'Tis Near Halloween

Symbolism of Samhain

Jack-O'-Lantern : The tradition of carving a lantern started in the UK and was traditionally carved from a swede or a turnip. They were carved on All Hallows' Eve and left on the door step to ward off evil spirits.

Trick or Treating : The tradition of trick or treating can be traced back to the ancient Celts, who not only left an offering of food for the dead, but also as part of holiday revelry went begging from house to house.  Both children and adults would knock on doors and give some sort of performance and would be given money, food, or drink as payment.

Bonfires : Bonfires were originally built to burn the bones after feasting on the animals slaughtered for winter.

Black Cats : Because cats are for the most part nocturnal and can sneak about relatively unseen at night, they have long been associated with mystery, witchcraft and the occult. It was believed that witches could turn themselves into cats at will.  Once Christianity took hold in Europe, witchcraft was declared evil along with all symbolism since they attributed cats to witches, cats were deemed evil by proxy.

Pitchfork : The pitchfork in modern times is associated with the devil, but before Christianity the trident was a male fertility symbol and the "key to the Holy Door". 

Scarecrows : The scarecrow contrary to popular opinion, is not really for scaring birds away from crops.  A scarecrow is a magickal symbol used to guard the crops from failing.

Skeletons : 
 During the paleolithic era and early Europe, skeletons and or skulls of loved ones were preserved, painted,and  dressed, then displayed prominently during clan gatherings. Body-less heads were consulted and used as oracles, with offerings being given for their advise.  Mexican culture celebrates "The Day of the Dead" on October 31 which is a conglomeration of Celtic, Catholic and Aztec mythos.  On Oct. 31 the souls of the dead return to Mexico with the return of the monarch butterflies.  They celebrate with parades, feasts, and dress up as skeletons, mummies, ghosts and ghouls and even have special edible treats shaped like skeletons and skulls.

Ghosts :  Samhain is associated with the dead, and it is believed that on October 31 loved ones who have passed on may re-enter the world of the living and visit with their ancestors.  Offerings are left for the spirits, special suppers are laid out for them and the spirit world is given honour.


Witches: The witch is a central symbol of Halloween. The name comes from the Saxon wica, meaning wise one.  At Samhain the Goddess is depicted as an older woman or crone. Hecate and the Cailleach are both examples of crone Goddesses who were worshiped at Samhain Rituals.  In order to stop Crone Goddess worship the Christian Church began to denigrate elderly women to remove their authority and knowledge from society.  The Crone Goddess became the horrible, mean old hag (witch) that frighted children, cast curses, and poisoned crops and livestock. Many elderly women were tortured and killed simply because they were old.


Bats: When the Samhain bonfire was lit, it would attract lots of insects to the light, which in turn would attract bats to the bonfire who would commence a feeding frenzy.  During the dark period of Europe when witches were being burned at the stake, the same principle would apply, the fire attracted bugs which attracted bats.  This phenomena caused the belief that witches could turn into bats and fly away.

Werewolves: Many Celtic myths insist that by wearing a wolf skin one can transform themselves into a spirit beast. The term werewolf actually means spirit-wolf and the name was taken up by those who were opposed to Christianity.  

Besoms:  When setting out for a Sabbath, witches rubbed a sacred ointment onto their skin. This gave them a feeling of flying, and if they had been fasting they felt even giddier. Some witches rode on horseback, but poor witches went on foot and carried a broom or a pole to aid in vaulting over streams. In England when new witches were initiated they were often blindfolded, smeared with flying ointment and placed on a broomstick. The ointment would confuse the mind, speed up the pulse and numb the feet. When they were told "You are flying over land and sea," the witch took their word for it.

Bobbing for Apples: When the Celts were absorbed by the Roman Empire, many rituals of Roman origin began. Among them was the worship of Pomona, goddess of the harvest, often portrayed sitting on a basket of fruits and flowers. Apples were the sacred fruit of the Goddess, and many games of divination involving them entered the Samhain customs. 

Witches Hat: The big circle brim symbolizes the magick Circle, the tall pointy part represents the cone of power. The witches hat is traditionally black symbolic of the Crone Goddess, the dark half of the year, and the occult mysteries. 

Herbs: Acorn Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Chrysanthemum, Deadly Nightshade, Dittany, Hazel, Heather, Mandrake, Mugwort, Oak leaves,  Sage, Straw and Wormwood

Foods: Pumpkin pies, Apples, Cakes for the Dead, Bread, Pears, Pork, Red Foods, Beans, Pomegranates, Grains, Beets, Turnips, Corn, Gingerbread, Mulled Wine, Meat Dishes, Hazelnuts, Ale, Cider and Herbal Teas.

Colours: Black, Orange, White, Silver, Gold.

Stones: All Black Stones, preferably jet or obsidian.

Information for the past few posts come from the website: http://sacredwicca.jigsy.com/samhain

Celebrating Samhain

Now that we have an understanding to what Samhain is all about, you'll be learning the different ways of how to celebrate. Remember, these are just ideas for you to follow up on, because you can celebrate in anyway you want. Le't begin!

Create an Ancestor Altar -  Create an ancestor altar using a collection of photographs, displaying your various relatives, ideally going back a few generations to illustrate and show respect for your history. Besides photos, you could also decorate your altar with any other items that belonged to your relatives or even just things that remind you of them. Jewelry, clothing, or other heirloom items could all be used. What matters most is that these items mean something to you and represent your past.

Dumb Supper - Lay an extra plate at your table on Samhain Eve, this is called a "dumb supper".  In this case "dumb" means silent, once the food is served silence is observed throughout the dinner. By remaining quiet, you will open your heart and mind to those who have crossed over. You may feel a ghostly touch, detect a scent of perfume, hear messages, or even witness physical manifestations of spirit energy.   It is traditional to serve the "dumb supper" backwards, so the dessert would be eaten first.  

Build a Bonfire -  Write personal prayers on parchment and cast them into the fire along with objects symbolizing your wishes for the new year.   If you have any old herbs or bits of magick laying around your house burn them up in the Samhain bonfire, it's time to start a fresh new year.

The Apple and the Mirror Divination - Before the stroke of midnight, sit in front of a mirror in a room lit only by one candle or the moon. Go into the silence, and ask a question. Cut the apple into nine pieces. With your back to the mirror, eat eight of the pieces, then throw the ninth over your left shoulder. Turn your head to look over the same shoulder, and you will see an image or symbol in the mirror that will tell you your answer.

(When you look in the mirror, let your focus go "soft," and allow the patterns made by the moon or candlelight and shadows to suggest forms, symbols and other dreamlike images that speak to your intuition.) 

Apple Divination - Peel an apple all in one long ribbon, then throw it over your shoulder while asking a question.  Divine the answer by the shape of the peel.

Hazelnut Divination - Carve questions into the shells of hazelnuts and place them near a fire.  If the nuts pop the answer is "no", if the nuts remain intact the answer is "yes". 

Witches Processional - In the spirit of the witches who lived before, on Samhain night dress yourself up in a black cloak, carve a small pumpkin and put on a handle so that it may be carried as a lantern.  Ghost about your neighbourhood, with your hood drawn up and your pumpkin lantern lit.  Hopefully the neighbours won't be able to tell that it's you!

Visit Graves of Loved Ones - Leave them offerings of jack- o'- lanterns, candy, nuts, apples or special treats that they enjoyed in life.  Don't forget to light a stick of incense and leave a small votive candle burning in the pumpkin.

What many of you will think of is Samhain is very much like the Day of the Dead that Roman-Catholics celebrate. To honor my grandmother who was from Mexico and was Catholic, I celebrate Samhain and Day of the Dead. Sometime soon, I'll post information about Day of the Dead so you can have ideas to celebrate Samhain.

Blessed be!

Samhain

Hi everyone! Since this month is Samhain, I'll be distributing a lot of posts about it, since it is the New Year. I hope you enjoy this little post to inform you the overall basics of Samhain. 

Samhain (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) is one of the Greater Wiccan Sabbats and is generally celebrated on October 31st, although some Traditions prefer the date of November 1st. The various names for this Sabbat are Samhain (Celtic), Shadowfest (Strega), Martinmas or Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic), as well as Halloween, Hallowmas, All Hallows Eve, Halloween, Day of the Dead, Feast of Spirits, Third Harvest, Samonios, All Saints Eve, Celtic New Year, Samhuinn, Celtic Winter, Samana, Festival of Pamona, Vigil of Saman, Vigil of Todos, and Santos. Though this Holiday is celebrated on October 31st, All Hallows Eve falls on November 7th, and Martinmas on November 11th.

The symbolism of this Sabbat is that of The Third (and final) Harvest, it marks the end of Summer, the beginning of Winter. It is a time marked by death when the Dead are honored - a time to celebrate and "study" the Dark Mysteries. "Samhain" means "End of Summer". Its historical origin is The Feast of the Dead in Celtic lands. It is believed that on this night, the veil Between the Worlds is at its thinnest point, making this an excellent time to communicate with the Other Side.

Symbols for representing this Sabbat may include Jack-O-Lanterns, Balefires, Masks, The Besom (Magickal Broom), The Cauldron, and the Waning Moon. Altar decorations might include small jack-o-lanterns, foods from the harvest, and photographs of your loved ones who have departed from this world.

Appropriate Deities for Samhain include ALL Crone Goddesses, and the Dying God or the "Dead" God. Samhain Goddesses include Hecate, Hel, Inanna, Macha, Mari, Psyche, Ishtar, Lilith, The Morrigu/Morrigan, Rhiannon, and Cerridwen. Key actions to keep in mind during this time in the Wheel of the Year include return, change, reflection, endings and beginnings, and honoring the Dead. Other meanings behind this Sabbat celebration include the Wisdom of the Crone, the Death of the God, and the Celebration of Reincarnation.

Samhain is considered by many Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches (especially those of Celtic heritage) to be the date of the Witches New Year, representing one full turn of the Wheel of the Year. This is the time of year for getting rid of weaknesses. A common Ritual practice calls for each Wiccan to write down his/her weaknesses on a piece of paper or parchment and toss it into the Cauldron fire. Other activities might include Divination, Past-Life Recall, Spirit Contact, Meditation, Astral Projection ("Flying"), and the drying of Winter herbs. It is considered "taboo" by some to travel after dark, or to eat grapes or berries.

Spellwork for protection and neutralizing harm are particularly warranted at this time of year, because Samhain is considered to be a good time to boost your confidence and security.

Many Witches use their own personal Besom, or Magickal Broom as a part of their rituals. Some Besoms are structurally different in shape from the flat ones sold today, being round on the end and having a smaller sweeping surface. They can, however, be fashioned flat or however you personally desire. These Magickal Brooms are commonly used for cleansing and purifying Sacred Space, but can be used for many other things... such as using one in place of a Wand, Athame, or finger to project your personal energy when casting your Circle.

Here is a simple way to create your own, quoted from one of Edain McCoys wonderful books:
"Making a Besom"

If you would like a Besom of your own, they are fairly easy to find in craft stores, country markets, or folk art fairs. You can also invest your energies into making one, a good idea if you wish to use it in place of a Wand or other ritual tool.

To make a Besom you will need a four-foot dowel one inch in diameter, a ball of twine, scissors, and straw or other long strands of pliable herbs.

Take the straw, or another herb you have chosen for the bristles, and allow them to soak overnight in warm, lightly salted water. The water softens the straws to make them pliable, and the salt soaks out former energies.

When you are ready to make your Besom, remove the straws from the water and allow them to dry a bit, but not so much that they lose the suppleness you will need to turn them into your Besom.

Find a work area where you can lay out the length of your dowel, and begin lining the straws alongside the dowel. Starting about three inches from the bottom, lay the straws, moving backward, along the length of the dowel. Begin binding these to the dowel with the twine. You will need to tie them very securely. You can add as many layers of straw as you wish, depending on how full you would like your Besom to be.

When the straw is secured, bend the top straws down over the twine ties. When they are all gently pulled over, tie off the straws again a few inches below the original tie. Leave the Besom overnight to allow the straw to dry.

The dowel part of the Besom can be stained, painted, or decorated with Pagan symbols, your Craft name, or any other embellishments you choose. Dedicate your finished Besom in your Circle as you would any other ritual tool.

(The above "Making a Besom" is quoted directly from Edain McCoys book “The Sabbats: A New Approach to Living the Old Ways”, page 36, Llewellyn Publications, 1994.)

The most common colors associated with Samhain are Orange and Black. However, Red, Brown, and Golden Yellow are also appropriate colors for this Sabbat. Altar candles should be black, orange, white, silver and/or gold. Stones to use during the Samhain Celebration are Obsidian, Onyx, and Carnelian. Animals associated with Samhain include bats, cats, and dogs. Mythical beasts associated with Samhain are the following: Phooka, Goblin, Medusa, Beansidhe, Fylgiar, Peryton, Erlkonig, and Harpies. Plants and herbs associated with Samhain are Mugwort, Allspice, Sage, Gourds, Catnip, and Apple Trees.

The traditional Pagan foods of Samhain include beets, turnips, squash, apples, corn, nuts, gingerbread, cider, pomegranates, mulled wines and pumpkin dishes. These are all appropriate as well as meat (especially pork) dishes (if you are not a vegetarian - if so, tofu seems ritually correct).

Some Wiccans leave a plate of food outside the home for the souls of the dead. Placement of a candle in a window and burying apples in the hard-packed Earth is believed to guide them on their journey to the lands of Eternal Summer.

According to Margie McArthur, in her book “WiccaCraft for Families”, the following dates are celebrated by many for the entire week preceding October 31st, called "All-Hallows Week":

October 24th - Festival Prelude and Night of Seers - decorate and remember those who have seen the future.
October 25th - Night of Heroes and Martyrs - honoring members of families who died in war and peace, those who have died for their faith.
October 26th - Night of Artists - for remembering those who speak of the Old Ways through the arts.
October 27th - Night of Nurturers - those who keep the home fires burning, caring for those in need of care.
October 28th - Night of Remembrance of Family Pets, recalled and cherished.
October 29th - Night of Remembrance of Forgotten Ancestors, heritage, and origins.
October 30th - Night of the Recent Dead - trip to cemetery.
October 31st - Family Fire Festival

Well, I hope this post was informative. Our next post will be the Symbolism of Samhain. Blessed be!

Information for this post came from the website: http://www.13moons.com/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&products_id=6012&zenid=cf9694be49b784fd41c7b5d5bb9f8068