Samhain, the witches' night....

Samhain (from the Gaelic Samhuinn, pronounces as Sou'en) is the third and last harvest of the year. Samhain is the end of warm days and start of the darker half of the year. Nights will get long and colder. The spiritual veil between our world and the spiritual world will be at its thinnest on the 31st. Samhain is the night the dead can walk around the earth. This means interactions with the fae or spirits are more likely. Many use this day to celebrate loved ones who have passed on, or a day to celebrate spirits as a whole.

It is common to cook/buy food and drinks as offerings to these spirits, and having dinner with them (this includes preparing the spirits their own plates). It is a belief that spirits will return to your home on Samhain seeking hospitality, and we should absolutely grant them such.

Costumes are worn to ward away malicious spirits, along with the carving of Jack-o-Lanterns.

Many will have bonfires and music, and participate in various divination methods in hopes of meeting a new spirit, or connecting with one that has passed.

Some people in participating communities will go door-to-door (in costume) reciting verses for food, either for themselves or for offerings. I believe this had a huge effect on the modern day Halloween.

Some activities to do:

🍂 make a pumpkin pie

🍂 carve a pumpkin

🍂 press leaves in books

🍂 decorate your alter with leaves and pinecones

🍂 make apple cider

🍂 make a broom

🍂 collect pinecones and acorns

🍂 make a wreath

🍂 dress up in a costume

🍂 read scary stories

🍂 light Orange, purple, and Black candles

🍂 hand out candy

Spirits deserve the same amount of respect as living people do, so acknowledge them this Samhain. After all, we will be one with them some day.

BLESSED SAMHAIN!!!

Mariana