An extra chair might be set at the table or by the hearth for the unseen guest.
Samhain is also one of the best times of the year to practice divination. Tarot or runes are two of the more popular forms of divination. On Samhain, and again on Beltane (May 1st) when the veil between the worlds is thin, some attempt to travel between those worlds using astral projection, meditation or visualization. Use this time to reflect on your life and to confront your fears of death.
Think back on your activities from the past 12 months and take care of any unresolved issues. You can then pour yourself a cup of home-brewed cider or mead and spend time preparing for the year ahead of you. Begin by giving thanks for the blessings you will be receiving in the months to come, then outline the steps you will be taking to reach your new goals.
For more information on Samhain and other holiday traditions, visit our Sabbat Calendar page.
Samhain Blessings to You from The Celtic Connection!
