Samhain~ The Witches' New Year

Autumn is a most magickal time of year.

Along with glorious seasonal changes taking place-

*

the joys of pumpkin carving, treat baking, costume making,

and devious plans to get the neighborhood kid's knees a shaking...

*

-some of us folk have another aspect of the season to celebrate.

********************

Samhain

pronounced (Sow-en)

*************

- otherwise known as 'Summers End', and the Witch's New Year.
**********************************************************************

Samhain, later called Hallowmas,
or All Hallows Eve was the Celtic New Year;
and is the 3rd Harvest and final festival

on the Wheel of the Year.

*

All that is left unharvested

in the feilds,

or in the hearts & lives of men-

is said to belong to the Crone after this night.
***
To the Celts who celebrated Samhain in the past,

as well as to the modern day Witches, Pagans, & Druids

who keep the ancient traditions today-

the agricultural & physical cycles of the Heavens & Earth,

mark the changing of the seasons as well as the

ways in which we honor our Deities.

*

This season of Autumn,

corresponds to the death of the year,

the physical death of the life cycle,

as well as the mythological life & death cycle of the Gods.

*

The ancient Celts called its opposite on the Wheel, 'Winter's End'

-Gamain (Gow-en);

celebrated on May 1st, as Beltane.

*

The Light Half of the Year is marked astronomically,

by the rising of the Pleiades at Gamain;

as is the Dark Half by its setting at Samhain.
*****

Often called Spirit Night

-Samhain begins at sunset on October 31st; and continues for 3 days to a week-

it is at this time,
when the veils between the Worlds of Man & Spirit are at their thinnest

- that the souls of the newly departed,
make their final trip to the Otherworld, accompanied by the Goddess.

The people of the Earth have traditionally used this night
to honor & communicate with the souls of their ancestors & loved ones; leaving offerings of favorite foods amongst photographs, beloved trinkets, and seasonal flowers.

*

Along with the harvest of the land,

any animals, not fit to last the cold;

would be slaughtered off and preserved.

Anything left over brought to the Hallowmas feast.

*
Gatherings of Family & Friends sustained the people's hearts;

thru the coming dark months

spent confined and alone until the Spring.

*

It was a time to rejoice & revel in the high points of the year,

and to heal after it's losses.
*

Divinations & predictions telling the fate of the coming year
were performed with fruit, nuts water and fire.

*

Faces and symbols were carved into turnip lanterns

to protect the owner from malevolent spirits out on this night.

*

Costumed children as well as adults went 'Soul Caking';

out into the town singing seasonal songs

begging for Soul Cakes in exchange for prayers for their dead.

*

Mummers danced & played & told legends and performed feats.

Traditionally, these included a Challenge, a Battle, a Death,

and a Magickal Revivial.

*

The mummers received Soul Cakes at the end of their performance.

In some places, in England- these tradtitions have been revived.

*

Many Harvest Celebrations center around the Element of Fire;

whether hearth fire, candle flame, bon-or 'Need Fire';

as well as the Element of Water;

as found in rituals such as bobbing for apples,

floating nuts in bowls and ink scrying.
*

As we Pagans and Witches integrate the traditions of Samhain

into our modern day Halloween celebrations-

we trace the footprints of our spirtual ancestry,

while creating new legends of our own .

*

***************************************************************

~Danae <(:0) aka 'Crafty'

middle image "Samhain", by Jade Benco ,

word tags unknown