also called November Eve, All Hallows' Eve, 'Witches' New Year', Feast of All Souls, Festival of the Dead, etc. a Greater Sabbat; one of the four Fire Festivals or Cross-Quarter Days some choose to mark this sabbat on October 31st, others astrologically, when the sun reaches 15 degrees Scorpio. this holiday is the start of Winter and the traditional start of the 'Dark' half of the year. the first Sabbat of the season of Earth; sometimes considered 'Pagan New Year'. the end of the Harvest; the third Harvest being that of blood and bone - the slaughtering and butchering of animals for winter. All herbs and plants must be picked before Samhain; those that remain are said to have no life-force or nutrition left. this is less a celebration, as the other Sabbats are, and more a solemn remembrance the God is dead, having sacrificed himself for the Harvest; his remaining essence has sunk back into the Earth, to rest in the Goddess' womb awaiting rebirth. The Goddess herself rests as well, awaiting her birthing time at Yule. the boundaries between the world of the spirits and the physical world grow thin as the year wanes. themes include remembering and honouring the Beloved Dead, our ancestors and loved ones, releasing the old and welcoming in the new, seeking guidance through divination, journeying the Underworld, seeking knowledge and wisdom, and experiencing the Mysteries of life and death Symbols
cauldrons apples skulls bones pomegranates coins lanterns balefire scrying mirrors bare branches ravens and crows colours include black, purple, indigo, red, and white. Activities
leaving apples at the burial sites of ancestors and loved ones creating an ancestor altar for your Beloved Dead write your Beloved Dead a letter, then burn it so it reaches them carving lanterns for the spirits from turnips or apples holding a dumb (silent) meal for your Ancestors or, set out a plate of food for the spirits to feast perform a divination for the year newly begun perform an act of scrying bobbing for apples preparing herbs for winter storage spinning fiber on a drop spindle or spinning wheel put your garden or yard to 'sleep' for the winter with offerings to the spirits Food
Food at Samhain tends to be heavy on meat, because of its' proximity to the culling of animals for winter food. Root vegetables also play an important part in this feast. Often charms of particular symbols or significance were hidden inside a loaf of bread or other dish to act as a divination for the coming year.
red wine, cider, spirits to toast the dead roasted meats - venison, poultry, pork, beef, mutton root vegetables - potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips cabbage apple dishes pomegranates hearty stews and soups heavy, dark breads Gemstones and Minerals
Apache's Tears Black Tourmaline Green Moss Agate Hematite Iolite Jet Obsidian Onyx Smokey Quartz Herbs, Oils, and Resins
Bay - cleansing, consecration, divination, psychic protection, spell-breaking, transformation, wisdom. Camphor - breaking off an affair, endings, psychic growth, release. (*Warning* - highly toxic. Do not ingest.) Cloves - clairvoyance, divination, dispel negativity, exorcism, love, memory, peace of mind, protection, spell-breaking, stops gossip. (*Warning* - may cause skin irritation to sensitive skin.) Comfrey - endings, exorcism, protection, release, spell-breaking, Cypress - comfort, longevity, memory, protection Mugwort - clairvoyance, consecration, dreams, magic, protection, psychic awareness, sleep, strength. (*Warning* - oil is toxic; do not ingest.) Mullein - courage, determination, divination, exorcism, healing, Longevity, , protection, purification, sleep, travel. (*Warning* - fuzzy hairs on the leaves are irritating to skin, and the seeds are toxic.) Myrrh - compassion, consecration, endings, prosperity, protection, release, spell-breaking, transformation, wealth. Rose - clairvoyance, consecration, divination, good luck, harmony, transformation Rosemary - confidence, consecration, courage, fidelity, love, magic, memory. (*Warning* - this oil can be toxic if taken internally.) Rue - compassion, consecration, longevity, love, protection, psychic protection Tansy - embalming, endings, health, healing longevity (*Warning* - toxic if ingested in large amounts. Abortifacient - do not handle if pregnant. Irritating to sensitive skin.) Wormwood - clairvoyance, contact otherworlds, determination, divination, exorcism, magic, protection, spell-breaking, transformation. Incense Recipe
This is my own recipe for a Samhain incense; it is loose, and meant to be burnt on charcoal. A part is simply whatever you choose to use as a measure. A 'few drops' is to your taste, but typically less than ten drops per ounce of incense.
1 pt. bay 1 pt. cloves 1 pt. comfrey 1 pt. cypress 1 pt. pomegranate 1 pt. rosemary ½ pt. myrrh ½ pt. wormwood A few drops of camphor and/or rose oil Bonus Recipe: Samhain Soulcakes
This is a recipe I make at Samhain every year, as a nice treat around the covenstead. These cakes are just a little sweet, and nicely spiced, to have the flavour of the season. From the Middle Ages onward in England and Ireland, these left as offerings to the dead on All Hallow's Eve, and the next day on All Souls' Day given as alms to those who came to the door. Each cake eaten was seen as a soul released from purgatory. It's thought this is the origin of trick or treating.
They make excellent offerings for the season!
Ingredients:
1 c. butter or margarine 3 and 3/4 cups sifted flour 1 cup fine sugar 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. each, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice 2 eggs 2 tsp. cider vinegar 4-6 Tbsp milk Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.Directions:
Cut the butter into the flour with a pastry blender or a large fork. Blend in the sugar, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and allspice; beat eggs, vinegar, and milk together. Mix with the flour mixture until a stiff dough is formed. Knead thoroughly and roll out, 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 3 inch rounds and place on greased baking sheets. Prick several times with a fork and bake for 20-25 minutes.You can dust these with powdered sugar while warm if you like; I prefer them plain
