Samhain And The Tradition of Honoring Our Ancestors
Bushels of apples, patches of pumpkins and burnished leaves crunching underfoot herald the approach of the Celtic celebration of Samhain (pronounced “sow-en”), better known by most folks as Halloween.
The Gaelic word “samhain” means literally “summer’s end,” and its celebration on October 31 is significant because that date lies exactly between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice. While this time period brings a deep tradition of celebrating the end of the harvest and preparing for the cold, lean months to come, it is also thought of as a special moment when the veil between the worlds of the living and dead is said to be at its thinnest, so we have the ability to connect with this other realm.
To the ancient Celts, Samhain was one of two "hinges," days that are the most magical, and often frightening times of the whole year. (Beltane, or first of Spring, is the other magical time.)
At Samhain, time lost all meaning as the past, present, and future merged. The denizens of the Other World walked among the living, creating a time of fairies, ghosts, demons, and witches. Winter itself was the Season of Ghosts, so Samhain is the night of their release from the Underworld. Traditionally, folk lit bonfires to keep the evil spirits at bay. Often a torch was lit and circled the boundaries of the home and property, to protect against the spirits throughout the winter.
As Samhain has been celebrated as a festival for the dead, is spans three days that begin on October 31. Sunset on this day is the traditional beginning of the Celtic New Year. This holiday is also celebrated by other traditions as All Hallows Eve, Hallowtide, Hallowmass, The Day of the Dead, All Soul’s Night, and All Saint’s Day.
The common thread through all cultures is setting aside time to honor those that have gone before – be they ancestors or animal guides, saints or other spirit helpers – because our relationships with spirits of this realm must continue to be nurtured. There are many traditions, old and new, for honoring our varied ancestral spirits.
DUMB SUPPER
Many Celts appeased their dead with a traditional Dumb Supper. On Samhain Eve, supper was served in silence, with one place set at the head of the table “for the ancestors”. Food and drink was served here without looking directly at the seat, for to see the dead would bring bad luck. Afterwards, the untouched plate and cup were taken outside and left in the woods “for the pookas”. In other traditions, this is the night to remember, honor, and toast our beloved departed, for the veil between the worlds is thin, and communication is possible on Samhain Eve.
THE WITCHES’ SABBATH
The Great Sabbat for the witches (Ban-Druidh, in Scots Gaelic) is also celebrated on Samhain. On Hallowmas, the witches of Scotland gather together to celebrate, prophesy, and cast spells. Tradition has it that on this night, they can be seen flying through the air on broomsticks and eggshells, or riding black cats, ravens, or horses on their wild Hallowmas Ride. The rural people did not dare step outside their doors for fear this night. Some say the Queen of Witches is the Irish Morrigan (also called Morgan le Fay). In other traditions, the Blue Faced Hag of Winter – the Calleach – rules this night.
FORTUNE TELLING AND OTHER RITUALS
Many of the Samhain rituals derive from Pagan and Druid customs. This is a time of prophesies, of disguising oneself to avert evil, and performing rites of protection from Otherworldly spirits. The ancient Druid practice was to circle the tribal Samhain bonfire with the skulls of their ancestors, who would protect the tribe from demons that night.
Those with the Second Sight (Taibhsear, in Scots Gaelic) were often sought this night for traditional Halloween fortune telling. These persons were invited to gatherings to entertain guests with their arcane arts. One method was to prick an egg and let the contents drip into a glass of clear water. The Taibhsear could read the shapes, much like a crystal ball, and predict the supplicant’s future.
In modern Scotland, children have inherited the ancient custom of disguising themselves in costumes. These “guisers” wear masks, or blacken their faces. They carve turnips in the shape of skulls and place a candle within, creating an eerie effect. The children travel from door to door, performing or singing for their treats. When they are not rewarded for their antics, they resort to tricks.
If pumpkin-carving is one of your favorite traditions of this season, consider thinking of some of your ancestors as you light the candle this year, or even say their names aloud, to honor them.
