From Samhain to Halloween
From Samhain to Halloween
Embedded Files
Embrace both light and shadow as the veil thins between worlds, honoring ancient traditions and the mysteries of life.
Embrace both light and shadow as the veil thins between worlds, honoring ancient traditions and the mysteries of life.
Halloween costumes, jack-o'-lanterns, and trick-or-treating traditions carry echoes from ancient Samhain (pronounced as sow-in), which has ancient roots in Celtic culture. It was originally celebrated as the transition from the lighter half of the year to the darker half, and was believed that during this time, the veil between the physical world and the spiritual world was at its thinnest. This allowed spirits and other supernatural beings to cross over more easily. The Celts would light bonfires, wear costumes, and leave offerings of food to appease wandering spirits and ensure protection for their households.
As Christianity spread, the church sought to replace pagan festivals with Christian holidays, and so All Saints' Day, or All Hallows' Day, was established on November 1st. The evening before became known as All Hallows' Eve, eventually evolving into the Halloween we know today. Though Halloween and Samhain share numerous similarities, each holds unique traditions, purposes, and energies.
Costumes, originally worn during Samhain to confuse and ward off spirits, now let us embody creative aspects of ourselves—light or dark—on Halloween. Jack-o'-lanterns, once protective carvings made from turnips, have transformed into glowing pumpkins, warding off malevolent energies with their fierce, flickering faces. Trick-or-treating stems from the old tradition of “souling,” in which people exchanged prayers for food. Although today, Halloween's treats carry on this legacy of sharing and remembrance, offering a sweet and consumerist connection to those ancient customs.
Samhain, unlike Halloween, invites us into a time of quiet communion and reflection. Wiccans may create an ancestral altar, take an autumn walk, practice divination, or embark on shadow work to release what no longer serves us. It’s a night for gazing into the mirror of our souls and honoring the turning of the wheel, when life retreats and rests.
Halloween invites playful and spooky expression, while Samhain draws us to honor the mysteries of life and death as well as to appreciate our ancestors. By blending the two, you can celebrate the turning of the new season (or new leaf, if you will), embracing both light and shadow in the dance from October 31st to November 1st. Blessed Be ~
“The Goddess is everywhere, immanent. She is the creatrix of the universe and is found at the beginning of all life and at its close. The Great Mother gives birth to all living things, and they return to her as they die. From the Goddess radiates all the power and beauty of the natural world. And it is this power and this beauty that witches embody.”
“The Goddess is everywhere, immanent. She is the creatrix of the universe and is found at the beginning of all life and at its close. The Great Mother gives birth to all living things, and they return to her as they die. From the Goddess radiates all the power and beauty of the natural world. And it is this power and this beauty that witches embody.”
~ Elisabeth Brooke
(A Wisewoman's Guide to Spells, Rituals, and Goddess Lore, 1995)
~ Elisabeth Brooke
(A Wisewoman's Guide to Spells, Rituals, and Goddess Lore, 1995)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse