If there is one major American holiday that corresponds directly with a Neo-Pagan holiday, it’s Halloween or Samhain. Christmas or Yule is a close second, with the Easter or Ostara feast coming in third.
While many non-Pagans dress up as witches as this time, here we are, actual witches who assign more meaning to it than just the mere dressing up it scary stuff, provocative stuff (this is hard to miss!), and the knocking on people’s doors and asking if they want a trick or a treat.
To us pagans or witches, Samhain is fun, yes, but if you’re an adult pagan, it becomes more about rituals and spell casting. Halloween is actually derived from “All Hallow’s Eve” where Hallows means “holy”. So All Hallows means “All Holy”. So this day is for all things holy.
Originally, Halloween marks the time on the Wheel of the Year when the Dark God is crowned as the Holly King and leads the Wild Hunt as they emerge from Underworld to roam the winter countryside, with the Dark Queen riding beside him in her devouring aspect as the Huntress.
There are rituals that are best performed on Samhain and we are lucky enough to be aware of these and use them to our spiritual advantage. Having a bonfire on a hill or in your backyard at this time won’t draw stares, coz everyone is out celebrating their very own version of Samhain.
Samhain is also the time when the veil between our world and the spirit world are at its thinnest. It is that one night of the year when the spirits of our ancestors and those that have passed on will hear whatever it is that we want to tell them, and they might even communicate in ways they wouldn’t do on any other day. When I say ancestors, I mean not only those who are related to you by blood. Our ancestors are also those who built our cities on our land and those who lived in the places where we now live and the spirits of those people we look up to and admire. Wiccans who wanna communicate with the ancestors usually hold a ritual called a dumb supper. It’s dumb because nobody is allowed to talk throughout the duration of the ritual. If you wanna read more about it, click here.
We will give you some ideas on what to do this coming Samhain and we do wish you a blessed one!
Many Witches and Pagans traditionally bury apples or other fruit near to the front door on this day as offerings for the dead as they travel between the worlds. The tradition is an old one and city Pagans may lament their lack of earth next to a front door to carry it on.
This is easily remedied and makes a beautiful ritual. Simply bury the apple in a potted plant and place it by your front door on a stoop. If you’re worried about someone stealing your plant, you could place it on a windowsill or balcony instead. If it does get stolen and your pot and plant are easily replaced, you can choose to see it as a blessing to whomever it has gone to. Who knows, perhaps mischievous Samhain spirits are the culprits!
And this is not to cause mischief in the cemetery. Like I said, do not forget about our ancestors this time, so lay a wreath of flowers on the graves of your ancestors. If you don’t have any relatives buried in a cemetery near you, just drop by a cemetery and lay a wreath of flowers at any of the graves that somehow call to you.
Bonfires are often the cornerstone of a huge Hallow’s Eve celebration. It doesn’t have to be a huge bonfire on a hill (although that is good too), a small cauldron filled with wood and herbs by your fireplace or in your garden or front porch will do. The spirits will not bless you or your rituals on the basis of the size of the flames of your fire! The flames, no matter what size they are, will awaken the spirits and draw them near.
If lighting a bonfire is just too impossible for you to do, you also light a pillar candle. In keeping with the theme of Samhain, let them be tall pillar candles or skull candles.
it is actually the carving of turnips that dominated early Hallow’s Eve festivities and not today’s popular pumpkin. But unlike the pumpkin which you can carve faces into, turnips don’t carve as well except for when you hollow them out and place tea light candles inside. Returning to the original turnip carving is a lovely way to honour your ancestors. You can set them out in your house, in your garden, or on your windowsill. Hollowed out turnips with tea light candles inside look very very pretty.
As mentioned earlier, a dumb supper is a seance or a dinner for the dead done on Samhain. Dumb is the word for no one being allowed to speak all throughout the supper. It is tradition that is done to communicate with those who have crossed over to the other side. The spirits will manifest themselves in their own way. It is an ancient tradition where the dead dine with the living for just one night.
You should experience hosting a dumb supper at least once in your life. It is a very wonderful experience that brings you closer to your ancestors.
Pentacle of Ancestors from the Moonlight Shop
As with all magickal things, what’s important during Samhain your intent. You can have the biggest and most elaborate celebration of Samhain, but if your intent is just shallow or confused, it is going to be such a waste. Remember, you are a Wiccan. Samhain is the one time dedicated to honor the dead and pay your respects to your ancestors.
Thank you so much for sharing all you do with all BROTHER’S & SISTER’S of the Wiccan family!! Happy Samhain to all!! Will be Carving Turnips and Having a Dumb Supper & Bon fire for all past Ancestors!! 🌛🌝🌜
Love to all of our Wiccan Family’s ! I to am a Crone and am so Happy that 2 of my Grandchildren are Happy and Loving the History of Samhain! I Read out loud to them this lovely Article and they are Loving the idea of carving Turnips and having a Dumb Supper & Bon fire with me this year! ❤😉❤ Blessed be to all!! 🧙♀️ 🧙♂️ 🎃 🦇 🕷 🕸
Thank you. I always learn so much from you. Have a awesome Samhain. Blessed Be❤️💙
I love your articles and appreciate the time spent putting them together for us. Samhain is the New Year and this year is extra special as it is a Full Moon as well. Love and Light to all of you.
Thank you so much for all you do. I appreciate you all. I’m going to find me some turnips to put tea lights in. 🤗
Blessed Be 💙👣
Blessed be my brother and sisters I’m love the information I get from this site and I’ve become the crone in our family and I’m so blessed to be the 5th generation of our coven
Merci beaucoup pour ces informations utiles , j’adore votre site et ce que vous vendez mais hélas trop chere avec les frais de port ayant un petit revenu. Je suis une passionnée de sorcellerie et de dragonnologie . Les dragons sont mes guides spirituels qui m’apaisent
I know from birth on my mom’s side we are wiccan. Most of my family just do not get so I just leave them behind to their closed minds. I am open to the Universe. Thx for inviting me in
Thank you for the free guide it is greatly appreciated and bless you and your staff for all you do . BB
Blessed Be, and a great read always look forward to Samhein.
I love all the info you send! I will be burying an apple and am going to try to find a cauldron to have my fire on Samhain. Blessed be!
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Blessed Be!
I love the Moonlight Magic Shop, I have gotten a few things from there. I love the article very insightful, being a Solitary and hard to practice sometimes because of whom I live with a lot of the things mentioned in the article I can do without them thinking of it so, thank you very much. Blessed Be 🌛🌝🌜🔥
love your message just wish many would follow true meaning of samhain
I like The Moonlight Shop I have the brooms elder Pentacle and the Pentacle of ancestors. Love the great info they offer
Interesting article… It’s a good introduction to Samhain. Maybe an article on the tools and symbols of the holiday is in order.
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Blessbe
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Love all that you share cant purchase most of the stuff but i enjoy all of the inspiration you give and teach me . Blessed Be…
This has some wonderful ideas! As this is also the Witch’s New Year, it is also a great idea to plan for your year. I have been Solitary for many years now, but every year I put candles out at my windows to welcome the honored ancestors home one more.
Thank you so much for all the helpful information you give,I am but a poor Celtic Witch so I can’t purchase the wonderful things in your shop but the information is much appreciated Thank you And Blessed Be always ..
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Thank you all from Moonlightshop for wonderful messages everyday and spooktacular shop deals
Thank you all from Moonlightshop for wonderful messages everyday and spooktacular shop deals
My grandson was born on October 31.
Im enjoying the MOONLIGHTSHOP very much and hoping to place some orders soon! Everything that I’ve seen so far is very intriguing.
I am so fortunate to be born in Samhain Season OCT 25th🎃
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Andea
October 10, 2022
Thank you for this article. It is wonderful. I didn’t know there were so many East’s to celebrate “All Hallows Eve”.