The Veil between the worlds is thin
Our hearts reach cross the sea of time
To bring our loved ones in
Samhain, Samhain we honor all our kin
We honor those who've gone before
As the Great Wheel turns again .
The origins of what we know as Halloween began with the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain (pronounced "sow-in"). For the Celtic, whose origin reach back as far as 2000 years ago and who lived in the regions known as Ireland, Northern France, and the United Kingdom, celebrated this festival on November first. Seeing it as the commencement of their New Year, for they saw this day as the dying of summer and harvest and the beginning of the cold, hard winter. Winter, to the Celts, represented a time of year associated with human death. Thus, Samhain was the celebration the night prior to the new year, October 31st, they believed that the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead was weakened, the dead returned and roamed the earth on that night. While the dead ran amok, the Celts believed this was the beginning of the havoc and destruction of the crops.
For this reason, they turned to their priests, the Druids, to communicate with the dead searching for guidance and predictions for the cold months to follow. During those long, dark months, these messages from the spirits of the great beyond were a source of great comfort and helped with perseverance. The evening would commence with the Druids lighting large, sacred bonfires wherein the people would gather, burning the crops and offering animal sacrifices to their gods. They would wear costumes, mostly animal heads and skins, and try their hand at telling each other's fortunes. At the close of the celebration, the people would take some of the flame from the bonfire and relight their own hearth fires, symbolizing the warmth and protection for the dire months to come.
But the Roman Empire took over the Celtic lands by A.D. 43, engulfing the practices of those native to the land with their own practices. On a day in late October, known as Feralia, the Romans honored the passing of their dead, followed by the second day, Pomona, honoring the goddess of that name who ruled over the fruit and trees. Most commonly used symbol for Pomona is the apple, which is the origination for the bobbing for apples game played during Halloween celebrations today.
Later on, when the Roman Catholics held the power throughout the land, these days eventually became known as All-Martyrs Day (now All Saints' Day) on November 1st and All Souls' Day on November 2nd. All Saints' Day was originally known as All Hallows or All Hallowsmas, the day prior October 31st (once Samhain) thus became known as All Hallow's Eve, then Halloween. All Souls' Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain with its large bonfires and dressing up as saints, angels, and devils.
Coming to America, Halloween had a slow start due to the Puritanical influence of the early settlers. However, eventually as the beliefs and practices of the settlers and natives began to emerge, the holiday became distinctly an Americanized version. Early celebrations included 'play parties' where celebrants would come together sharing stories of the dead, singing, dancing, and telling each other's fortunes. Scary stories were also told and mischief was made. A strengthening of the holiday's popularity began when the Irish immigrants, fleeing the potatoe famine, came to America and bringing their traditions. These included dressing up, traveling from house to house, asking for food or money, the origins of the popular 'trick or treating' modern ritual. Similar to the fortune telling ritual, young woman came to believe that they could discover the names of their future betrothed using tricks with yarn, apple parings, and mirrors. In the end of the 1800s, a push was made to move Halloween away from its darker themes to a more family friendly event.
For me, this year I will celebrate the festival of Samhain by honoring the community of which I live and of those whose bodies may have passed but whose presences are very much still active and a part of my every day. Similar to that of December 31st New Year's Eve, will I spend the 31st of October in merriment in celebration of that which is passing away yet throughout that mirth and festivity I will turn my focus upon the beauty of the changing season within nature and let the dieties and spirits from beyond share their messages to uplift during the cold to come. On the day of November 1st, I will lay out an altar with photographs and artifacts symbolizing loved ones who remain with me only in spirit, seeking guidance through the goddess and them from the tarot card. In all of this, although I believe and practice now as a wiccan, I will hold space for all of the history of these dates and how differing peoples and religions have honored.
Articles used for research:
How to Celebrate Samhain
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