A Family Guide to the Pagan Sabbat Samhain

Samhain-Halloween
Pronounced “ SOW-en” (Sow rhymes with cow) and is the Gaelic name for November. Samhain is the third and final harvest, this one for meat. The livestock was brought out of the pastures to see how many could be fed through the winter, the rest of the animals were slaughtered and their meat salted for winter consumption. 

Celebrated as the Celtic and Witches’ New Year as it signifies the end of the light half of the year and the beginning of the dark half of the year. The last of the crops are harvested and final preparations are made for the shortening days and the nights growing longer and colder while nature takes a break and rests. 

This is also when the Oak King loses his battle against the Holly King and dies, until he is reborn at Yule, and then begins his preparations to battle the Holly King again in the spring. In some traditions, Lugh (the Sun God) dies at Mabon and spends the time until Samhain to collect the spirits of those who died during the year to take with him to the Otherworld. 

The Goddess is in her Crone aspect at this time and she is highly revered throughout Samhain. Cailleach, one of the aspects of the Crone rules from the eve of Samhain until the eve of Beltane at which time she is replaced by the Goddess Brighid, who then ruled until the next eve of Samhain. 

The veil between worlds is thinnest on this night and food and drink are left out and made available for relatives who have passed to the Otherworld. Because the veil is thin, Samhain is an excellent time for spirit work and divination. It is known as the Day of the Dead. Bonfires can be set to burn throughout the night to frighten away any evil spirits that may intend to do harm. 

On Samhain, the fey folk are very active, so beware of any mischief they may be up to. Irish legend tells that the more evil type fairies are most active in the dark half of the year, while their good natured counterparts are most active in the light half of the year. To keep bad fairies away, hang a wreath made of dried apples and heather on your front door before sundown on Samhain.