We know it as All Hallow's Eve-Samhain You Call it Halloween

Hello all...... with Samhain coming up so quickly I
thought that I would post some info that I found here
on the web.

Samhain
All Hallow's Eve
Halloween


The most magical night of the year. Exactly opposite
Betane on the Wheel of the Year, Halloween is
Beltane's dark twin. A night of glowing
jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for apples, tricks or treats,
and dressing in costume. A night of ghost stories and
seances, tarot card readings and scrying with mirrors.
A night of power, when the veil that seperates our
world from the Otherworld is at its thinnest. A
'spirit night' as they say in Wales.

All Hallow's Eve is the eve of All Hallow's Day
(November 1st). and for once, even popular tradition
remembers that the Eve is more important than the Day
itself, the traditional celebration focusing on
October 31st, beginning at sundown. And this seems
only fitting for the great Celtic New Year's festival.
Not that the holiday was Celtic only. In fact, it is
startling how many ancient and unconnected cultures
(the Egyptians and pre-Spanish Mexicans, for example)
celebrated this as a festival of the dead. But the
majority of our modern traditions can be traced to the
British Isles.
The Celts called it Samhain, which means 'summer's
end', according to their ancient two-fold division of
the year, when summer ran from Beltane to Samhain and
winter ran from Samhain to Beltane. (Some modern
Covens echo this structure by letting the High Priest
'rule' the Coven beginning on Samhain, with rulership
returned to the High Priestess at Beltane.) According
to the later four-fold division of the year, Samhain
is seen as 'autumn's end' and the beginning of winter.
Samhain is pronounced (depending on where you're from)
as 'sow-in' (in Ireland), or 'sow-een' (in Wales), or
'sav-en' (in Scotland), or inevitable 'sam-hane' (in
the U.S. where we don't speak Gaelic).
Not only is Samhain the end of autumn; it is also,
more importantly, the end of the old year and the
beginning of the new. Celtic New Year's Eve, when the
new year begins with the onset of the dark phase of
the year, just as the new day begins at sundown. There
are many representations of Celtic Gods with two
faces, and it surely must have been one of them who
held sway over Samhain. Like his Greek counterpart
Janus, he would straddle the threshold, one face
turned toward the past in commeration of those who
died during the last year, and one face gazing
hopefully toward the future, mystic eyes attempting to
pierce the veil and divine what the coming year holds.
These two themes, celebrating the dead and divining
the future, are inexorably intertwined in Samhain, as
they are likely to be in any New Year's celebration.
As a feast of the dead, it was believed the dead
could, if they wished, return to the land of the
living for this one night, to celebrate with their
family, tribe, or clan. And so the great burial mounds
of Ireland (sidh mounds) were opened up, with lighted
torches lining the walls, so the dead could find their
way. Extra places were set at the table and food set
out for any who had died thatyear. And there are many
stories that tell of Irish heroes making raids on the
Underworld while the gates of faery stood upon, though
all must return to their appointed places by
cock-crow.
As a feast of divination, this was the night par
excellence for peering into the future. The reason for
this has to do with the Celtic view of time. In a
culture that uses a linear concept of time, like our
modern one, New Year's Eve is simply a milestone on a
very long road that stretches in a straight line from
birth to death. Thus, the New Year's festival is a
part of time. The ancient Celtic view of time,
however, is cyclical. And in this framework, New
Year's Eve represents a point outside of time, when
the naturla order of the universe dissolves back into
primordial chaos, preparatory to re-establishing
itself in a new order. Thus, Samhain is a night that
exists outside of time and hence it maybe used to view
any other point in time. At no other holiday is tarot
card reading, crystal reading, or tea-leaf reading so
likely to succeed.
The Christian religion, with its emphasis on the
'historical' Christ and his act of redemption 2000
years ago, is forced into a linear view of time, where
'seeing the future' is an illogical proposition. In
fact, from the Christian perspective, any attempt to
do so is seen as inherently evil. This did not keep
the medieval Church from co-opting Samhain's other
motif, commemoration of the dead. To the Church,
however, it could never be a feast for all the dead,
but only the blessed dead, all those hallowed (made
holy) by obedience to god - thus, All Hallow's, or
Hallowmas, later All Saints and All Souls.
There are so many types of divination that are
traditional to Hallowstide, it is possible to mention
only a few. Girls were told to place hazel nuts along
the front of the firegrate, each one so symbolize one
of her suitors. She could then divine her future
husband by chanting, 'If you love me, pop and fly; if
you hate me, burn and die.' Several methods used the
apple, that most popular of Halloween fruits. You
should slice an apple through the equator (to reveal
the five pointed star within) and then eat it by
candlelight before a mirror. Your future spouse will
then appear over one shoulder. Or, peel an apple,
making sure the peeling comes off in one long strand,
reciting, 'I pare this apple round and round again; /
My sweetheart's naem to flourish on the plain: ' I
fling the unbroken paring o'er my head, / My
sweetheart's letter on the ground to read.' Or, you
might set a snail to crawl through the ashes of your
hearth. The considerate little creature will then
spell out the initial letter as it moves.
Perhaps the most famous icon of the holiday is the
jack-o-lantern. Various authorities attribute it to
either Scottish or Irish origin. However, it seems
clear that it was used as a lantern by people who
traveled the road this night, the scary face to
frighten away spirits or faeries who might otherwise
lead one astray. Set on porches and in windows, they
cast the same spell of protection over the household.
(The American pumpkin seems to have forever superseded
the European gourd as the jack-o-lantern of choice.)
Bobbing for apples may well represent the remnants of
a Pagan 'baptism' rite called a 'seining', according
to some writers. The water-filled tub is a latter-day
Cauldron of Regeneration,into which the novice's head
is immersed. The fact that the participant in this
folk game was usually blindfolded with hands tied
behind the back also puts one in mind of a traditional
Craft initiation ceremony.
The custom of dressing in costume and 'trick or
treating' is of Celtic origin with survivals
particularly strong in Scotland. However, there are
some important differences in the modern version. In
the first place, the custom was not relegated to
children, but was actively indulged in by adults as
well. Also, the 'treat' which was required was often
one of spirits (the liquid variety). This has recently
been revived by college students who go 'trick or
drinking'. And in acient times, the roving bands would
sing seasonal carols from house to house, making the
tradition very similar to Yuletide wassailing. In
fact, the custom known as 'caroling', now connected
exclusively with mid-winter, was once practiced in all
major holidays. Finally, in Scotland at least, the
tradition of dressing in costume consisted almost
exclusively of cross-dressing (i.e. men dressing as
women, and women as men). It seems as though ancient
societies provided an opportunity for people to try on
the role of the opposite gender for one night of the
year. (Although in Scotland, this is admittedly less
dramatic - but more confusing - since men were in the
habit of wearing skirt-like kilts anyway.)
To Witches, Samhain is one of the four High Holidays,
or Greater Sabbats, or cross-quarter days. Because it
is the most important holiday of theyear, it is
sometimes call "THE Great Sabbat.' It is an ironic
fact that the newer, self-created Covens tend to use
the older name for the holiday, Samhain, which they
have discovered through modern research. While the
older hereditary and traditional Covens often use the
newer name, Halloween, which has been handed down
through oral tradition within their Coven. (This often
holds true for the names of the other holidays, as
well. One may often get an indication of a Coven's
antiquity by noting what names it uses for the
holidays.)
With such an important holiday, Witches often hold two
distinct celebrations. First, a large Halloween party
for non-craft friends, often held on the previous
weekend. And second, a Coven ritual held on Samhain
night itself, late enough so as not to be interrupted
by trick or treaters. If the rituals are performed
properly, there is often the felling of invisible
friends taking part in the rites. Another date which
may be utilized in planning celebrations is the actual
cross-quarter day, or Old Samhain. This occurs when
the sun has reached 15 degrees Scorpio, an
astrological 'power point' symbolized by the Eagle.
Interestingly, this date (Old Samhain) was also
appropriated by the church as the holiday of Marinmas.

Of all the Witchcraft holidays, Samhain is the only
one that still boasts anything near to popular
celebration. Even thoughtit is typically relegated to
children (and the young at heart) and observed as an
evening affair only, many of its traditions are firmly
rooted in Paganism. It seems only right that there
should be one night of the year when our minds are
turned toward thoughts of the supernatural. A night
when both Pagans and non-Pagans may ponder the
mysteries of the Otherworld and its inhabitants. And
if you are one of them, may all your jack-o-lanterns
burn bright on this Samhain.

Samhain is the time of the year when the veil is the thinnest, when souls who have gone before come back to roam among the living. The Celts called it Samhain, meaning "summer's end. A time where mortals can enter the world of the spirits and the spirits can enter the world of the living.
As a feast of the dead, it was believed the dead could, if they wished, return to the land of the living for this one night, to celebrate with their family, tribe, or clan.

In ancient times this was a wonderful celebration of life and death when the Lord of the Underworld came to collect the spirits that had died during the previous year to take them to the Otherworld.

The Celtic new year was a time to embrace the ancestors and honor them with a feast and dance. It was a time of Life and death for the seasons, also a time of communication and prophesy, for people beleived that the dead ( fairies and brownies too, who could whisper the names of who would die in the coming year) may know information about the future that we did not.
A time where everything was topsy-turvey with the veil being so thin, that anything could happen.


Samhain, October 31


Samhain (Summer's End) is one of our four Greater Sabbats, the highest
holy day of witches. It is a cross quarter day, situated between Autumn
Equinox and Winter Solstice. Samhain is a major festival with several
aspects. It is new year's eve for witches, as well as our third and final
harvest festival. Samhain inaugurates Winter, is the final chance to dry
herbs for winter storage, and a night when fairies supposedly afoot working
mischief. It is also the Day of the Dead for us as it was for the Celts,
Egyptians and ancient Mexicans, the night when we remember our loved ones
and honor our ancestors. We also celebrate reincarnation and note the
absence the Sun (the god), who will be reborn at Winter Solstice as the
Child of Promise. Astrologically, Samhain marks the rising of the Pleiades.
Late October was the nut harvest for Celts, and the time for salting
winter's supply of meat. Scholars disagree on this, but many fix this date
as the Celtic new year. November 1 is the actual date of Samhain but like
other Celtic derived festivals it is celebrated on its eve.
November 1 is New Year's Day for witches, as it was for the Babylonians.
NAMES:
*Note: Samhain is pronounced sowen, soween, saw-win, saw-vane or sahven, not
sam-hayne.
Other names for Samhain include Samhuin, Samain, Saman, Oidhche Shamhna,
Hallowe'en, Halloween, Hallows, Hallowtide, Shadow Fest, Allantide, Third
Harvest, Harvest Home, Geimredh, Day of the Dead (Feile na Marbh), Feast of
the Dead, Spirit Night, Candle Night, November Eve, Nutcrack Night, Ancestor
Night and Apple Fest.
Christian names for it include All Hallows Eve (although some churches
fix that as November 7), Hallows Eve, Santos, Devil Night and Mischief
Night. It is also called Martinmas, but that is properly the name for the
actual cross quarter day which occurs when the sun reaches its power point
in Scorpio. Some church calendars fix November 11 as Martinmas.
SYMBOL:
Black cat, jack o 'lantern, bat, ghost, scarecrow, waning moon.
GODDESSES
Crone, all crone goddesses, Cerridwen, Hecate, Hel, Oya, the Morrigan,
Lilith, Kali, Ishtar, Arianrhod, Rhiannon, Tlazoteotl, Nephthys, Persephone,
Beansidhe (Banshee), Inanna, Baba Yaga, Isis, Pomona and Cailleach Beara
(Brigid's crone aspect), who is reborn this night.
GODS
Osiris, the Horned God, Herne the Hunter, Cernunnos, Anubis, Odin, Bran,
death gods, dying and rising gods.
INCENSE:
Copal, sandalwood, mastic resin, benzoin, sweetgrass, wormwood: to get
the sight, to see the spirits of the returning dead.
CANDLES:
New candles for the new year: black, orange, autumn colors, or black
candles for the Lord and the old year, white candles for the Lady and the
new year.
TOOLS:
Besom, to sweep out the old year and any negativity it had.
Cauldron, for transformation.
Divination tools: Tarot cards, scrying bowl, rune stones, pendulum,
mirror, etc.
PLANT:
Pumpkin, apple, grain, pomegranate, mugwort, wormwood, Dittany of Crete,
acorn, oak leaf, gourds, root vegetables, rosemary (for remembrance).
STONE
Obsidian, carnelian, onyx, smoky quartz, jet, bloodstone.
ANIMAL:
Bat, black cat, owl.
ALTAR DECORATIONS:
Autumn leaves, fall flowers, pomegranates, apples, pumpkins, ears of
corn, sprays of grain, corn dollies, gourds, nuts, seeds, acorns, chestnuts
and images of ancestors are all appropriate. Use whatever is in season where
you live, whatever feels right and looks good to you.
FOOD:
Gingerbread, freshly roasted nuts, nut breads, anything made with apples
or pumpkin, meat (especially bacon), doughnuts, popcorn, cakes with lucky
tokens in them, and red foods because the ancients held them sacred to the
dead.
DRINK:
Mead, apple cider, mulled cider, mulled wine.
CELEBRATE
Masks, costumes - trick-or-treating - feasting and partying to defy the
coming darkness (bob for apples, roast nuts, pop popcorn) - harvest feasts -
rituals to honor the dead - Witches' Ball
MAGICKAL WORKINGS:
Samhain is one of the most potent nights of the year for magick. As a
cross-quarter day it is a supernatural time, a time outside of time, the
night that is not a night, a powerful time of flux and change. This is a
good night for: candle magick - astral projection - past life work - dark
moon mysteries - mirror spells (reflection) - casting protection - inner
work - propitiation - clearing obstacles - uncrossing - inspiration -
workings of transition or culmination - manifesting transformation -
creative visualization.
Ritual Fire:
Bonfires to protect the family, coven or land through the winter darkness -
bale fire, to erase mistakes and negativity - torches to honor the dead -
extinguish all fires then kindle new fire for a fresh start with the new
year - burn incense to get the site - set the torc tenned ablaze, a pyramid
of timber called the Fire Boar; save the ashes to use as a base for next
Samhain's torc tenned - put a candle in the window to help the spirit of a
loved one find its way home - light a candle on the ancestral altar -
lanterns, jack o'lanterns or candles outdoors to guide the way for spirits
and fairies who are abroad this night - light a fire in the cauldron for
protection or transformation.
Divination:
Samhain is a power night for divination: read the tarot cards; use the Wheel
of the Year spread to forecast the year ahead - cast runes or the I Ching -
scry in crystal balls, dark mirrors, bowls of black ink or pools of water -
swing a pendulum, asking yes or no questions - eat an apple in front of a
mirror at midnight, by candlelight, to scry your future mate.
Meditation:
This is a good night for deep reflection and inner work. Meditation themes
include: changes, transition, endings and beginnings, passage, return,
mortality and reincarnation, chaos leading to reorder.
Spirit work: (by invitation, not summons)
This is the night when the veil is thinnest, the gates between the worlds
are open. Souls of the dead are said to visit their homes at midnight.
Possible workings include: a dumb supper for the beloved dead - ouija -
seances - trance possession - automatic writing - bury apples as food for
hungry spirits - leave spirit plates of food outside your home - set a place
for a missed love one at the banquet or dinner table.
New Year workings:
Release the old: bad habits and toxic relationships, illness, failure and
poverty; everything you do not want to carry into the new year - sweep
negativity and out of your home - end quarrels - settle debts, make amends
or restitution if needed - spells for prosperity and security for your
family.
Faery Magick:
This is a great night for visiting the faery realm but you must return by
dawn or remain forever enchanted, unable to return.
Sex Magick:
Like Beltane opposite it on the wheel of the year, Samhain is a night when
the Goddess descends into women. This is an excellent night for sex magick
of all kinds, and the Great Rite.

Samhain, (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) means "End of Summer",
and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year
commences on this Sabbat.

It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer
November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being
Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are
temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted.
Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time,
for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a
time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark
Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort.

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by
leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead".
Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition. Single candles
were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and
loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for
the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits
who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were
hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night
of magic and chaos. The Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on
unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was not advised. People dressed in
white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite
gender in order to fool the Nature spirits.

This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for
eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain
were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires
were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were
thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the
New Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown
into the fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved
stone foretold of that person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were
also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread
over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of
the Dead, Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic), Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest
(Strega), and Samhuinn. Also known as All Hallow's Eve, (that day actually
falls on November 7th), and Martinmas (that is celebrated November 11th),
Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year.

Symbolism of Samhain:
Third Harvest, the Dark Mysteries, Rebirth through Death.

Symbols of Samhain:
Gourds, Apples, Black Cats, Jack-O-Lanterns, Besoms.

Herbs of Samhain:
Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak leaves,
Sage and Straw.

Foods of Samhain:
Turnips, Apples, Gourds, Nuts, Mulled Wines, Beef, Pork, Poultry.

Incense of Samhain:
Heliotrope, Mint, Nutmeg.

Colors of Samhain:
Black, Orange, White, Silver, Gold.

Stones of Samhain:
All Black Stones, preferably jet or obsidian.