Sabbats and Esbats

Sabbats and Esbats

Samhain

(October 31--November 1)

Also Known as: Samhuin, Samhuinn, All Hallows, Hallow E'en, Halloween, Old Hallowmas, Shadowfest, Martinmas, Feast of All Saints Day, Mischief Night, Rites of Hella, Day of the Banshees, El Dia de los Muertos

Pronounced 'sow-in' in Ireland, 'sow-een' in Wales and 'sav-en' in Scotland. Samhain---the most Magickal night of the Pagan year---is the Great Sabbat. It's the Pagan New Year---end of the old year and beginning of the new. This Sabbat is the last of the three harvest festivals in the great cycle of the Pagan year. Samhain was Gaelic for " Summer's End" since the Celts reckoned seasons as Summer and Winter. In our four-fold view of seasons, we celebrate Samhain as the end of Autumn and the first day of Winter. This Sabbat is a cross-quarter day, falling exactly between the two quarter days of Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. This day occurs when the Sun has reached 15 degrees Scorpio.

Customs

Like all other Pagan Sabbats, the celebration started on the eve before the day itself. Celtic days spanned from sunset to sunset. Ritual fires were lit at dusk to protect the land and the people. Games of strength and chance were played and stories told. As in all Sabbats, a feast was shared. Samhain saw the roasting of many a game animal, such as deer and boar. Also tubers, gourds, bread, cider, mead and ale were shared.

Many unrelated cultures celebrated their feasts of the dead at this time of year, including pre-Spanish Mexico and Egypt. In Ireland, on this feast of the dead, the dead could return to the world of the living and celebrate with their families. In Ireland, to help the dead find their way home, torches lined the walls of the great burial mounds. Extra places were set for any unexpected "company" and to honor those who died that year. Jack-o-lanterns were used to help the dead find their way home. Jack-o-lanterns were also used as protection from evil spirits and fairies.

Samhain was also the greatest night of the year for divination. Many customs from this night deal with divining the future. The theory of divination stems from the Celtic view of time, which was cyclical. To them, New Year's Eve was a point outside of time, because the natural order of the universe dissolves and re-establishes itself on New Years Eve. This chaotic order of nature is also why the dead revisit, since dissolving the order of the universe thins the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead. Children born during this season were said to have the second sight. Since Samhain exists outside of time, any point in time---past, present or future---can be viewed.

Many divination customs dealt with discovering whom someone would marry. A girl would place hazelnuts that each symbolized a different suitor near the fire. She would chant. "If you love me, pop and fly; if you hate me, burn and die." The one that popped first would be her future husband. Also, if a young girl cut an apple through the middle to reveal the star and ate it in front of a mirror by candlelight, her spouse would appear over her shoulder. Cutting the peelings off in one long piece and throwing the piece to the ground would show the initial of her spouse.

Only twice a year were the hearth fires allowed to burn completely out---on Samhain and Beltane. The hearths were then cleansed out and the fire was re-lit from the festival's bonfire, thus spreading the protection and luck into the homes.

The custom of trick-or-treating was more similar to the custom of caroling or wassailing. Bands of people would dress-up and walk from house to house singing in exchange for a glass of liquor. Both children and adults would sing., dress-up and meander around. In Scotland, the people would cross-dress.

Being the last day for harvest, the ancient folk prepared for the long months of Winter. Checking their stocks of food, slaughtering any food animals, and bringing the rest of the animals indoors for the Winter were common activities. Children would gather nuts from the forests. People would change their mindset from outdoor activities to indoor activities. Quilts, mead and ale were started.

Mythology that corresponds to this Sabbat

In Ireland, all Gods were worshiped on this day. In the Northern Norse tradition, October 14 was the night of Freyja. On November 1, rites for Hela, the underworld Goddess were held as she raised the dead. The next day, November 2, Odin rode his eight-legged horse into the world. The Lady Inanna descends into the Underworld. The Horned One replaces the Oak King for this half of the year. In Egypt, during October's full moon, Isis looked for three days for Osiris. Rituals in her honor are held during this time.

The Goddess is heavily pregnant in her Crone aspect. She opens the gates that let the departed souls, including the soul of the departed Lord, into the Summerland to prepare to be reborn. Death and the occult are the Crone's spheres, and She is called Cerridwen, Arianhod and Hecate, who meets the souls at any crossroads.

What mundane things to do on this Sabbat

Hold a Halloween party for your Pagan and non-Pagan friends. Halloween has always been an "anything goes" holiday, when any activity from bonfires to séances are accepted. Set an extra plate on your dinner table for those who have died, and pour a toast to honor them. Make a resolution to get rid of one bad aspect of your life.

Since Samhain is the celebration of the new year, make out a list of resolutions. Think of aspects in your life you want to change or improve or add. Try to find one for each aspect of your life. One resolution for your physical body, things such as losing weight, eating healthier, or exercising. One resolution for your mind, such as learning a new skill, studying a subject you are interested in, or practicing meditation every day. One resolution for your career or occupation. One resolution for your family life, such as spending one afternoon every week doing nothing but spending time with your loved ones, visiting your relatives or writing letters more often, or planning one family activity a month. One resolution for your social life, like making one new friend, having two dinner parties a year, going to a social function such as a museum or play once a month, or having your friend over to play cards every so often. Finally, one resolution for your spiritual life. Figure out something that you can do during the next year in order to bring you closer to that divine spark in you and in all things. Whether that is coming closer to nature, to the Gods or to your fellow humans.

What spells or Magick correspond to this Sabbat

Use lit jack-o-lanterns to cast a protection spell around your house. Use tarot cards, runes or another divinatory technique to divine the future for you and others. Since this time is a transition from what's outside to what's inside, concentrate spells and divination to work on yourself, especially your mental, psychological and psychic aspects. Work spells to get rid of a bad habit or transform yourself in some way.

What you can include in your rituals

Perform rituals to guide anyone who has died this year to the Summerland. Rituals in honor and thanks for what the past year has brought and what the future year will bring are appropriate. Since this time is a transition time, rituals celebrating any who have gone through a transition in life, from puberty to adulthood to old-age, are befitting. Also, this day is good for initiation into the Craft. For assistance in designing rituals refer to the Book of Shadows files: invocations, prayers and verses.

Other correspondences

Colors: Black, orange, red, brown

Tools: Cauldron, veil, knife, broom

Food: Apples and cider, corn, pumpkins and other gourds, nuts, pomegranates, beef, pork and game animals

Herbs: (oils and scents if applicable): Autumn flowers, pine cones, died leaves, cedar, rosemary, sweetgrass, nutmeg, sage

Decorations: Fall leaves, jack-o-lanterns, scarecrows, Autumn flowers

Samhain Ritual

Imbolc Yule

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