Hello lovelies! Since Samhain is right around the corner we thought we would share some history!
Pronounced “sow-win”; Samhain is a pagan holiday that originates from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. Today, Samhain is usually practiced from the evening of October 31st to the evening of November 1st to welcome in the harvest and bring in the “dark half of the year.”
Ancient Celts believed Samhain was the most significant of the four quarterly festivals and after their harvest work was complete would celebrate by joining Druid priests in lighting a community fire using a wheel that was considered a representation of the sun. Participants took a flame from this communal fire back to their homes to replenish the hearths that they let die out earlier that day. These Celts believed that Samhain was a mandatory celebration and if one would refuse to participate they would receive a punishment from the gods, usually being illness or death.
Celts believed that the barrier between worlds was thinnest during Samhain and would leave offerings outside of their villages and in fields for the fae, as well as Sidhs. They believed that their ancestors might cross over during this time and to protect them from being kidnapped by the fae; would dress up as animals and monsters. More specifically, they would dress up with monsters that they associated with Samhain, such as the shape-shifting creature ‘Pukah,’ that recieved harvest offerings, or The Lady Gwyn, a headless woman dressed in white that would chase night wanderers.
Samhain celebrations continued to progress through the Middle Ages. Samghnagans, personal bonfires nearer the farms, became a tradition to protect families from the fae, as well as witches. Persons would carve turnips attached to strings and embedded with coal: Jack-o-lanterns. In Wales, men would toss burning wood at each other as a violent game. During these times, the tradition “dumb supper” began, in which celebrants would invite ancestors in to feast with them, giving the families a chance to interact with the spirits until the feast was over. Children would play games for the dead, while adults updated them on the past year’s news. That night, doors and windows would be left open for the dead to come in and eat cakes that had been left for them.
As Christianity gained way into pagan communities, church leaders attempted to refrain Samhain as a Christian Celebration. The first attempt was by Pope Boniface in the 5th century. He moved the celebration to May 13 and specified it as a day celebrating saints and martyrs.In the 9th century, Pope Gregory moved the celebration back to the time of the fire festivals, but declared it All Saints’ Day, on November 1. All Souls’ Day would follow on November 2.
A broad revival of Samhain resembling its traditional pagan form began in the 1980s with the growing popularity of Wicca.Wicca celebration of Samhain takes on many forms, from the traditional fire ceremonies to celebrations that embraces many aspects of modern Halloween, as well as activities related to honoring nature or ancestors. Wiccans look at Samhain as the passing of the year, and incorporate common Wiccan traditions into the celebration.In the Druid tradition, Samhain celebrates the dead with a festival on October 31 and usually features a bonfire and communion with the dead. American pagans often hold music and dance celebrations called Witches’ Balls in proximity to Samhain.
However you celebrate please be safe and respectful! Blessed Be!
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