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~~o00o~~
(by
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 (November1st). 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 threshold, 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 (sidhe 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-excellence 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 natural order of the universe
dissolves 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
Hal-lows-tide, it is possible to mention only a few. Girls
were told to place hazel nuts along the front of the
fire-grate, each one to symbolize one of her suitors. 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 travelled 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 carolling', 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
opportunity 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. This year
(1988), the date is November 6th at 10:55 pm CST, with the
celebration beginning 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. Interestingly, 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.
Samhain
(pronounced saw-an), commonly referred to as Halloween,
is a religious holiday celebrated by Wiccan and witch.
The festival traditionally is a feast for the gathering of the
family in love
and remembrance. All the family including one's
ancestors.
Wiccans
do not regard physical death as an end but merely one
more event in a continuing progress of the soul's in
its path toward
fulfillment of divine destiny. Because of these beliefs,
it is only natural at this time of year to invite our
beloved ancestors
to remember and to celebrate with us.
If
you do not find these beliefs in conflict with your own
personal beliefs, please join us in the following
ritual of thanksgiving and remembrance. Whether you join with
us or not, May you walk in the Light of the Lady and know the
Wisdom of the Lord.
~~o00o~~
After
you have shared the bounty of your harvest with the children
of your neighbourhood (candy, etc) and the house has settled
down for the night, disconnect or turn off your telephone so
that this state of serenity will continue uninterrupted.
Prepare
a special feast of whatever foods reminds you of a special
departed friend or family member, or of past family
gatherings. While you are preparing this feast think of all of
the good times you had with them. When the feast is prepared,
set your holiday table with a special place of honour for the
departed friend or family member.
Decorate
the table and room as you would for a holiday dinner with the
family, add those special things that are important to you and
your family (flowers, candles, etc.) If you have a picture of
the loved one, it is nice to place it at their place at the
table.
Speak
to that special person and invite them to join you in this
celebration and time of remembrance. It is completely
appropriate to say grace or offer any prayer that you feel is
fitting.
The
following is done in complete silence:
Serve
the meal remembering to serve your honoured guest (or guests)
first. If wine or other alcoholic beverages are served, it is
recommended that they be kept in moderation as you and your
guests need to have a clear head. Now sit down to the
table with your loved ones and enjoy your feast. When you
address them in your mind, always see them as well. (Try not
to say in your mind, "if you can hear me...", etc.).
After the meal, the time of silence is over. Do whatever you
normally do at a family holiday gathering (clear the table,
play games, sing songs, etc.). Enjoy the companionship.
When
the evening is over, or in the morning if you wish to make it
an all night party, thank your invited guests for being with
you and for making your celebration a special one.
There
are a few words of caution that we will offer.
1.
If this ritual does not feel right for you, do not do it.
Follow your instincts.
2.
Remember that crossing over does not necessarily change a
person, so if you could not get through a meal in peace with
them while they were alive, you will probably have the same
problem with their spirit.
3. Do not ask your
guest to grant you wishes or do you favors. It is rude to
invite a guest and then make it obvious that a favor is the
reason they were asked, not because of love and respect.
Spirits do not like rudeness! Besides, spirits often forget
that you are limited in ways that they are not. If you ask
them for $1,000, it may come as an insurance settlement after
a painful break in your water pipe with all the delight in
cleaning up the mess from ensuing water damage
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The
Origins of Halloween
by
Rowan Moonstone
In
recent years, there have been a number of pamphlets and books
put out be various Christian organizations dealing with the
origins of modern- day Halloween customs.
Being a Witch
myself, and a student of the ancient Celts from whom we get
this holiday, I have found these pamphlets woefully inaccurate
and poorly researched. A typical example of this information
is contained in the following quote from the pamphlet entitled
"What's Wrong with Halloween?" by Russell K. Tardo.
"The Druids believed that on October 31st, the last day
of the year by the ancient Celtic calendar, the lord of death
gathered together the souls of the dead who had been made to
enter bodies of animals, and decided what forms they should
take the following year. Cats were held sacred because it was
believed that they were once human beings ... We see that this
holiday has its origin, basis and root in the occultic Druid
celebration of the dead. Only they called it 'Samhain', who
was the lord of the dead (a big demon)".
When these
books and pamphlets cite sources at all, they usually list the
Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Americana, and the World
Book Encyclopedia. The Britannica and the Americana make no
mention of cats, but do, indeed list Samhain as the Lord of
Death, contrary to Celtic scholars, and list no references.
The World Book mentions the cats, and calls Samhain the Lord
of Death, and lists as its sources several children's books
(hardly what one could consider scholarly texts, and, of
course, themselves citing no references). In an effort to
correct some of this erroneous information, I have researched
the religious life of the ancient Celtic peoples and the
survivals of that religious life in modern times. Listed below
are some of the most commonly asked questions concerning the
origins and customs of Halloween.
1.
Where does Halloween come from?
Our modern
celebration of Halloween is a descendent of the ancient Celtic
festival called "Samhain". The word is pronounced
"sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with
"cow".
2. What does "Samhain" mean?
The
Irish-English Dictionary published by the Irish Texts Society
defines the word as follows: "Samhain, All Hallowtide,
the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times, signaling
the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season,
lasting till May, during which troops were quartered. Fairies
were imagined as particularly active at this season. From it,
the half-year is reckoned. Also called Feile Moingfinne (Snow
Goddess). The Scottish Gaelic Dictionary defines it as "Hallowtide.
The Feast of All Souls. Sam + Fuin = end of summer."
Contrary to the information published by many organizations,
there is no archaeological or literary evidence to indicate
that Samhain was a deity. Eliade's Encyclopedia of Religion
states as follows: "The Eve and day of Samhain were
characterized as a time when the barriers between the human
and supernatural worlds were broken... Not a festival honoring
any particular Celtic deity, Samhain acknowledged the entire
spectrum of nonhuman forces that roamed the earth during that
period."4 The Celtic Gods of the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd
for the British and Arawn for the Welsh. The Irish did not
have a "lord of death" as such.
3. Why was the end
of summer of significance to the Celts?
The Celts were a
pastoral people as opposed to an agricultural people. The end
of summer was significant to them because it meant the time of
year when the structure of their lives changed radically. The
cattle were brought down from the summer pastures in the hills
and the people were gathered into the houses for the long
winter nights of story- telling and handicrafts .
4. What
does it have to do with a festival of the dead?
The Celts
believed that when people died, they went to a land of eternal
youth and happiness called Tir nan Og. They did not have the
concept of heaven and hell that the Christian church later
brought into the land. The dead were sometimes believed to be
dwelling with the Fairy Folk, who lived in the numerous
mounds, or sidhe, (pronounced "shee" or "sh-thee")
that dotted the Irish and Scottish countryside. Samhain was
the new year to the Celts. In the Celtic belief system,
turning points, such as the time between one day and the next,
the meeting of sea and shore, or the turning of one year into
the next were seen as magickal times. The turning of the year
was the most potent of these times. This was the time when the
"veil between the worlds" was at its thinnest, and
the living could communicate with their beloved dead in Tir
nan Og.
5. What about the aspects of "evil' that we
associate with the night today?
The Celts did not have demons
and devils in their belief system. The fairies, however, were
often considered hostile and dangerous to humans because they
were seen as being resentful of man taking over their land. On
this night, they would sometimes trick humans into becoming
lost in the fairy mounds, where they would be trapped forever.
After the coming of the Christians to the Celtic lands,
certain of the folk saw the fairies as those angels who had
sided neither with God or with Lucifer in their dispute, and
thus were condemned to walk the earth until judgment
day. In
addition to the fairies, many humans were abroad on this
night, causing mischief. Since this night belonged neither to
one year or the other, Celtic folk believed that chaos
reigned, and the people would engage in "horseplay and
practical jokes". This also served as a final outlet for
high spirits before the gloom of winter set in.
6. What
about "trick or treat"?
During the course of these
hi-jinks, many of the people would imitate the fairies and go
from house to house begging for treats. Failure to supply the
treats would usually result in practical jokes being visited
on the owner of the house. Since the fairies were abroad on
this night, an offering of food or milk was frequently left
for them on the steps of the house, so the homeowner could
gain the blessing of the "good folk" for the coming
year. Many of the households would also leave out a "dumb
supper" for the spirits of the departed. The folks who
were abroad in the night imitating the fairies would sometimes
carry turnips carved to represent faces. This is the origin of
our modern Jack-o-lantern.
7. Was there any special
significance of cats to the Celts?
According to Katherine
Briggs in Nine Lives: Cats in Folklore,, the Celts associated
cats with the Cailleach Bheur, or Blue Hag of Winter.
"She was a nature goddess, who herded the deer as her
cattle. The touch of her staff drove the leaves off the trees
and brought snow and harsh weather." Dr. Anne Ross
addresses the use of divine animals in her book Pagan Celtic
Britain and has this to day about cats. "Cats do not play
a large role in Celtic mythology ... the evidence for the cat
as an important cult animal in Celtic mythology is
slight". She cites as supporting evidence, the lack of
archaeological artifacts and literary references in surviving
works of mythology.
8. Was this also a religious festival?
Yes. Celtic religion was very closely tied to the Earth. Their
great legends are concerned with momentous happenings which
took place around the time of Samhain. Many of the great
battles and legends of kings and heroes center on this night.
Many of the legends concern the promotion of fertility of the
earth and the insurance of the continuance of the lives of the
people through the dark winter season.
9. How was the
religious festival observed?
Unfortunately, we know very
little about that. W.G. Wood-Martin, in his book, Traces of
the Elder Faiths of Ireland, states, "There is
comparatively little trace of the religion of the Druids now
discoverable, save in the folklore of the peasantry, and the
references relative to it that occur in ancient and authentic
Irish manuscripts are, as far as present appearances go,
meager and insufficient to support anything like a sound
theory for full development of the ancient religion."
The Druids were the priests of the Celtic peoples. They passed
on their teachings by oral tradition instead of committing
them to writing, so when they perished, most of their
religious teachings were lost. We do know that this festival
was characterized as one of the four great "Fire
Festivals" of the Celts. Legends tell us that on this
night, all the hearth fires in Ireland were extinguished, and
then re-lit from the central fire of the Druids at Tlachtga,
12 miles from the royal hill of Tara. This fire was kindled
from "need fire" which had been generated by the
friction of rubbing two sticks together, as opposed to more
conventional methods (such as the flint- and-steel method)
common in those days. The extinguishing of the fires
symbolized the "dark half" of the year, and the
re-kindling from the Druidic fires was symbolic of the
returning life hoped for, and brought about through the
ministrations of the priesthood.
10. What about sacrifices?
Animals were certainly killed at this time of year. This was
the time to "cull" from the herds those animals
which were not desired for breeding purposes for the next
year. Most certainly, some of these would have been done in a
ritual manner for the use of the priesthood.
11. Were
humans sacrificed?
Scholars are sharply divided on this
account, with about half believing that it took place and half
doubting its veracity. Caesar and Tacitus certainly tell tales
of the human sacrifices of the Celts, but Nora Chadwick points
out in her book The Celts that "it is not without
interest that the Romans themselves had abolished human
sacrifice not long before Caesar's time, and references to the
practice among various barbarian peoples have certain
overtones of self-righteousness. There is little direct
archaeological evidence relevant to Celtic sacrifice."
Indeed, there is little reference to this practice in Celtic
literature. The only surviving story echoes the tale of the
Minotaur in Greek legend: the Fomorians, a race of evil giants
said to inhabit portions of Ireland before the coming of the
Tuatha de Danaan (or "people of the Goddess Danu"),
demanded the sacrifice of 2/3 of the corn, milk, and first
born children of the Fir Bolg, or human inhabitants of
Ireland. The de Danaan ended this practice in the second
battle of Moy Tura, which incidentally, took place on Samhain.
It should be noted, however, that this story appears in only
one (relatively modern) manuscript from Irish literature, and
that manuscript, the "Dinnsenchus", is known to be a
collection of fables. According to P.W. Joyce in Vol. 2 of his
Social History of Ancient Ireland, "Scattered everywhere
through our ancient literature, both secular and
ecclesiastical, we find abundant descriptions and details of
the rites and superstitions of the pagan Irish; and in no
place - with this single exception - do we find a word or hint
pointing to human sacrifice to pagan gods or idols."
12. What other practices were associated with this season?
Folk tradition tells us of many divination practices
associated with Samhain. Among the most common were
divinations dealing with marriage, weather, and the coming
fortunes for the year. These were performed via such methods
as ducking for apples and apple peeling. Ducking for apples
was a marriage divination. The first person to bite an apple
would be the first to marry in the coming year. Apple peeling
was a divination to see how long your life would be. The
longer the unbroken apple peel, the longer your life was
destined to be. In Scotland, people would place stones in
the ashes of the hearth before retiring for the night. Anyone
whose stone had been disturbed during the night was said to be
destined to die during the coming year.
13. How did these
ancient Celtic practices come to America?
When the potato crop
in Ireland failed, many of the Irish people, modern
descendants of the Celts, immigrated to America, bringing with
them their folk practices, which were remnants of the Celtic
festival observances.
14.
We in America view this as a harvest
festival. Did the Celts also view it as such?
Yes. The Celts
had 3 harvests. Aug 1, or Lammas, was the first harvest, when
the first fruits were offered to the Gods in thanks. The Fall
equinox was the true harvest. This was when the bulk of the
crops would be brought in. Samhain was the final harvest of
the year. Anything left on the vines or in the fields after
this date was considered blasted by the fairies ("pu'ka")
and unfit for human consumption.
15. Does anyone today
celebrate Samhain as a religious observance?
Yes. many
followers of various pagan religions, such as Druidism and
Wicca, observe this day as a religious festival. They view it
as a memorial day for their dead friends and family, much as
the world does the national Memorial Day holiday in May. It is
still a night to practice various forms of divination
concerning future events. It is also considered a time to wrap
up old projects, take stock of one's life, and initiate new
projects for the coming year. As the winter season is
approaching, it is a good time to do studying on research
projects, and also a good time to begin hand work such as
sewing, leather working, woodworking, etc., for Yule gifts
later in the year. And while "satanists" are using
this holiday as their own, this is certainly not the only
example of a holiday (or even religious symbols) being
"borrowed" from an older religion by a newer one.
16. Does this involve human or animal sacrifice?
Absolutely
NOT! Hollywood to the contrary, blood sacrifice is not
practiced by modern followers of Wicca or Druidism. There may
be some people who THINK they are practicing Wicca by
performing blood sacrificing, but this is NOT condoned by
reputable practitioners of today's neo-Pagan religions.
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