More Hallowe'en/Samhain Celebration Ideas

A year ago I started a series on posts on the sabbats. I started with Samhain which was fitting because it's one of my favourites (along with Lammas) and also it's considered the Witches' New Year. Other Samhain themes are ancestors returning since this is one of one of the two times of the year when the veil between the worlds is said to be thin (the other is Beltane), honouring your ancestors and those you've lost, and shadow work. It's also the 3rd and last harvest (after Lammas and Madron), so you can think about what you've harvested in the past year and/or season. Read last year's celebration post here: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2016/10/halloweensamhain-celebration-ideas.html

Note: If you're in the Southern Hemisphere it's Beltane so you might enjoy this post on ideas for celebrating: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2017/04/beltane-celebration-ideas.html


This year I'm posting about more Samhain celebration ideas. First of all here are a few links with information about Samhain and Hallowe'en (since they are closely linked):

Samhain- The Precursor to Halloween: https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/articles/samhain-the-precursor-to-halloween/

10 Folk Beliefs about Samhain/Halloween: https://tesswhitehurst.com/10_folk_beliefs_about_samhain_halloween/

The Herbs and Astrology of Samhain: http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/the-herbs-and-astrology-of-samhain

And here are some posts with ideas for celebrating:

5 More Ways to Celebrate Samhain: http://www.pennilesspagan.com/2017/10/5-more-ways-to-celebrate-samhain.html

Celebrating Samhain: https://www.circlesanctuary.org/teachings/Celebrating-Samhain

https://thegreenparent.co.uk/articles/read/eight-ways-to-celebrate-samhain (Good suggestions for celebrating as a family/with kids)

Update 29/10/24: The Green Parent post above is gone but here's a similar one with 4 ways to celebrate Samhain: https://thegreenparent.co.uk/featured/4-ways-to-celebrate-samhain/


I especially like Michaela from Penniless Pagan's (1st link) idea of carving a loved one's initial into a pumpkin. I have my pumpkin and plan to carve it tomorrow, so I might do something like that. She also suggests watching a funny film like Hocus Pocus to raise your vibration aka feel better. Hocus Pocus is one of my fave Hallowe'en films.

I also like some of Selena Fox's suggestion in her Circle Sanctuary article (2nd link); Ancestor Stories, Reflection and Renovate. I'll reflect on my past year and might try the other two things.


I've been looking into shadow work recently, looking at your shadow side. If you'd like to explore that too check out these links:

Update 23/10/22: (Formerly Gypsy Wytch Diaries, I've updated the link to the new site address. The video was gone last year but now it's back)- Samhain Shadow Work (Exploring Our Darkness Around Halloween Time: https://writingwitch.com/2017/10/12/wheel-of-the-year-vibes-exploring-our-darkness/

An introduction to Tarot shadow work:  http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/tarot-shadow-work



I've been journalling on some prompts from Gypsy Wytch Diaries but haven't had a go at Tarot shadow work yet.

Some people create altars to their ancestors and recently deceased loved ones at this time of year. I made a simple altar of my own with photos while reading The Source book earlier this year. (I don't do much altar work in general because I don't feel that drawn to it). You might like to create or update an altar for Samhain. Look under Ancestors Altar in the Circle Sanctuary article above or read this Tess Whitehurst post for inspiration: https://tesswhitehurst.com/altar-items-for-samhain-halloween-and-the-day-of-the-dead/

Bonfires are traditional around Samhain. Just a few days after Hallowe'en the UK (and some other countries) has Bonfire Night aka Guy Fawkes Night. I'm going to a firework display on 1st Nov. Candles are good too; I usually have green and orange ones. You might also like to light a candle for any relatives, friends or pets who have passed away in the past year. :)

I celebrate both Hallowe'en and Samhain. This year I'm making my usual Demon's Blood drink (from Kate West's book The Kitchen Witch) and some food. I will probably bake gingerbread as well. I already have some knitted Hallowe'en decorations up (ghosts and pumpkins). I'll post about my celebrations next week. :)

On Lammas and Madron this year I went up to my local nature reserve, so I'd like to go there for Samhain too and take some sunset pics. I'll probably go this evening. Since the clocks went back early this morning the sun is now setting around 20 to 5 (16.40pm). I've really noticed a shift to chillier weather these past couple of days or so. There have been some beautiful golden days recently. Last weekend I went for a walk in the woods (I'd had "Walk in the woods in autumn again" on my Life List for years! lol). Here's a picture I took:

Whiteways Lodge Roundabout, near Bury, Sussex.

 

And this is a recent sunset at Hove Park:

Hope you found this post useful. Happy Samhain/Hallowe'en! :)


Photo at top: Marks & Spencer Holmbush display. All photos copyright Moonsparkle 2017.