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What is Samhain?

Samhain is known by most folks as Halloween, but for Wiccans and Pagans it's considered a Sabbat to honor the ancestors who came before us. It's a good time to contact the spirit world with a seance, because it's the time when the veil between this world and the spiritual world is the thinnest.

Contrary to a popular Internet-based (and Chick Tract-encouraged) rumor, Samhain was not the name of some ancient Celtic god of death, or of anything else, for that matter. Religious scholars agree that the word Samhain (pronounced "sow-en") comes from the Gaelic “Samhuin,” but they’re divided on whether it means the end or beginning of summer. After all, when summer is ending here on earth, it’s just beginning in the Underworld. Samhain actually refers to the daylight portion of the holiday, on November 1st.

Around the eighth century or so, the Catholic Church decided to use November 1st as All Saints Day. This was actually a pretty smart move on their part – the local pagans were already celebrating that day anyway, so it made sense to use it as a church holiday. All Saints’ became the festival to honor any saint who didn’t already have a day of his or her own. The mass which was said on All Saints’ was called Allhallowmas – the mass of all those who are hallowed. The night before naturally became known as All Hallows Eve, and eventually morphed into what we call Halloween.

Sunset on Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic New Year. The old year has passed, the harvest has been gathered, cattle and sheep have been brought in from the fields, and the leaves have fallen from the trees. The earth slowly begins to die around us.

This is a good time for us to look at wrapping up the old and preparing for the new in our lives. Think about the things you did in the last twelve months. Have you left anything unresolved? If so, now is the time to wrap things up. Once you’ve gotten all that unfinished stuff cleared away, and out of your life, then you can begin looking towards the next year.

For some of us, Samhain is when we honor our ancestors who came before us. If you’ve ever done genealogy research, or if you’ve had a loved one die in the past year, this is the perfect night to celebrate their memory. If we’re fortunate, they will return to communicate with us from beyond the veil, and offer advice, protection and guidance for the upcoming year.

Source: http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/p/Samhain_History.htm


I myself always set a place at the table for those that have passed, I hold my private ritual that night paying respect to those that have passed. And tale a moment to refect on the things that have occurred during the the year and lookin into what I shall accomplish in the New year.



So I ask those that Celebrate Samhain, what is your way on honoring those that have passed during the year?

I have a solitary ceremony for all those who have passed and think of each of them with fondness of what we shared while they were hear and I light candles for each of them as well.

I also have a ritual that I practice.....

As a solitary practitioner, I use Candles and incense, and recite some spells....

I honor my ancestors and put forth Positive energy fro the future....

:)

Mostly my family lights candles and sets food outside, but I have other family members who take it to a higher level then we do by actually doing a ritual, which i later found they got from the internet.

I don't have a link, but I know it's from something called "The Witch's Garden" and I know they didn't write it themselves, but they say this every Samhain:


Tonight as the barrier between the two realms grow thin, Spirits walk amongst us once again. They be family, friends and foes, pets and wild life, fishes and crows. This feast I shall leave on my doorstep all night. In my window one candle shall burn bright, to help my loved ones find their way as they travel this eve, and this night until dawn. Bless my offering, both Lady and Lord of breads and fruits, greens and gourd. Dark Mother your cauldron is a well of death and rebirth, Dark Father your sword both protects and annihilates. Hear me now as the past year slowly dies, only to be reborn again. May the good come to pass and the bad be cast aside. With your divine guidance and protection I step into the New Year. In life is death and in death is life, tonight we are joined again.



I have no idea if this is a legitimate Samhain ritual, but just thought I'd share anyway. :)

it is VERY legitimate.....

and it's techinically the usual ritual....

Unfortunately I'm forced to leave out the Leaving behind of food because my Apartment doesn't want me leaving food outside..... it attracts Pests.

but I do everything else....

:)

I have been practicing for only 2 years... my children and I are gathering with our coven for a feast and celebration and doing a private ritual for our loved ones..

a simple celebration of happy memmories for the most part is doen,something personal to show respect to the dead and to the goddess

Well this comming Samhain A bunch of us are going to be at a ritual at a local gravyard. At midnite then we are going to go to a party for wiccans and pagans.. till the wee morning..

Well , I always attend ritual every year, and take time to reflect on the past year.

Samhain has got to be my favorite Sabbat. I love the essence of it, the leaves falling, the kids trick or treating, and witches discreetly showing their beliefs through yard decorations! lol.

XXgoddessXofXtheXnightXX
I fully agree with you on this because it is the one time of the year that its not looked at as uncommon or out of the norm. and ridiculed over by having put some effort into what we believe.

it's true. many people though, do not realize when we hang up a sign saying "the witch is in" or something silly.... we mean it. :)

I sit the table and I sit a plate of food as those who have passed before me can feel welcome to join into the dinner. Then I leave for the coven gathering...return and take the plate of food outside so those can eat on their journey.

Well..for me, I had a cousin who was born on Samhain and he passed away that following January of SIDS. I genearlly will say something for him. I also sprinkle cinnamon-if I have any-on my food in honor of my grandfather who died not too long after my cousin. Yeah...that was a tough year. For my aunt, I step outside, take a deep breath, and sit for a little bit in the peace, just to appreciate the world, a memory to her, because she never thought bad of a single thing.

I do a small private blessing and celebrating of the future to come and bless the passing of loved ones.

I am sure everyone has their own tradition as to how they celebrate

I totally agree, not that I dont have my withs parking sign out all year round, but people just dont think twice of seeing all sorts of things all about in my yard lol

simple celebration n light some candles

I am not Wiccan/Paggan but I do light some candles & think of my family & friends. A kind thought is always good. Plus handing out candy to kids is something my grandparents loved doing, so the tradition is still on. : )

ITS NEARLY SAMHAIN/HALLOWEEN : )

This year im lighting a candle for my grandad whom i loved soooo much, i really wish he was still around today and i hope he is proud of me : )

To be totally honest with you I dont see dead people, but I feel there presence and hear them. But although I have a very morbid side of me, it freaks me out. My mother has been wiccan my whole life. So she understands my gifts better than I do. So Samhain is the only time of the year I face this gift and its to honor those that are dead.

well it would appear that the majority of us honor Samhain alll the same way. Tradition is always great way to go.

In India to devote to the passed souls we do have 15 days rituals here we call it shradh.

to passed souls we hindus do treat holy spirits

I am lucky because my partner is also a wiccan so we celebrate by have some close friend round for a meal and setting an extra place. Later on we hold a ritual to honour our ancestors.

I go to my grove (as I am druid faith) and we have a ritual which is very lovely.

light a fire, drink some mead and have a toast

I light candles and use incense to honor my ancestors. With the dogs in the house I can't leave food out but I do prepare certains things that my mom and other family members liked. i will also light candles for the pets that I have had that has passed as well to show my respect to them.

Samhain is a very important time in my household. As a solitary wiccan, I honor those who have passed into the Summerland by burning candles, incense, and saying prayers.

BB, ~*V

I usually say a blessing starting with the Wiccan Rede and adding personal blessings for each of those who've passed on. Afterwards, I usually take a walk and listen to the nighttime winds. I let them flow through me and it's then I know, they've heard me. Once home, I'll light my candles and sing to myself (in between handing out candy to the kids). The singing is to honor those I've lost. They used to love when I sang to them.

Ive been practicing for 16 yrs and every yr i have a ceremony for my loved ones who havew passed

Acctauly, November 1st is my birthday. But to celebrate the holiday I commemerate my family that has past by spending time with those that are still living.
Sometimes I like to think that they are among us while we (living) laugh and remember them.
I try to gather my whole family, of all differant faiths to celebrate, usning my birthday as an excuse. My Catholic grandma celebrates All Saints Day, while I, a few friends, and occationally my mom, remember our loved ones. Were are all pulled there for differnet reasons, but we are all there nonetheless.

I want to thank JJ for the thread. I'd like to honnor her for that. For me it is a time for reflection as well as paying tribute to both my loved ones and friends that have gone before me.
It is a private time for me and I usually do my meditations sometimes while I decorate. I like to think that they help me decide what to do for that year.
I also light candles and send prayers to those souls; and ask for the guidance for the following year.
Bright blessings to all of you also.
Blessed Be

on Samhain we have dinner then we go outside and hold a circle and call the guardians for protection the we have a blessing for all that has passed and the people that we have lost. its very beautiful.