Samhain
THE BOOK OF HALLOWE'EN BY RUTH EDNA KELLEY, A.M., 1919
Samhain Article - Mike Nichols
Samhain. All Hallows. All
Hallow's Eve. Hallow E'en. Halloween. The most magical night of the year.
Exactly opposite Beltane on the wheel of the year, Halloween is Beltane's
dark twin. A night of glowing jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for apples, tricks
or treats, and dressing in costume. A night of ghost stories and seances,
tarot card readings and scrying with mirrors. A night of power, when the
veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is at its thinnest. A
'spirit night', as they say in Wales.
All Hallow's Eve is the eve of All Hallow's Day (November
1st). And for once, even popular tradition remembers that the Eve is more
important than the Day itself, the traditional celebration focusing on
October 31st, beginning at sundown. And this seems only fitting for the
great Celtic New Year's festival. Not that the holiday was Celtic only. In
fact, it is startling how many ancient and unconnected cultures (the
Egyptians and pre-Spanish Mexicans, for example) celebrated this as a
festival of the dead. But the majority of our modern traditions can be
traced to the British Isles.
The
Celts called it Samhain, which means 'summer's end', according to their
ancient two-fold division of the year, when summer ran from Beltane to
Samhain and winter ran from Samhain to Beltane. (Some modern Covens echo
this structure by letting the High Priest 'rule' the Coven beginning on
Samhain, with rulership returned to the High Priestess at Beltane.)
According to the later four-fold division of the year, Samhain is seen as
'autumn's end' and the beginning of winter. Samhain is pronounced
(depending on where you're from) as 'sow-in' (in Ireland), or 'sow-een'
(in Wales), or 'sav-en' (in Scotland), or (inevitably) 'sam-hane' (in the
U.S., where we don't speak Gaelic).
Not
only is Samhain the end of autumn; it is also, more importantly, the end
of the old year and the beginning of the new. Celtic New Year's Eve, when
the new year begins with the onset of the dark phase of the year, just as
the new day begins at sundown. There are many representations of Celtic
gods with two faces, and it surely must have been one of them who held
sway over Samhain. Like his Greek counterpart Janus, he would straddle the
theshold, one face turned toward the past in commemoration of those who
died during the last year, and one face gazing hopefully toward the
future, mystic eyes attempting to pierce the veil and divine what the
coming year holds. These two themes, celebrating the dead and divining the
future, are inexorably intertwined in Samhain, as they are likely to be in
any New Year's celebration.
As
a feast of the dead, it was believed the dead could, if they wished,
return to the land of the living for this one night, to celebrate with
their family, tribe, or clan. And so the great burial mounds of Ireland (sidh
mounds) were opened up, with lighted torches lining the walls, so the dead
could find their way. Extra places were set at the table and food set out
for any who had died that year. And there are many stories that tell of
Irish heroes making raids on the Underworld while the gates of faery stood
open, though all must return to their appointed places by cock-crow.
As
a feast of divination, this was the night par excellance for peering into
the future. The reason for this has to do with the Celtic view of time. In
a culture that uses a linear concept of time, like our modern one, New
Year's Eve is simply a milestone on a very long road that stretches in a
straight line from birth to death. Thus, the New Year's festival is a part
of time. The ancient Celtic view of time, however, is cyclical. And in
this framework, New Year's Eve represents a point outside of time, when
the the natural order of the universe disolves back into primordial chaos,
preparatory to re-establishing itself in a new order. Thus, Samhain is a
night that exists outside of time and hence it may be used to view any
other point in time. At no other holiday is a tarot card reading, crystal
reading, or tea-leaf reading so likely to succeed.
The
Christian religion, with its emphasis on the 'historical' Christ and his
act of redemption 2000 years ago, is forced into a linear view of time,
where 'seeing the future' is an illogical proposition. In fact, from
the Christian perspective, any attempt to do so is seen as inherently
evil. This did not keep the medieval Church from co-opting Samhain's other
motif, commemoration of the dead. To the Church, however, it could never
be a feast for all the dead, but only the blessed dead, all those hallowed
(made holy) by obedience to God - thus, All Hallow's, or Hallowmas, later
All Saints and All Souls.
There
are so many types of divination that are traditional to Hallowstide, it is
possible to mention only a few. Girls were told to place hazel nuts along
the front of the firegrate, each one to symbolize one of her suiters. She
could then divine her future husband by chanting, 'If you love me, pop and
fly; if you hate me, burn and die.' Several methods used the apple, that
most popular of Halloween fruits. You should slice an apple through the
equator (to reveal the five-pointed star within) and then eat it by
candlelight before a mirror.
Your
future spouse will then appear over your shoulder. Or, peel an apple,
making sure the peeling comes off in one long strand, reciting, 'I pare
this apple round and round again; / My sweetheart's name to flourish on
the plain: / I fling the unbroken paring o'er my head, / My sweetheart's
letter on the ground to read.' Or, you might set a snail to crawl through
the ashes of your hearth. The considerate little creature will then spell
out the initial letter as it moves.
Perhaps
the most famous icon of the holiday is the jack-o-lantern. Various
authorities attribute it to either Scottish or Irish origin. However, it
seems clear that it was used as a lantern by people who traveled the road
this night, the scary face to frighten away spirits or faeries who might
otherwise lead one astray. Set on porches and in windows, they cast the
same spell of protection over the household. (The American pumpkin seems
to have forever superseded the European gourd as the jack-o-lantern of
choice.) Bobbing for apples may well represent the remnants of a Pagan
'baptism' rite called a 'seining', according to some writers. The
water-filled tub is a latter-day Cauldron of Regeneration, into which the
novice's head is immersed. The fact that the participant in this folk game
was usually blindfolded with hands tied behind the back also puts one in
mind of a traditional Craft initiation ceremony.
The
custom of dressing in costume and 'trick-or-treating' is of Celtic origin
with survivals particularly strong in Scotland. However, there are some
important differences from the modern version. In the first place, the
custom was not relegated to children, but was actively indulged in by
adults as well. Also, the 'treat' which was required was often one of
spirits (the liquid variety). This has recently been revived by college
students who go 'trick-or-drinking'. And in ancient times, the roving
bands would sing seasonal carols from house to house, making the tradition
very similar to Yuletide wassailing. In fact, the custom known as
'caroling', now connected exclusively with mid-winter, was once practiced
at all the major holidays. Finally, in Scotland at least, the tradition of
dressing in costume consisted almost exclusively of cross-dressing (i.e.,
men dressing as women, and women as men). It seems as though ancient
societies provided an oportunity for people to 'try on' the role of the
opposite gender for one night of the year. (Although in Scotland, this is
admittedly less dramatic - but more confusing - since men were in the
habit of wearing skirt-like kilts anyway. Oh well...)
To
Witches, Halloween is one of the four High Holidays, or Greater Sabbats,
or cross-quarter days. Because it is the most important holiday of the
year, it is sometimes called 'THE Great Sabbat.' It is an ironic fact that
the newer, self-created Covens tend to use the older name of the holiday,
Samhain, which they have discovered through modern research. While the
older hereditary and traditional Covens often use the newer name,
Halloween, which has been handed down through oral tradition within their
Coven. (This is often holds true for the names of the other holidays, as
well. One may often get an indication of a Coven's antiquity by noting
what names it uses for the holidays.)
With
such an important holiday, Witches often hold two distinct celebrations.
First, a large Halloween party for non-Craft friends, often held on the
previous weekend. And second, a Coven ritual held on Halloween night
itself, late enough so as not to be interrupted by trick-or-treaters. If
the rituals are performed properly, there is often the feeling of
invisible friends taking part in the rites. Another date which may be
utilized in planning celebrations is the actual cross-quarter day, or Old
Halloween, or Halloween O.S. (Old Style). This occurs when the sun has
reached 15 degrees Scorpio, an astrological 'power point' symbolized by
the Eagle. The celebration would begin at sunset. Interestingly, this date
(Old Halloween) was also appropriated by the Church as the holiday of
Martinmas.
Of all the Witchcraft holidays, Halloween is the only one that still boasts
anything near to popular celebration. Even though it is typically
relegated to children (and the young-at-heart) and observed as an evening
affair only, many of its traditions are firmly rooted in Paganism.
Incidentally, some schools have recently attempted to abolish Halloween
parties on the grounds that it violates the separation of state and
religion. Speaking as a Pagan, I would be saddened by the success of this
move, but as a supporter of the concept of religion-free public education,
I fear I must concede the point. Nonetheless, it seems only right that
there should be one night of the year when our minds are turned toward
thoughts of the supernatural. A night when both Pagans and non-Pagans may
ponder the mysteries of the Otherworld and its inhabitants. And if you are
one of them, may all your jack-o'lanterns burn bright on this All Hallow's
Eve.
Document Copyright © 1986, 1998 by Mike Nichols. This document can be re-published only as long as no information is lost or changed, credit is given to the author, and it is provided or used without cost to others. Other uses of this document must be approved in writing by Mike Nichols.
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Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Samhain to Ostara: Lore, Rituals, Activities, and Symbols by Ashleen O'Gaea. Paperback - Jun 2004
Beginnings: A Samhain Anthology
by MacKenzie McKade, Charlene Teglia, Lorelei James, and Jenn Andrus. Paperback- Nov 21, 2006
The Irish Crafts: Customs For Samhain/Halloween by Conrad Bladey. Paperback - Jan 1, 2000
Samhain by William Butler Yeats Paperback - Jun 8, 2006
