It's time for Samhain! This year it's on a Wednesday (31st October). Samhain is my favourite sabbat (apart from Lammas). I also celebrate Hallowe'en, the modern version of Samhain. I celebrated Hallowe'en as a child, so I have combined celebrations these days.
Note: If you're in the Southern Hemisphere it's Beltane! Check out my Beltane Celebration posts here:
https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2017/04/beltane-celebration-ideas.html
https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2018/04/celebrating-beltanemay-day.html
In the past two years I've done posts about celebrating Hallowe'en and Samhain. You can read them here:
https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2016/10/halloweensamhain-celebration-ideas.html
https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2017/10/more-halloweensamhain-celebration-ideas.html
This year I'm sharing more ideas for celebrating both Samhain and Hallowe'en, so hopefully there's something to suit you if you celebrate both (like I do) or prefer one or the other. :)
Hallowe'en info
Hallowe'en (more commonly spelt Halloween, but you can also spell it as "Hallowe'en because it's a shortened version of All Hallows' Even) is thought to have originated from Samhain. In later years 1st November was made All Saint's Day by the Christian church, and the night before was known as All Hallows Evening (shortened to All Hallows' Ev'en or Eve). It's the time of year when the veil between the worlds (this world and the next, or the world beyond the one we know) thins and your loved ones may come back to visit. Also spirits are more likely to be around in general and the practice of lighting a pumpkin is thought to have originated from the pagan ritual of lighting a candle to honour and welcome your ancestors, and keep unwanted spirits away. (See below for more). For more about the history of Hallowe'en you can read this article: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
