Samhain

Many people have their own interpretations of how to pronounce the name Samhain, but according to Vivianne Crowley in "Way of Witchcraft" it should sound like "Sow-in".

Samhain is celebrated on the 31st of October, a special date for me as it is my birthday. It is a fixed date because it is not a solar festival. Traditionally the 31st October is regarded as the Celtic new year. I certainly celebrate it as such and, no matter how you look at it, its a new year for me any way!

At this time we say farewell to the God, who has been in decline since the harvests. At the same time we think of the Goddess being pregnant waiting for the God to be reborn at Yule. We also remember those who have died, both those who have shared our lives and our ancestors. Its a time when we can look back and take stock of what has happened in the previous year. It is also a time to try and come to terms with one of our biggest taboos, death.

Samhain is a time where we believe that the barrier between the physical world and the the spirit world is at its thinnest. We believe that old friends, relatives and pets can all manifest themselves in some form, perhaps in the smoke of a bonfire or simply just in a moment of silence. This is why Samhain is such a great night for divination. It is a time to bid farewell to those who have died, but also it is a time to celebrate babies, both born and still waiting to be born.

Some people describe the Wheel of the year to be completed when we come back to Yule and celebrate the rebirth of the God. I feel that Samhain is the beginning and the end of the year, partly because it is the Celtic new year, but also because it is a time where we think about death (The state of not being incarnate as opposed to not existing). Because before we are born and after we die we are in this state. Of course as we knw a wheel is round and you could really start at any point and end up back there!!

Related Christian Day - 1st November, All saints day.

Edited 20 December 2024