Samhain 2024

Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival, marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Celebrated from October 31st to November 1st, it is a time when the veil between the living and the dead is believed to be thinnest. Traditions include lighting bonfires to ward off evil spirits, leaving offerings for ancestors, … Continue reading Samhain 2024

Samhain~Halloween Customs and Practices

Samhain~Halloween Customs and Practices Part I This major festival has several aspects. It is considered the third (meat) harvest, New Year's Eve, the Day of the Dead (the dead are honored as they were by the ancient Celts & Egyptians and even now in Mexico), and a night that the veil between the physical and … Continue reading Samhain~Halloween Customs and Practices

Samhain/Halloween

Samhain is pronounced sowen, soween, saw-win, saw-vane or sahven, but not sam-hayne. Other names for Samhain include Samhuin, Samain, Saman, Oidhche Shamhna, Hallowe’en, Halloween, Hallows, Hallowtide, Shadow Fest, Allantide, Third Harvest, Harvest Home, Geimredh, Day of the Dead (Feile na Marbh), Feast of the Dead, Spirit Night, Candle Night, November Eve, Nutcrack Night, Ancestor … Continue reading Samhain/Halloween

Samhain

Samhain is an important holiday in Wicca, Druidry, and some other modern witchcraft traditions. So much has been written about this holy day that I am loathe to add anything to it. But there were a lot of questions I had: did Halloween customs really originate with Samhain? How? Did the Irish bring it over? […] … Continue reading Samhain

Samhain/Third Harvest

Samhain is pronounced sowen Samhain is pronounced sowen, soween, saw-win, saw-vane or sahven, but not sam-hayne. Other names for Samhain include Samhuin, Samain, Saman, Oidhche Shamhna, Hallowe’en, Halloween, Hallows, Hallowtide, Shadow Fest, Allantide, Third Harvest, Harvest Home, Geimredh, Day of the Dead (Feile na Marbh), Feast of the Dead, Spirit Night, Candle Night, November Eve, … Continue reading Samhain/Third Harvest