Samhain

October 31st – November 1st

The Witch’s New Year & Festival of Ancestors

The Basics

Samhain (pronounced Sow-in or Sah-win) marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark half of the year. It is celebrated on October 31st through November 1st in the Northern Hemisphere (or around May 1st in the Southern Hemisphere). Astrologically, it falls when the Sun is at 15° of Scorpio, the sign of transformation and mystery.

This Sabbat is often called the Witches’ New Year because it closes one cycle and opens the next. It is a threshold time when the veil between the worlds is believed to be at its thinnest, allowing easier communication with spirits, ancestors, and the unseen realms. Themes of death, rebirth, release, and ancestral wisdom make this a deeply spiritual festival.

History & Origins

Samhain originates in ancient Celtic traditions, particularly among the people of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Celts divided the year into two halves: the light and the dark. Samhain was the gateway into the dark half — the death of the year’s sun and the quiet gestation before the rebirth at Yule.

Agricultural Roots

It was the final harvest festival. Livestock that couldn’t be overwintered were slaughtered, and crops were stored for the cold months ahead.

Myth & Lore

In Irish mythology, Samhain was a liminal night when the Otherworld overlapped with ours. Stories tell of spirits, fae, and ancestors walking freely among the living. The gods and goddesses of the Tuatha Dé Danann were honored, and feasts were held in their name.

Bonfires & Protection

Communities would gather at sacred hills or standing stones, lighting great fires believed to protect against wandering spirits. Hearth fires were extinguished and then relit from the communal flame, uniting the tribe under one light.

When Christianity spread, Samhain’s traditions were absorbed into All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), giving rise to many customs we now associate with Halloween. Carving turnips (later pumpkins), dressing in costumes, and leaving offerings for the dead all stem from these ancient practices.

Themes & Symbolism

Death & Rebirth

Ancestors & Spirit Communication

Release, Letting Go, and Transformation

The Final Harvest & Preparing for Winter

The Thin Veil Between Worlds

Symbols

Jack-o’-lanterns (carved pumpkins or turnips)

Skulls, bones, gravestones

Black cats, bats, owls, crows, and ravens

Ancestor altars and photographs

Cauldrons, scythes, and the veil between worlds

Colors

Black (death, endings, protection)

Orange (harvest, fire, transformation)

Purple (spirituality, psychic awareness)

Silver (the veil, moonlight, mystery)

Foods

Apples, cider, and apple-based dishes

Nuts, especially hazelnuts and chestnuts

Root vegetables (carrots, turnips, potatoes, pumpkins, squash)

Breads, hearty stews, and mulled wine

Pomegranate (symbol of death/rebirth, tied to Persephone)

Celebration Practices

Honoring Ancestors

Set up a small ancestor altar with photos, heirlooms, and offerings such as bread, whiskey, or candles.

Speak aloud their names and stories to keep their memory alive.

Prepare a Dumb Supper, where a meal is served in silence with an extra place set for spirits.

Fire & Protection

Light a bonfire, hearth fire, or even just candles to honor the ancient fire rituals.

Black and orange candles are especially traditional — black for protection, orange for vitality and harvest.

Write down what you wish to release from the past year and burn it in the flame.

Divination

Samhain is considered the most powerful night for divination. Use tarot, runes, scrying mirrors, pendulums, or even apple peels to seek guidance.

Ask your ancestors for insight and clarity on the year ahead.

Feasting & Offerings

Bake breads, apple pies, roasted pumpkin, and hearty stews to honor the harvest.

Leave offerings of food and drink outdoors for wandering spirits or fae, traditionally left at the doorstep or beneath a tree.

Rituals for Release

Perform a meditation or ritual to release grief, guilt, or old attachments.

Symbolically bury or burn slips of paper with what you wish to let go of, opening space for new beginnings at Yule.

Modern Ideas for Celebrating Samhain

Decorate your altar with skulls, bones, apples, black cloth, and autumn leaves.

Visit a graveyard respectfully, leaving flowers or offerings for ancestors.

Journal about what cycles you are ending and what you wish to carry into the new year.

Host a witchy gathering or circle, sharing stories of loved ones who’ve passed.

Use the night for shadow work: reflect on your fears, hidden patterns, and what lies in your inner “darkness.”

Closing Thought

Samhain is a time of reverence and release — a sacred pause between death and rebirth. It invites us to honor our ancestors, embrace endings, and prepare for the inward journey of winter. In the stillness of the dark, we find wisdom, renewal, and the promise that light will always return.