What is Samhain, and why is it such an important Sabbat for Witches?
Samhain is the most well-known Sabbat within Paganism. This Sabbat is celebrated within the witches' Wheel of the Year and coincides with Halloween or All Hallows Eve. Samhain includes symbols of death, or transition from summer and autumn, and entering winter. What others are used to calling Halloween, Samhain has strong ancient roots, and it is a special time of the year to practice magic and honor life and death!
What is Samhain?
Samhain is celebrated from October 31 to November 1 and is the Pagan New Year, a passage, threshold, conclusion, and beginning. The growing season is over, the seed's life begins, and its time on the earth before its future life as a plant. Samhain is the time of the last harvest, of the last fruits, the sweetest and richest that will support us in the long winter. And it is the beginning of waiting, of the interior time of preparation, and of darkness. The time when the seeds dwell in the quiet land. It is the darkness from which everything begins, the silence from which the first vibration will arise, that initial void that must be for birth to take place.
Samhain marks a precious and necessary time, a time of rest and silent listening. The threshold of this passage, the limit between life, death, and life, Samhain is the open door between the dimensions of time and existence. The guardian of this threshold is Hecate, an ancient goddess who holds the keys. In the dance of life, Samhain is the time of withdrawal and interiority and gives us the opportunity to go into the depths of our being. To do this, we need to strip ourselves of what is external and let go of those attachments and aspects of ourselves that no longer belong to our essence. It is the beginning of the time we are with ourselves to find our core before returning to the world again.
Samhain history and origin
The new year began on November 1 with the arrival of autumn. A season transition that was marked by a moment of celebration. The festivities were called Samhain. An anniversary that is characterized by the color orange to remember the harvest and by the color black to symbolize the imminent darkness of winter. The story of Samhain recalls how the harvest season was over, the herds were brought to the fields, and some animals slaughtered. Families gathered for a season of long nights of housework and storytelling and celebrating those who have passed on.
Mythology and legend
According to Celtic mythology, what today we are used to calling Halloween time, or the weekend of the dead, was considered magical because beliefs pulled down the veil between the world of the living and that of the spirits. In other words, the living could communicate with the dead, and the dead would return to earth. The Celtic people also believed that magical beings were visible during the Samhain period.
Things To Do For Samhain
Honoring the Dead
One of the main purposes of Samhain is to honor those who have passed on before us. At this time of year, the veil between our world and the spirit world is at its thinnest, making it easier for us to communicate with our deceased loved ones. There are many ways to honor the dead during Samhain. One way is to set a place for them at your feast table. Another way is to light a candle in their memory. You can also write their name on a piece of paper and burn it, releasing them from any pain or suffering they may be experiencing in the afterlife.
Connecting with Nature
Samhain is also a time to connect with nature and give thanks for the bounty of the harvest. This is traditionally done by decorating your home with autumnal plants like pumpkins, squash, cornucopias, and dried corn stalks. You can also create an altar dedicated to nature spirits like fairies and elves. On this altar, you can leave offerings of food and drink as a way of showing your appreciation for their assistance throughout the year.
Celebrating Life
In addition to honoring the dead and connecting with nature, Samhain is also a time to celebrate life itself. After all, without death, there can be no life. This celebration can take many forms, but one popular way to do it is by hosting a big party complete with fun games, delicious food, and spooky decorations. No matter how you choose to celebrate Samhain, make sure you take some time to reflect on the cycle of life and death and give thanks for all that you have been given.
Samhain is a special time of year to honor those who have passed on, connect with nature, and celebrate life itself. By decorating your home with autumnal plants, creating an altar for nature spirits, and hosting a big party, you can make the most out of this Sabbat!
Make sure to read our blog post next week, where we'll be discussing more ways to celebrate this most important Witches' Wheel of the Year Sabbat, including rituals to complete!
Join the Coven
The Grey Witches Coven is an online community of modern mystics, empaths, and witches who come together to grow in their Craft. We have two live calls and many mini-lessons modules each month, and this month we'll be doing a Samhain ritual together! We invite you to join our Coven here today!