Samhain- What it is and ways to celebrate
Disclaimer: This is a quick and general guide to Samhain, if you’d like to learn more- please refer to resources in article or message/post asking for further resources.
SPOOKY SEASON IS HERE! Well I guess it has been here, but now we are down to the main event, the big attraction - SAMHAIN! Did you think I was going to say Halloween, or maybe All Hallow’s Eve? Not entirely wrong, but it goes a little deeper. Derived from old Gaelic, Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sow-un) marks the transition into winter and the dark half of the year. This has traditionally been celebrated as a liminal time- the last feast of the harvest, a night when the veil between humans and the Other world is thin, and a season of reflection and renewal.
What does the veil being thin even mean?
It is believed that at this time the barrier between physical world and spirit world is at its thinnest making connection between two worlds the strongest it will be all year. This special time allows for more interaction between humans and the spirit world, which has been the basis for many of our current Halloween traditions. It is common for not only offerings and tributes left to souls that have passed, but to see specific seasonal protections from spirits as well. Carved pumpkins? Originally carved turnips to ward off evil spirits (also look into the lore of “Stingy Jack”). Why do we dress up during this night? It was a Celtic belief that they would disguise themselves as animals and monsters to avoid being kidnapped by the fairies and forced to “cross over’”.
Why is this time special?
The importance of Samhain lies in themes of death/rebirth, transition, honoring the past, and self introspection. Nature follows the eternal cycle of life > death > rebirth, this time is about embracing the balance between endings and beginnings. A time to look back with gratitude not only on what you have harvested through the year, but your past and roots- what makes you. And a time to be introspective, what have you been sowing this year? Is it something you would like to bring into the next season? This is a wonderful season to take advantage of the liminal time for shadow work, self reflection, appreciation, and introspection.
For rites, rituals, journal prompts, and affirmations- become a paid subscriber to House of JV Substack.