Samhain is finally upon us!
One of the MOST favourite holidays of many Pagans and Wiccans, Samhain is the moment when the Time stops and the underworld is staring at you.
This day is covered with a veil of secrecy and mysticism. Today we will talk about the history of Samhain and its traditions that remain still in the year of 2021.
Samhain Elements, Tools & Correspondences
Samhain Colours: red, orange, brown, black
Elemental Work: Fire
Candles: black, plain beeswax
Flowers & Plants: pumpkins, marigold, sage, oak, chrysanthemum
Food: bread, pumpkins, apples, turnip, meats, milk, cheese and nuts
Drink: apple cider, beer and wine (often represents blood of the Horned God Cernunnos)
Samhain Gods & Goddesses: Cernunnos
Crystals: carnelian, agate
Samhain Animals: deer, fox, bat
Incense & Herbs: cinnamon, mugwort, sage, rosemary
Other Samhain Ritual Attributes: skulls, pentagram (reversed too), horns
OTHER NAMES OF SAMHAIN
As always, let's start by reviewing all the possible names you can come across that all will be related to Samhain:
Samhainn, Samhuinn, Samain, Samuin (older forms)
Sauin (Scottish Gaelic)
All Saint's Day
Day of the Dead
Halloween
Hop-to-Naa (Oie Houney, Oíche Shamhna)
Dziady (Forefathers' Eve, Slavic)
Nos Galan Gaeaf (Welsh)
Witches' New Year
As you can see, there are A LOT of names for Samhain (and by the way, Samhain is the Irish version but it is the most commonly used term to refer to this holiday as the part of Wiccan Wheel of the Year). But this just highlights the significance of this date and its powerful energy that was recognized worldwide, even if celebrated differently.
How to Pronounce Samhain?
Samhain pronunciation varies but the most correct version is thought to be the Irish one. As such, Samhain is pronounced as Sau-wn or Sau-ihn. Although I hear many people pronouncing it as Sam-ain.
How Did the Word "Samhain" Originate?
It is possible that the etymology of the word Samhain lies is Sanskrit - Indo-European language. The word "samana" means "gathering" or "coming together. At the same time, in the Gaelic language the word Samhain means the third month of Autumn, November.
The History & Origin of Samhain
Despite it being quite clear that Samhain was celebrates widely for many centuries, it is common to believe that it has originates with ancient Celts. They occupied British Island but their colonies stretched through many territories of Europe including France, Italy, Germany and Austria. That said, the historians mostly agree that the birthplace of Samhain holiday belongs to the territories of modern Scotland and Ireland.
When is Samhain Celebrated?
Unlike some other holidays of the Wheel of the Year, Samhain has a fixed date and is celebrate on Eve of October 31st into the night of November 1st. But was this always a fixed date, even during the old times of our ancestors?
No, of course it wasn't.
Hundreds and thousands of years ago, at the times of Old Celts there was no October or November.
Like many other holidays, Samhain was celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar and as you may know, it is changeable. The historians think that the celebration of Samhain fell of the beginning of the third Autumn Moon.
As for many modern Witches, for our ancestors Samhain was something similar to a New Year. It was the end of a cycle and beginning of a new one. There are multiple variations as for how long the holiday was celebrated for, from 3 days to 8 days (seven nights). But it is important to note that Samhain is the day that does not belong to any cycle. It is a pause, a transition, a moment of darkness when the world becomes still.
As I discuss in all of my Blog posts dedicated to the Wheel of the Year, these Pagan holidays were, first and foremost, connected to what was the most important to our ancestors: Mother Earth, crops and harvest.
RELATED POSTS: What Is Pagan Wheel of the Year and How to Celebrate It? Beginner Pagan's Guide
Samhain was not an exception. It is the holiday when all agricultural work was wrapped up at last and it was the time to
prepare for a new and long season ahead.
It was also the time when people put their trust into Gods more that even in themselves. Therefore, an integral part of Samhain was to thank the Gods, as well as to ask them for a blessing for a year ahead.
This was the time when animal pasture would come to an end and meat preparation would be taking place. Therefore, animal slaughter was seen as both sacrifice to the Gods and an opportunity for a great feast.
The Mythology of Samhain
As the thinning of the veil between the worlds was recognized, Samhain became surrounded with many myths and legends.
Celts thought that on Samhain come Aos Sí, supernatural creatures similar to fairies, beautiful and very powerful. So, it was customary to celebrate their appearance on this night.
Another myth is associated with the coming of the icy Divine Being Cailleach or Winter Queen, who was to replace Brigid and Áine, the fertility and Summer Goddess. It was also the time of Cernunnos who was seen as the bringer of long winter and the energy of death associated with the season.
Christian Influence on Samhain
Of course, we cannot talk about Samhain history without taking a moment too discuss the Christian influence on the holiday. Unfortunately, much like all other Pagan holidays and traditions, Samhain was not positively impacted by the Christian wave.
Christianity saw all Pagan holidays as the work of the Devil and did everything possible to eradicate the culture and traditions. And so the holiday of abundance, fertility and transition between the cycles of nature and between the Worlds turned into a demonic rite.
This followed by an idea of Samhain being not a "New Year" but a dark dark time when demons and creatures of the underworld come to our world on a hunt.
And so the All Hallow's Eve (All Hallow e'en) was moved to October 31 and All Saints Day to November 1st to push out the celebration of Samhain.
Of course, even by reading this rather short Blog post on the great history of this holiday, you may say that there is absolutely no association between the Christian and Pagan versions. But you need to understand that many people were illiterate at the time. Moreover, simple folks were busy with their jobs and survival. And so, the Christian story about demons, ghosts and hell became widely accepted.
And lastly...
What is the difference between Samhain and Halloween?
Samhain and Halloween are the same, technically. But from the historical perspective, Samhain precedes All Saints Day. As it happened with many Pagan holidays during the period of Christianization, a Christian holiday would superimpose a pagan one. This resulted in the mixing of traditions and rites.
Samhain has lost its sacral meaning, in my opinion. The only traditions that have reached modern days are fire and costumes (although the meaning of dressing up on Halloween has nothing to do with the origins, when people would change their appearance to confuse and ward off spirits, not to look like a "sexy nurse"). Jack o'lantern, giving out sweets and Halloween decorations are traditions that are quite modern.
All that said, I do believe that the rise of Neopaganism will aid in rebirth of Samhain and by studying its roots and traditions, we will be able to revive this holiday as it should be.
