Happy Spooky Season Relax & Be friends and family!
Halloween, or Samhain, comes form the Celtic/Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or “darker half” of the year, halfway between the autumn equinox and winter solstice.
For many of us, it is a time to don our finest fancy dress and embrace the spookier side of life with sweet treats and pumpkins 🎃 But the history of Halloween / Samhain / All Hallows Eve is deeply rooted in nature and spirituality! At Samhain the division between this world and the otherworld is said to be at its thinnest, allowing spirits to pass through. Historically families ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves as harmful spirits and avoid harm. Big bonfires and feasts played a large part in the festivities, and household fires were extinguished and started again from a large communal bonfire. Food was prepared for the living and the dead, food for the ancestors who were in no position it eat it, was ritually shared with the less fortunate.
There is something so magical about connecting back to our roots and the traditions of these festivals and celebrations! We have come up with a few ways in which you can celebrate Halloween in a Samhain way!
Have a Feast!
Why not invite friends and family round for a harvest feast! Cook a selection of seasonal food and goodies, or suggest for everyone to bring a dish to share out with everyone!
Make a Halloween Shrine
You can create a shrine or memory table honouring lost loved ones. Gather photos of them with flowers, candles and other important things for you, and perhaps take a moment to remember them, offering up gratitude and love.
Celebrate with Fire
Gather round a bonfire or even just a fire pit for an evening of community! Perhaps gather your friends and make it into a little party or celebration, or a quiet evening for just yourself around a fire.
A Samhain / Halloween Ritual
You can combine all the above and create a magical evening of celebration and ritual! Write down feelings/thoughts/ideas that you want to let go of and release onto pieces of paper whilst thinking of an intention to move into this new season with (it can be anything!) Throw your pieces of paper into your fire, stating your intention. You can then maybe journal on things you wish to achieve in the coming year, that you can permeate on over the winter months. Combining this with a feast and maybe even a communal shrine is a wonderful way to celebrate and mark this important day!
How will you be celebrating this time? Let us know!
