My sister sent this picture to me not too long after January started…….
I have this plastic black shelf. It used to be my main ancestral shrine and underworld altar. But I have a far bigger one. So I used this as my shrine to Persephone and Demeter. For the Eleusinian Mysteries.
It’s part of the shrines of the dead, but it’s also for the living. So it’s an independent shrine. The ghosts who live and sleep there are what I call Green Ghosts. Spirits of the dead who watch over nature. The Fae who live there are nature spirits that live side by side with the dead.
Look who decided to put their cocoon in there for the winter.
Fresh out of the cocoon
I interpret this to possibly mean we are getting an early spring after all. Which would explain the accelerated winter we’re getting right now. The darker forces of winter are being kicked out a little earlier this year. This can also mean that now is the starting point to create something good and positive. Despite all the negative forces around.
Oko (Croatian for “Eye”) a photograph by Marko Popadic, who took this photo the moment the butterfly entered the eye socket of this human skull. It is said that butterflies symbolize the soul. So this could have been the dead saying hello.
” O holy Persephone, leave now the underworld. And become Kore, the maiden of spring, once more. We need you in this world. Now more than ever before,
Samhain will be here soon (in November not October). It was the Celtic new year’s festival. When the Fae and other spirits would roam the world. It wasn’t really a feast of the dead. But because the Fae could wander our world, I’m pretty sure all spirits in general could.
Even our dead. Though that’s just my opinion. I reiterate that this is not an ancestor feast. It is a new year’s feast. And the Fae are usually the ones who come out.
My personal beliefs and practices are my own. I don’t claim them as being “ancient”. I added my ancestors because winter time is seen as the time of the dead. In several cultures. Particularly the Nordic cultures.
But Samhain is about the Fae. And the natural cycle of the year ending. The Christians were the ones who made this about the dead. Christians (usually) only believe in the dead, angels, and demons. Nowadays even the dead are largely ignored.
What is Samhain?
Pronounced Sow-en. Because this was also the time when sows (female pigs) were slaughtered for winter. This was not only a new year’s festival, it was also preparation for winter. Animals were killed and salted so they could be preserved. Entire families would feed on the meat in order to survive.
But it was also more than that.
The four Celtic fire festivals were thought of as “liminal times”. Times when the veil wasn’t so strong. I have noticed that personally with most holidays. So I believe the veil isn’t as strict as we once thought it to be. Livestock were brought between two huge bonfires.
So that the spirit of fire would bless and protect them. This is common in many cultures. Fire is thought to have protective traits. Traits that can ward off harmful spirits. I have seen something similar with Diné (Navajo) people.
Ash from fires are used to bless people from harm. Or even to bless weapons against spirits or even magic thrown again you. Magical ash from sacred herbs burned in bonfires was even used by English cunning folk. According to the sorcerer, folklorist, and historian Ronald Hutton, Baltic Pine (Red European Pine) were used as torches. And they were in ancient times and as late as the 19th century.
They were lit and carried sunwise (clockwise towards the sun) around one’s property. So that the protective magic would extend to all they had. And all their loved ones. Also the bonfires would be lit at the top of hills. Hills were often seen as the places where Faeries lived other than burial mounds.
So this has some kind of importance. They would make two large bonfires in all the fire festivals. Then they would pass through the two pillars of fire. Then all their cattle and their possessions would follow. That’s what Bonfires were used for originally.
Exorcisms and blessings. From the Middle English word Bonefire. From the Latin, ignis ossium (a fire for bones). And the Scottish banefyre. Bonfires were sacrifices of animals given to bless the fire.
That’s where the bones come from. They also burned effigies of harmful witches (not witches in general) and monsters. This set the intention of what their magic was to accomplish. The fire would know what it needed to destroy. And leave the programming of this ritual in the holy ashes left behind.
They would also carry torches lit by the bonefires to light the fires of the town or city. To spread the holy influence. Even setting the flames of their hearths alight. The ash left behind in these fires were then saved so they could be used to protect places and perform magic. The holy fires were said enchant the people and their animals.
Protection against the sinister charms of the Fae. As well as malefic practitioners of magic. Spiritual beings you see, have great power. And they can become physical for a moment to attack you. And if some of the Samhain stories are true, some can attain a physical form once they’re here.
Though the jury is still out on whether or not I believe that.
The blessing of livestock on Beltane, this was pretty standard for all the fire festivals I have been reading about so far. Courtesy of the Willful Witch
It was commonly believed that the Faerie mounds opened up during this time.
The mounds become a sort of vortex. They were a doorway between the land of the Sidhe, and the land of humans. This is why the veil was so thin. Because the fae opened their doors. And traveled to our world to celebrate and make merry.
Now I have another theory as to why people also associate it with the dead. My theory (and this is just me) is that whenever one type of spirit is loose, all of them are. In many cases the dead, and nature entities in Europe, are almost indistinguishable from one another. Especially in Ireland. And I say this having spoken to modern people from Ireland and other areas.
This is something their own research has pointed out. For example, I was told once by an Irish woman that the Banshee is the spirit of a woman who died in child birth. And yet, she is called Bean Sidhe (Faery woman). And since the Sidhe also mean the underground mounds and hills. This would technically mean a mound woman too. A dead woman.
But she is considered one of the fae either way.
Now this wasn’t an ancestral gathering of sorts. But if the fae are out there maybe the dead are too. Because at least some of the dead are fae. Or maybe all the spirits come out. That’s just what I think.
I am by no means an expert on anything.
Samhain Traditions
A winter feast
This is taken directly from my Samhain article which is way longer than this. And incorporates a hell of a lot more research. This is just so that all of you can get the general idea of what this is about. Instead of just thinking it’s for the dead. Remember this was a feast.
As in an actual feast, as it would keep the families heartily fed during the cold. As well as lots of drinking. It can be argued that drinking lots of alcohol was always standard in Irish Celt celebrations. Even in ancient stories you see them drink. But Samhain was especially known for it.
Probably to raise the body temperature during the cold. Which we know now that this doesn’t actually help. In fact drinking alcohol actually makes it worse. It causes a condition where the blood thins. You feel flushed in your face in the moment.
But it’s the worst thing you could do. But back then they didn’t know that. It probably wouldn’t have stopped them either way. Now this feast was specifically for the fae. It can be argued that all the fire festivals were.
But Samhain was a very liminal time. It was the Celtic new year.
Dancing with the Fae
Veneration of the Fae, was prominent in this feast. As they were the intercessor spirits for the faithful. Sacrifices of milk and food were given to them. Part of this was as a bribe. As if to say ‘please don’t come harass me and mine‘.
Part of it was payment for them to protect the home. As well as to ensure other fae left these families be. And part of it was for the Fae to alter their destinies. They would ask to be given protection and aid for them and their animals during the winter ahead. Begging them for whatever strength or luck they could give them.
Or even to intercede for them with the Gods. Drink was also offered. Through strictly speaking, the Celtic fae love milk, cream, honey, and sugar. Candies and other sugary things as well. And bread and cookies.
Some like to eat porridge. And butter too. Even just leaving a stick of butter in nature for them will often do.
In days of old, they had feasts in their honor inside of the home. People would set a place for them at the dinner table. Of course some people left them their food and drink outside. In barns where the animals slept. Or amidst the trees.
Of all the Fae who came out to play during this time, the Aos sí(pronounced ease-shee) were the most prominent. I have seen a lot of people conflate the Aos Si with the Tuatha Dé Danann. But my research says otherwise. These were elves. But not just regular elves.
It’s said, that they are the descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The ancient Gods of Ireland, with Elves. So the Aos sí were similar to Demi Gods. Normally, a Demi God is half human, and half God. But I personally view any being that is half God as a Demi God.
The word comes from Latin Semideus (Semi God). So from the word alone, anyone who is part God, is a Demi God. And that includes non-human entities. Such as the fae. We don’t know which of the Elves they mated with to produce the Aos sí.
Or at least I don’t. I would have to do more research on the subject. But now things make more sense. It’s because of them, that this feast was so important. And when you understand that this festival honored the fae, not the dead, things make even more sense.
Now the following is purely a hypothesis on my part.
Samhain is unique among all the other festivals. Yes the fae are always present in them. But the other three Celtic fire festivals are dedicated to Gods. Namely, Brighid (Imbolc or Candlemas), Belenus (Beltane or May Day), and Lugh (Lughnasadh, or Lammas). Each of those fire festivals are centered on those Gods. But Samhain seems to be the only fire festival that is entirely of the Fae.
For the fae. And now we know why. This is a festival for Demi Gods. Similar to the Greek Demi Gods. It also explains why there’s more drinking and feasting. This is exactly what a feast for ancient Heroes and Demi Gods would be like.
Because now we know these are Elvish Demi Gods. Fathered and mothered by the Gods of Ireland. So the real reason for how such a small festival blew up and spread across the lands of Alba becomes apparent. It’s a festival to honor them. And through the fair folk as our spiritual intercessors.
And the Aos sí as a bridge between Fae and Gods. We honor the Tuatha Dé Danann. All of them, through their children. Which means it’s possible that the theory this is actually an end of year feast is also true. What better way to kick off the end of the year than with a great feast for the divine heroes? That’s my theory anyway.
Based on the research I was able to do. Click on the Samhain article to read the sources. And research it for your own. I should also mention that Samhain stopped being in October a long time ago. When the calendars were changed by the church.
Samhain today is in November. Many believe it starts sunset on November 6th. And then some like me celebrate it for a week. And others celebrate it only for three days. And some celebrate it November 11th.
What we have on October 30-31st are traditions from the UK. As well as the Catholic All Hallow’s Eve and All Hallow’s Day festivals. Which are dedicated to the suffering souls in Purgatory. Which is why most people view Samhain as a funerary feast. Due mostly to Christian influence.
Today, November 6th at sunset (5:30pm EST) is the true feast of Samhain. And it will last until tomorrow at sunset. So I figured I would talk about what Samhain is and isn’t. And why it’s celebrated in November now. Rather than October.
Also warning, I am super tired. So if you see a mistake here, just take note of it. I can change it later. But right now I have rituals to do and I am dead tired. Merry Samhain.
The word Samhain (pronounced sow-en by the Irish) means “end of summer”. And it’s the very last festival before the winter comes. Samhain or Oíche Shamhna (Samhain Eve, pronounced EE-hyeh how-nuh) is one of the most interesting of the four fire festivals. Because unlike the others, this one was a local tradition the capital of Connacht. But somehow this festival became so popular that it spread to the rest of Ireland. And from Ireland, other parts of the UK under various names and guises. And brand new traditions. Such as the Welsh Nos Galan Gaeaf. The Cornish, Kalan Gwav. And Hop-tu-Naa in the Isle of Man.
So one wonders……why? What was so special about this fire festival that it spread from relative obscurity from Rathcroghan, Cruachan Aí? The ancient capital of Connacht. Strictly speaking, whenever a holiday or tradition gets spread that quickly, it’s never arbitrary. It’s always done for a specific reason. So what was that reason? Do the dead really rise from their graves this night? Is it the fae running amok? Or is it just an excuse to get drunk? Time to a see these questions. To the best of my knowledge anyways.
For one thing, it isn’t really surprising that this festival came from Rathcroghan, Cruachan Aí.
When one takes in Connacht’s alleged role in supernatural affairs. There’s Faery lore all over Ireland. But especially there. And Rathcroghan was viewed as an important place in native Irish religion.
It’s also believed Samhain is named that way due to the sacrifice of sows (female pigs) for winter. The sows would be preserved and kept for families to feast on. When the cold ravaged the country. Later Samhain Eve would be called All Hallow’s Eve by the church. Others dedicated this feast to St. Allan and called it Allantide. Others Allsaintstide because all the Saints should be honored. And All Hallow’s Mass or Hallowsmastide.
And then from there the people or the church shortened it to Hallow’en. Which is where we get the name Halloween from. It’s a modernization of the old term Hallow’en (Hallow’s Eve) that was first mentioned in Northern England and Ireland. Then the Irish and Scottish immigrants brought the term and custom with them to the United States. Where eventually it became the bastardized version of Halloween we have today. Mostly taken over by the candy companies in North America. The original religious and spiritual purpose of the feast lost to time in the Americas.
A winter feast
This would keep the families heartily fed during the cold. As well as lots of drinking. It can be argued that drinking lots of alcohol was always standard in Irish Celt celebrations. Even in ancient stories you see them drink. But Samhain was especially known for it.
Probably to raise the body temperature during the cold. Which we now know doesn’t actually help. In fact drinking alcohol actually makes it worse. But even in modern times that myth remains. They believed the Fae were out and about during this time (as they are on the other fire festivals).
They would create holy bonfires that were used as a type of Apotropaic Magic.
Have a swig of mead at Samhain!
The bonfires were intended to ward off mischievous spirits like the Fae.
They would make two large bonfires in all the fire festivals. And then they and all their cattle and their possessions would pass through the two fires in order to be enchanted and immune to fae. Or to other types of spirits and their magic.
And they would create holy bonfires. For the purpose of apotropaic magic.
Skipping around the bonfire to be protected from the Fae
According to Ronald Hutton and other sources, at least two historians claim that Druids would enchant the bonfires. They would bless them “with great incantations“, to protect animals and people from disease. And as I mentioned before they used to do that to protect themselves from malefic witchcraft as well. And from the spirits.
All the fires in the land, would be doused or snuffed out. Because then torches would be lit with the holy fires of the bone fire. And the magic would be spread throughout the land. Keeping it safe. And adding the blessings.
According to the sorcerer, folklorist, and historian Ronald Hutton, Baltic Pine (Red European Pine) were used as torches. And they were in ancient times and as late as the 19th century, lit and carried sunwise (clockwise towards the sun) around one’s property. So that the protective magic would extend to all they had. And all their loved ones.
Also the bonfires would be lit at the top of hills. Hills were often seen as the places where Faeries lived other than burial mounds. So this has some kind of importance.
They would make two large bonfires in all the fire festivals. Then they would pass through the two pillars of fire. Then all their cattle and their possessions would follow.
That’s what Bonfires were used for originally. Exorcisms and blessings. From the Middle English word Bonefire. From the Latin, ignis ossium (a fire for bones). And the Scottish banefyre. *
Bonfires were sacrifices of animals given to bless the fire. That’s where the bones come from. They also burned effigies of evil witches and monsters to set the intention of what their magic was to accomplish. The fire would know what it needed to destroy. And leave the programming of this ritual in the holy ashes left behind. They would also carry torches lit by the bonefires to light the fires of the town or city. To spread the holy influence. Even setting the flames of their hearths alight. The ash left behind in these fires were then saved so they could be used to protect places and perform magic.
The holy fires were said enchant the people and their animals against the sinister charms of the Fae. Native Americans have a similar belief in the power of fire and ash. They often use it to ward off certain types of spirits. Or to bless their weapons. You see spiritual beings have great power. And they can become physical for a moment to attack you.
And then non physical to be safe. So the Niiji (natives) use the magic or ash to bless their weapons and tools. That way no matter what, the entity or entities will be affected by them. Rendering them flesh and blood at least for a moment. The best ash to use is white ash.
Which is from the middle of a fire. That means it burned hottest there. Now please don’t misunderstand me. Not all faeries are evil.
But even those who are more or less good, can be mischievous. And not hold any moral reservations about causing us problems. They might see haunting our houses or causing frightful illusions as harmless fun. We wouldn’t be as amused as they were.
But there were also more malevolent Fae. Evil spirits who did go out of their way to cause real harm. Not just a few nasty pranks. The worst of these are the Formori. Malevolent Gods and their spirits who were defeated by their children, the Tuatha Dé Danann.
The Gods of Ireland who defeated the Formorian Giants. They then banished them back into their own world. So there are all sorts of supernatural beings that are drawn to this time. But Fae were the most prominent in all of the fire festivals. Not the dead as most people assume.
Though I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they were involved as well. As you’ll soon see in the bottom portion of this article.
~ The Many Meanings of this Feast ~
The Fair Folk Feast!
But besides celebrating the end of winter, there was a more significant reason for the feast.
First, veneration of the Fae, as they were intercessor spirits for the faithful. Sacrifices of milk and food were given to the Fae. Part of this was as a bribe. As if to say please don’t come harass me and mine. Part of it was payment for them to protect the home and ensure other fae left these families be. And part of it was for the Fae to alter their destinies.
They would ask to be given protection and aid for them and their animals during the winter ahead. Begging them for whatever strength or luck they could give them. Or even to intercede for them with the Gods. Drink was also offered.
Through strictly speaking, the Celtic fae love milk, cream, honey, and sugar. Candies and other sugary things as well. And bread and cookies. Some like to eat porridge. And butter too. Even just leaving a stick of butter in nature for them will often do.
In days of old, they had feasts in their honor inside of the home. People would set a place for them at the dinner table. Of course some people left them their food and drink outside. In barns where the animals slept. Or amidst the trees.
Of all the Fae who came out to play during this time, the Aos sí(pronounced ease-shee) were the most prominent. These were elves. But not just regular elves. It said, that they are said the descendants of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The ancient Gods of Ireland. So the Aos sí were similar to Demi Gods. Normally, a Demi God is half human, and half God.
But I personally view any being that is half God as a Demi God. The word comes from Latin Semideus (Semi God). So from the word alone, anyone who is part God, is a Demi God. And that includes non-human entities. Such as the fae.
We don’t know which of the Elves they mated with to produce the Aos sí. Or at least I don’t. I would have to do more research on the subject. But now things make more sense. It’s because of them, that this feast was so important. And when you understand that this festival honored the fae, not the dead, things make even more sense.
Now the following is purely a hypothesis on my part.
Samhain is unique among all the other festivals. Yes the fae are always present in them. But the other three Celtic fire festivals are dedicated to Gods. Namely, Brighid (Imbolc or Candlemas), Belenus (Beltane or May Day), and Lugh (Lughnasadh, or Lammas). Each of those fire festivals are centered on those Gods.
But Samhain seems to be the only fire festival that is entirely of the Fae and for the fae as well. And now we know why. This is a festival for Demi Gods. Similar to the Greek Demi Gods. It also explains why there’s more drinking and feasting and partying in this feast than in all the others. This is exactly what a feast for ancient Heroes and Demi Gods would be like.
Because now we know these are Elvish Demi Gods fathered and mothered by the Gods of Ireland. So the real reason for how such a small festival blew up and spread across the lands of Alba becomes apparent.
It’s a festival to honor them. And through the fair folk as our spiritual intercessors, and the Aos sí as a bridge between Fae and Gods, we honor the Tuatha Dé Danann. All of them, through their children. Which means it’s possible that the theory this is actually an end of year feast is also true. What better way to kick off the end of the year that with a great feast for the divine heroes?
Customs
Traditional Animal Headed Mummers in the original Halloween costumes from Comhaltas and the Armagh Rhymers on Hallow’enModern day Mummers in the US, from Asheville, NC, (2011). They’re trying to revive the traditional Samhain traditions. Here, these Mummers are an actual Coven of Wiccan Witches from Oldenwilde
During this time, the ancient tradition that would become trick-or-treating began.
First, the adults who celebrated would engage in Guising. That is to say, disguising. They would appear in the image of animal headed creatures. Perhaps I would stretching it if I said this may be connected to the wild man cults of old. But around winter time, you would see people dressed as wild men for Yule. In other cases they would dress as the fae or even the Gods themselves.
Then they would engage in Mummer’s Plays or Mumming. These were public plays put on by your own friends and neighbors. While they were dressed up to entertain the people who watched them. And the people would pay them with coins or food. That’s what trick or treating was supposed to be for. Also it should be noted that Christmas choirs that knock on your door are also Mummurs. Mumming didn’t just happen on Halloween or even Christmas. But on all the festivals. And traditionally the Murmurs are always adults. Children were later allowed to participate. The closest I came to finding information on children Mumming was that in the 19th century, children in Moray, Scotland asked for fuel to burn for the bonfires. Apparently, they didn’t just use wood and bone for the fires as I originally had thought. They would have used anything to make the fires burn. They also had their own version of cleansing themselves in Moray. One of them would lay down on the ground as close to the bonfire as possible. And in the direction where the smoke would pass over the boy. Then the other boys leapt over him to be cleansed as well.
And in America now seeing an adult in a Halloween costume making a funny show for money, let alone candy is unthinkable. And would be seen as strange. It goes to show you how wonderful traditions can be lost to time and degenerate. Now instead of Mumming, it’s been entirely taken over by candy companies in the US. And Americans have it as an entirely secular feast. No mention of the Aos sí and the fae. No household feasts to celebrate the heroes of old and our ancient Gods. No massive bonfires with people drinking to their heart’s con- well okay maybe that part is still happening. But it’s all meaningless because we have forgotten the spirit behind such celebrations.
Part of the spirit of our old traditions is the concept of a peace. That any conflicts or feuds had to be put side during Samhain. During this time meetings would be held. And drinking and feasting would be done. But it wasn’t all fun and games. The meetings were also of a political or economic nature sometimes. For example, it was also said that the High Kings of Ireland would choose to create or undo laws every seventh Samhain. So they would take this time to call a sort of National Assembly to review the laws and what did or didn’t work. Or to establish new ones. Then these laws would remain in places until another seven years later when another seventh Samhain took place. It’s never entirely been known why it was done this way. We know that one of the most ancient kings of Ireland, Cormac, did this. We don’t know if he himself established this practice or if it comes from an older practice from times before.
Divination Games were also played during this time. As it’s believed that Samhain like other festivals, are perfect days for peering beyond the veil. To know and see past, present, and future. Everything from adding apple slices to water to know the first letter of your true love’s name. To having magical stones near a fire covered in ash.
They would run around their stones with a torch in hand. Being cheerful as they do it. Or being in some kind of rush of excitement. If in the morning, one of the stones was mislaid, then the person who laid it would not last the year. That’s not a Hallow’en game most people would want to play today. But back then you had to be careful of dying too close to holidays. It meant your very soul could be in jeopardy according to some beliefs. Even in Christian times, if someone had died too close to a holy feast, they could arise as an angry revenant of some sort. And required extra care to not come back. Which leads me to the next phase of this article.
Evil Spirits on Samhain
The Hwch ddu gwta (tail-less black sow) also known as the Cutty Black Sow by Anna Hughes Pinterest
Modern Pagans/Polytheists all claim there were no such things as demons or other types of malevolent spirits. I say this is nonsense. Belief in evil spirits and experiences with such creatures, predates religion. And there were all sorts of malevolent spirits who went out of their way to take your dead. Including other ghosts.
That’s why you had divination games to tell you when you were going to die. So that you would have time to prepare. Such as the Cutty Black Sow of Wales. A large black demon sow (female pig). Who was said to take your soul if you died on or near Samhain.
In more Christian times, the sow was believed to either be the Devil, or some aspect of him. An interesting religious synchronization. It’s funny to say the least. You would think Satan would appear as a male pig, not a sow. In era where Pagan and Christian beliefs were blended together, they feared souls of the dead in purgatory would come out to get you around this time. And they used many kinds of Christian and Christian Pagan magics to ward them off. Such as Rowan crosses. Which I will show you later.
Now I have something rather interesting to add to this. Remember when I said that now I do a Samhain week in order to celebrate the feast? Well it turns out that’s exactly the way it should be celebrated. Apparently Samhain was always celebrated for a week. Three days before the actual day and three days after. At least in the over kingdom of Ulaidh.
But it was also done this way in the feis (festival) of the Kingship of Tara. But in their case they did the weeklong Samhain every third Samhain.
Today spelled Ulaid. In the story of the Wasting Sickness of Cuchulaine, the people of Ulaidh celebrated it for a week. So this has been established since legendary times. The usual practices were fine if bonfires, feasting, meetings, drinking etc.. but there’s one curious little thing there. Apparently, they also threw stones into the fires.
It’s not mentioned why they did this. It’s most likely either some form of magic, or even a game they played. I tried looking it up. But there is no mention of this practice anywhere else. And is either an old Celtic practice that has been forgotten.
Or is likely a cultural practice specific to Ulaidh.
Catholic Take Over
Later, the Catholic Church replaced the costumes of Faeries. And children donned costumes of the Archangel Michael and other saints. Or even dress like monks and nuns and other religious figures.
Eventually the older, Pagan Mummer’s Plays meant to praise the Fae and our Gods, were replaced by Souling. A Catholic practice where peasants dressed in costumes is various animal guises. And then knocked on doors asking to be fed soul cakes. A type or Halloween cake. Or given coins.
And in exchange they would pray for dead relatives of those families. Asking them to be free from Purgatory. Hence the term of Souling. So this was a symbiotic relationship. You fed your neighbors, because in those days it was adults as well as children who went Mumming, and your relatives stuck in purgatory were prayed for.
Mummer’s Souling on All Hallow’s Eve in the Middle Ages
Here we see a combination of Pagan and Christian traditions in these Murmurs who are on Haslemere High Street before their Christmas performance. Stock Photo – Alamy & Pinterest courtesy of Angela Sahli
Why is Samhain celebrated in November instead of Octobertoday?
The Crone
The short answer to that, is that once it was celebrated at that time.
But remember the Celts and other ancient peoples had moveable feasts. These feasts changed dates based on the stars and the seasons. In the case of Samhain, it was changed by accident. And it was the Catholic church who was behind the change. They originally used the Julian calendar. But later upgraded to the Gregorian Calendar.
So if we were using the Julian calendar today, it would still fall in October. But the Gregorian calendar changed it to November. And now it’s the Irish and Scottish name for the month of November.
Everyone has their own ideas on when the time is right for this. Some people celebrate it on the first of November in parts of the UK. My teacher told me some people in the Grove she studies with, celebrate it on November 11th. Me? I choose the Astrological date. Which is November 6th (today) at Sunset. And it ends Sunset the next day on the 7th.
These Yule Murmurs incorporated both Christian and Pagan traditions. With one taking the form of the Green Man, and another as a Christian Knight. These Mummurs make their way along Haslemere High Street before performing at Christmas time Stock Photo – Alamy & Pinterestvia Angela Sahli
The reason for this is because the ancients ended and began the day at sunset. That was their midnight. The ancient Greeks were the same way. So what looks like a two day celebration, is really only one day in the ancient calendar.
I celebrate Samhain as a week now instead of just two days. Ending on November 11th. But everyone celebrates it differently. And some are pure Pagan or Polytheists who try to reconstruct it the way it was before Christianity. Others are Christian Pagans like me who do both traditions.
Because dual religious traditions became a thing with many Pagans. We like to incorporate and learn magic from other faiths and add it to our own. So yes we learned and gained the power of the Christian Deity to add to our pantheon. At least those who are like me did.
Also, it was not an ancestor feast as most people believe. It was simply the end of summer and the time when the Fae would enter our world. It became a feast of the dead because of the Catholic Church. Trying to force conversion on Pagans and turn people away from the Druids.
But because the people are still very loyal to their old traditions, the church had to assimilate Pagan feasts and even our Gods as either Saints or Devils, to get the Irish to join them.
This is exclusively an Irish feast btw. Not all celts celebrated this. In fact it originated in only one town and later spread to the rest of Ireland. Not all Celts were Irish. For instance the French were Celtic and the Spaniards in Galicia were Celts as well.
That’s why in Spain (and later other Spanish speaking countries) they have their own version of the Wicker Man. But back to the church, the church assimilated Samhain with All Souls and All Saints. The days to pray for souls to be free from Purgatory.
So that’s where the “feast of the dead” came from. That and also because many cultures including the Norse, believe that Winter time is the time of the dead. When they walk the Earth.
Do the Dead Walk at this time?
Wraiths of the dead returned to Earth at Yule
For me that’s a complicated question. And it depends on what your personal point of view is. My research shows that many cultures do think that the end of summer and winter are when the dead start showing up. Here are a few examples of that.
The Aztecs had two months of the dead starting in August. The first was for dead children. The second was for dead adults. So it went from August to September. Yule which became Christmas, was the time when the Norse believed their dead returned to Earth.
The Norse have influenced Britain due to their invasions and wars. In fact there is a part of Scotland that has Nordic influence in their culture. So because of this conjoining of cultures, it seems that at least some of their religious beliefs merged with local Brythonic beliefs. Many will say,
“Well that is Britain not Ireland!”
And to that I say, that once an upon a time, before Britain was even called Britain. Back when that entire area was called Albion and Alba, you had various peoples. Ancient tribes which don’t exist anymore in their pure form. But who merged their bloodlines in the modern England, Wales, Isle of Man, Scotland and even Ireland of today. In those days, they didn’t have a true concept of a nation state or a country.
They had clans. And certain territories. Each ruled by their own leaders. But an Anglo-Saxon and an Iceni wouldn’t have seen themselves as belonging to the same country. In fact they would have scoffed at the idea.
The Iceni of yesterday are the English people of Norfolk and Suffolk today. And if you asked them racially what they are, they might say Caucasian or even Anglo-Saxon. Despite the fact that Caucasus is a country in Eurasia. It’s bordered on the south by Iran, on the southwest by Turkey, on the west by the Black Sea, on the east by the Caspian Sea, and on the north by Russia. So that isn’t a genuine definition of who they are ethnically speaking.
And actual Anglo-Saxons would have either been amused at that idea, or found it insulting to be associated with them.
Remember that Alba is what Ireland was once called. But it’s also the name of England (Albion).
That isn’t by accident. They were many peoples. With many different Gods and cultures. But the Gods are related to each other. And so too are we. Remember that Samhain was a single Irish feast that came from one town in Ireland. And somehow it spread to other places amongst the Brithonic variant of the Albion peoples.
So if the Norse effected one part of that great land mass, a mass of many islands which each bore many names. From the people who were once from a land called Alba, or in their cousins case; Albion, it didn’t matter. If the Norse effected one culture, it would eventually have a trickle down effect to the others.
Which is why a festival that started in Ireland in the capital of Connacht, was spread to different parts of the UK. Including Wales where it is called Calan Gaeaf.
This is also why Irish celts have their own version of the Nordic Runes. Although there are some Celtic Pagans who will argue with me to death on that subject. But those runes are near identical. Except for some that are clearly Celtic and not Nordic.
Another reason Samhain may have been seen as a time of the dead, were due to burial mounds. The Fae in Ireland are sometimes called Sidhe (pronounced “she”). And it doubles as a word for the mountains and hills. There is a story that the Milesians, a human civilization, went to invaded Ireland. And they tricked the native Gods into leaving the earth and living underground in mounds.
Now, that ended very badly for humanity when the Gods and their Fae left. Because immediately afterwards, the Formorians returned. But that’s another story. But the fact is, Faeries in Ireland began to be associated with funeral mounds.
So much so, that in some cases, humans who died could actually transform into fae themselves. If for whatever reason the fae saw them as worthy. And accepted them into their ranks. In fact in almost any account of Samhain, you will find that people believed funeral mounds became doorways to the other side at the end of summer. And that often the fae would use these mounds to return to the Earth. Now there’s a very big difference between a fae mound and a funeral mound. Fae mounds seem to be constructions they make. Earthworks. In some cases, old Pagan mounds or sites of old temples are claimed by them as their mounds. And become a nexus of worlds.
And in other cases there are fae who seem to not only live and associate with the dead. But who are actually in charge of them as well. The Banshee is one example of a human spirit that became a faerie. And is part of directing the dead. The word Bean Sidhe (faerie woman) refers to a woman who died in childbirth. She comes back from the dead as a harbinger or spirit who acts as an omen or sign of approaching death. Traditional Banshees would only wail for members of a specific clan. Or group of clans. But there are those who believe a Banshee can wail for any family or individual. This is not to cause harm. But to warn families that death approaches and to prepare. Although some Banshees in history have contributed to the death of a person. Such as the infamous case of the Guardian Banshee of the Irishman, Dave Warner. The Banshee haunting in the Tar River of North Carolina during the American Revolution, is controversial. There are some who say it never happened because we can’t find records that Dave Warner ever existed. Of course that’s hardly a real condemnation. Hundreds of years ago, entire families slipped by the wayside in history. Even with the greatest investigators and resources, it’s impossible to prove the existence of many people who lived and died and whose bones are buried. And a Banshee in North Carolina is rather strange. But regardless, the story goes that British soldiers murdered the Irishman for being loyal to Washington. And he cast a curse on them. That the Banshee of Tar River would come to take them if they killed him. Immediately after tying him to stones and tossing him in the river, a horrible wailing could be heard. And one by one she came for them . In the most worst ways possible. I often say the Blair Witch project must have been at least partially based on this haunting. There’s many parallels between the Banshee who seems to command the elements in the area and how she slowly picks her victims off one by one, with the Blair Witch movie. The difference being that this is the only time she killed anyone. Dave Warner lived in peace with the Banshee after being warned. He never disrespected her. And some might say he may even have had a friendship with her. How else could he curse his killers with the Banshee’s wrath if he hadn’t?
So fae can cause death. Avenge death. And warn of death. For this reason, Samhain may also have a connection with the dead. Apart from the Catholic Church.
I do believe personally that winter is the time of the dead. Because if one type of spirit is out and about like the Fae, others are sure to follow.
And the Catholic Christian world did have stories of angry or vengeful dead returning to haunt people. Including Vampire outbreaks all over Europe. Then there is also the fact that the Catholics Christianized Samhain into All Souls and All Saints in November. But then in a twist of fate, the indigenous peoples they sought to conquer in Mexico, re-Paganized the holiday using Aztec traditions in Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). And finally, because I also worship the Norse Gods, we believe that Yule or Christmas time is also the time for the dead. We view winter as the time when the dead and other spirits roam the earth.
How I do it,
(Advice for any American Traditions)
The Indigenous Venezuelan Goddess Yara also known as Santa María de la Onza Talavera del Pratoor simply Maria Lionza, a child who had once been a forcibly converted to Christianity. After she died ahe came back…….as a Goddess
Now because we live in America, the Fae here are Native. They look rather strange at first. Many appear as talking trees and rocks. Or animals that stand on two feet and talk.
Native American Ghosts who watch the land. They like tobacco in a wooden bowl. Sacred plants like sage and cedar. And sometimes alcohol. Though the last one is Effie because some native spirits don’t like alcohol.
And actually view it almost as a kind of poison. So you should definately do a divination to find out. I like to scatter powered herbs in their honor. Any herb will do. I use powered sage.
For many natives that I spoke to, spirits were given offerings in makeshift bowls in the River. They would sort of put together a bowl from whatever they could find in nature. Such as weeds and even used bird’s nests. They believed that bodies of water were open portals. Similar to crossroads in other cultures.
So they would tie the makeshift bowl down so the current wouldn’t take it away. And they would leave offerings for the spirits inside. I asked if I should look after the offerings. And the Niiji man who talked to me just looked at me like I was an idiot (lol). A lot of native teachers, the older ones anyway, think you shouldn’t ask questions. Just watch what they do and follow.
And normally that’s a good thing. Visual learning and all. The problem with that, is I wasn’t going to be near this guy 24/7. And I told him unless he answered my questions, I would have to live with him for a while to learn. The prospect of living with me even for a day was enough to get him to open up. To a point.
I was told to leave the offerings for a week. And then to come by and pick up the bowl and cleanse it. If food was left, dump it near the river, not in it. Then cleanse and reconsecrate it. Because it’s been in the wild and you don’t want it to have chaotic energies.
I don’t have any used bird’s nests or whatever. So I plan to get a wooden bowl to leave out there and tie down. Then I would cleanse it with sage. And fill it with blessings by burning a cinnamon stick the way my medicine woman taught me. For her, cinnamon had a natural cleansing and blessing energy.
I was skeptical at the time. I was new to magic. I expected to use some fancy sounding plant for that. But I learned that the greatest power often comes in the simplest of things. She taught me much.
Native spirits by and far are usually less tricky. And more helpful. But they have tricksters too. Some trickster are good. Others are bad. Another thing to do is to research the local tribes and see what they offer their spirits. Or even planting trees sacred to them on the land.
I do honor the ancestors because I am a Christo-Pagan. I use a lot of Catholicism in my magic. Not including my Santeria and Hoodoo practices. So I do believe the dead are out there during this half of the year. But the main focus is on the Fae. The Fae are the ones who are out right now. And they are the ones people from Celtic Ireland feared would appear to cause problems.
Many even did Catholic Magical rituals. These were fused together with Celtic magic to ward them off. They would make crosses out of Rowan. A sacred wood.
And because of Catholic fear of the angry dead, they started to ward them off. For they feared that the lost souls in Purgatory stalked the woods. Which is also why many Irish tales speak of wronged people returning from the grave. Of course they had accounts like that before Christianity.
But I personally bless the fires threefold. Since I like to get a blessed church candle. That way it already has power from the Christ God in it. Then I bless it in the name of Brighid and Belenus. Belenus is a God of healing and medicine. And Brighid is another healer and Goddess of the Hearth.
I ask them to remind the Fae to be good with us all. And to protect us from enemy spirits and magic.
Hope you enjoyed this article,
– M
* I put a lot of effort under defining what a bonfire is because it has magical uses. And was used a lot in ancient cultures. And on the internet they just keep saying the same apocryphal information over and over again. That it comes from the French word for bone. But the French word is Os.
Or a bunch of varieties of the word Os. The word Bon in French means “good”. So that doesn’t make any sense. Which is why I specifically went and found research material to refute it. Because if it’s a good fire it’s not a Bonefire.
And Bonefires were created for magical purposes. Not just to keep war. In many instances it’s already warm whenever they were being made.
SergligeConCulainn – Cúchulainn’s Sickbed – TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LOST YELLOW BOOK OF SLANE – By Maelmuiri mac Ceileachair into the Leabhar na h-Uidhri in the Eleventh Century
THE DESTRUCTION OF DÁ DERGA’S HOSTEL – Translated by Whitely Stokes, D.C.L. Epic and Saga, Harvard Classics no. 49 New York, P. F. Collier & Son
The worddoula means “servant woman” in Greek. And the male version doulo “servant man”. The term for midwife comes from this word. In other words, an attendant. Death Midwifery in this case.
Servant persons who assist with the process of dying. There’s many ways this is done. Some hold the hands of the dying and comfort them. Others help them write their own obituary. Some are a type of religious or spiritual person who aids the person with last rites type rituals.
And some even care for the family and help them anyway they can.
There’s a lot to be said about them. But few people have ever written about being a death doula or doulo for nature. All too frequently it seems the dead trees and animals have no one to care for them. You just see roadkill on the side of the road. And it’s our natural inclination to not go near it.
Because of the smell and fear of contagion. Or even just because of the negative energy inside the body. All are valid reasons. And not just anyone can do this. But it should be noted that some people do go out of their way to do it.
The connection between nature veneration and death
Veneration is not “worship”. You aren’t praying to an animal or a tree. Nature worship means “venerating” or respecting the spirits of nature. Giving them offerings. The confusion comes from us giving offerings and praying to them.
Most people think that’s only for Gods. Not true. In the Catholic Church, Saints are given offerings and prayed to. But they aren’t worshipped. They are venerated.
Because they have a direct line to God.
So the spirits of nature, beings created by the Gods, have a direct link to them as well. That’s why we often give offerings and pray to them. The prayer isn’t “an act of worship”. But one of respectfully asking their intercession. Before the creators.
I wrote an article a while back about the Green Dead. A class of dead people who seem to also be nature spirits. In fact, I learned from my English associates that the line between the dead and the Fae is a very thin one. In some cases, a dead person comes back as a Faerie. Such as the case of the Banshee.
From Ben Síde (woman of the Faery mound). The earth mounds being the home of the Fae in Ireland. Maybe it’s because the Irish Fae live in the Earth deep underground. Perhaps that’s why they have many associations with the dead. Who knows?
But one of the things that I realized early on is that necromancy, as well as nature magic calls to me. My magic is based on being a custodian of places and lands. And even animals. Even if they fucking hate me. My Masters have always said it’s a God thing.
You know, caring for their creations. It’s one of the strangest things in my life. That nature magic intersects with my caring for the dead. For as long as I can remember, I have cared for the dead animals. From small lizards and bugs to baby birds, and rats.
For dead tree I try to honor them. By making them shrines. And leaving offerings to Gods or spirits on them. Connecting them with their creators even more. But if I help them, they are helping me.
I use them to bury dead animals also. And I pray to a God of nature for the souls of the dead animals. I let my instincts tell me which of the Gods I should pray to. And I make little shrines for them. Specifically, I make rock pile shrines.
I watch as the dead bodies, now buried, bring vegetation. It’s a natural wonder to see the bodies of the dead give life to the soil. I once buried a small white mouse who passed away in our care. I buried him in soil that was barren and sandy. But overtime, the spot where I buried him has become a beautiful garden.
I didn’t plant anything there. All I did was leave his body. And ever since then, it has had flowers. And now green plants. And it’s not sandy anymore.
Obviously it’s the body fertilizing the soil. But I also like to think that it’s a sign of the animal being at peace. I do this as an offering to both the spirits and the Gods. I mourn the poor little creatures.
Baby
Today I buried a baby blue jay.
The poor creature had apparently fallen out of it’s nest in the middle of the night. The storm waters must have flushed it out. It was on the ground, cold. In it’s final moments I carried him/her in my hand. It nuzzled my fingers for warmth.
I kept my feathery baby at my breast. I tried to save it. But ultimately, the child passed away a few minutes later. I fed the baby water from a drop before it passed. So it could at least quench it’s thirst before it passed.
I went crazy calling up wildlife rehabbers and reading articles on how to save a baby bird. But ultimately the little chick couldn’t hold on. It passed away. I buried it near the same place I buried the white mouse. Well adjacent.
To a spot close to it that doesn’t have any vegetation. The wet soil made it easier to bury the baby. I hope that means it can give life to the soil. I am saddened by it’s passing. But at least the baby is with the Gods now.
Adventures of A Mage In Miami 