The Similarities Between Wiccan and Christian Halloween

Samhain means "end of summer" and is a holiday celebrated by Wiccans around the world. Samhain, pronounced SAH-vin or SAM-hayne is the third and final harvest.

The Sabbat is generally celebrated on October 31^st, the same as traditional Halloween, but some traditions in Wicca prefer November 1^st. It is one of the "spirit nights" that is celebrated. This is a truly magical time when the mundane laws of time are suspended temporarily between the two worlds, making communication and contact with departed loved ones easily acceptable.

Even though the differences between Wicca or Paganism and Christianity are varied, there are many likenesses when it comes to Halloween. The history of Halloween is said to be dated back thousands of years to Celtic rituals celebrating the end of the harvest and the beginning of a new year, and the cold dark times, the beginning of winter.

Halloween was first officially celebrated in the United States city wide in 1921 in Anoka Minnesota. Since then the estimated numbers of potential trick or treaters grew to over 36 million. Many children in the US trick or treat from as young as just a few months to teenagers.

Originally the Samhain, or the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries such as Ireland, by leaving food offerings on the altars and door steps for the dead that were believed to be wandering around. Many practioners still carry out this tradition as well as the tradition of setting extra chairs at the table for the unseen guest to use, and also lighting a single candle in a window, to help guide spirits of loved ones home.

Where some give out treats at the door for trick or treaters now, and bob for apples and carve pumpkins, Celtic traditions carved turnips to look like protective spirits to help protect them from the magic and chaos that occurred on this night. The tradition also of burying apples along the roadsides and paths for the spirits that were wondering or lost or had no one to provide for them was common. Our children bobbed for apples in water for treat.