Samhain

The Origins of Samhain: A Time When Worlds Collide

When autumn’s colours deepen and the nights turn crisp, it’s a sure sign that Samhain is near. Celebrated from October 31st to November 1st, this ancient Celtic festival signals the close of the harvest season and the arrival of winter—the “darker half” of the year. As one of the major Celtic fire festivals, Samhain 9 pronounced (Sow een) marks a mystical time when the veil between the physical world and the spirit realm is at its thinnest, inviting us to honour our lost loved ones and ancestors. And we await the arrival of the Cailleach. In the folklore of Ireland and Scotland the Cailleach is seen as an embodiment of the cold days. She is commonly known as Beira, Queen of Winter. Her dominion begins at Samhain, when she could be seen riding through the sky on the back of a wolf. This motif corresponds to the old Gaelic name for the month of January being Faoilleach, Wolf Month.

Ancient Roots of Samhain

In ancient times, Samhain was celebrated across Celtic regions like Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. This was no ordinary festival—it was a moment when the Celts believed our world intertwined with the Otherworld, giving spirits and fairies a rare passage into the human realm. To honour and pacify any visiting spirits, the Celts practiced rituals and offered tokens to ensure a safe journey into winter, hoping for protection through the harsh months ahead.

Time-Honoured Practices

Samhain was as practical as it was mystical. Bonfires were central, burning high with cleansing energy and thought to ward off harmful forces. People would rekindle their home hearths from these fires, carrying a bit of their protection back to their homes. The festival was also a time for cattle culling, to conserve food and ensure survival during winter’s scarcity. To honour their deceased, families would often set extra places at their tables or leave offerings of food and drink to comfort visiting spirits.

Guising and Disguising

Of the remaining traditions, the most famous must be Guising. The meaning of which suddenly becomes clear when you know that the origins of guising lie in dressing up children (and adults) to disguise them from the returning dead who might seek to exact revenge on anyone who had wronged them in their life.

Disguised children could wander among the spirits of the dead visiting the feasting houses on Halloween, where they would receive an offering of nuts or fruit to ward off evil. Now, Halloween guising is still a common practice, although fruit and nuts would be less popular amongst the youth of today.

From Samhain to Halloween

With the spread of Christianity, Samhain gradually transformed. The Church introduced All Saints’ Day on November 1st, hoping to Christianise Samhain’s themes of remembrance and protection. October 31st became known as All Hallows’ Eve, eventually evolving into Halloween, blending pagan rituals with Christian beliefs. Yet today, Samhain has been revived among modern pagans and witches who celebrate it as a sacred time to honour ancestors, bid farewell to the old year, and welcome the new.

Samhain Traditions and Customs:

The Dumb Supper

During the Dumb Supper, families prepare a special meal, setting an extra place for departed spirits and leaving offerings in their honour. It’s a moment of reverence and silent communion, believed to bridge our world with theirs.

Jack-o’-Lanterns

Carved pumpkins—and once turnips—glow with flickering candlelight to keep malevolent spirits at bay. This tradition traces back to the Irish tale of Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil and was left to roam the earth with only a hollowed turnip and ember to light his way.

Bonfires

On Samhain night, towering bonfires illuminate the dark, a symbol of letting go and protection. Many write down things they wish to leave behind—old fears, regrets, burdens—and cast them into the flames

Traditional Samhain Foods

Samhain foods embody the season’s themes of remembrance, fortune, and warmth. Colcannon, a mix of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage, charms were hidden to predict the eater's fate.  A button meant you would remain a bachelor, and a thimble meant you would remain a spinster for the coming year. A ring meant you would get married, and a coin meant you would come into wealth.

While Barmbrack, a fruity Irish bread, holds similar surprises.

Apples and cider symbolize immortality, and soul cakes are offered in memory of the dead. Pumpkins and turnips, carved or cooked, ward off spirits and celebrate the harvest, while hearty beef stew and seasonal vegetables provide warmth as winter nears. Each dish honours the harvest’s end and invites the spirit world into the feast.

Some Magical Ways to Celebrate Samhain

Host a Silent "Dumb Supper"

Set a meal in silence, reserving a place for loved ones who’ve passed. This quiet dinner honours their spirits, inviting them to join and share in the warmth of remembrance.

Create an Ancestor Altar

Build a small altar filled with photos, keepsakes, and offerings, letting memories of those who came before fill your space with love and gratitude.

Carve a Jack-o'-Lantern

Craft your own pumpkin or turnip lantern to light the dark night and ward off any mischievous spirits drawn by the thinning veil.

Hold a Bonfire Ritual

Write down what you’re ready to release, then toss it into the flames, letting the fire transform old energy as you prepare for new beginnings.

Practice Divination

Peek into the year ahead with a tarot reading, rune casting, or scrying session, harnessing Samhain’s potent energy to reveal what lies on the horizon.

Take a Meditative Nature Walk

Wander the autumn landscape, gathering leaves, stones, or acorns as symbols of the season and grounding yourself in its shifting energy.

Share Stories

Gather around to tell ghostly tales or share family lore, keeping the voices of the past alive and honouring their place in your life.

Bake Traditional Samhain Foods

Fill your kitchen with the scents of barmbrack or soul cakes, paying tribute to tradition while satisfying your sweet tooth!

Cleanse Your Home

Clear out stagnant energy by smudging with sage, rosemary, or incense, inviting clarity and protection as winter approaches.

Meditate on Transformation

Spend time in quiet reflection, honouring both the past and the future, embracing the energy of change that Samhain brings.

Each of these rituals opens a doorway to Samhain’s timeless spirit—balancing between the world of the living and the spirit world, celebrating endings and inviting in what lies ahead.