Samhain has always been one of my favourite High Holidays. Hallow'een, not so much...
Samhain (usually pronounced Sow-wen) is a traditional pagan recognition and honouring of our ancestors: their wisdom and knowledge, as well as their genetic contribution. One of the Eight Solar holidays, it is one of the great Feasts and Sabbats. It is the dying of the Old Year and the beginning of the New, where the Veil between the worlds grows thin, and for three nights, those from the Other World can more easily join us. During that sacred time, not only shamans but ordinary folks can communicate with the dead. The Silent Supper (1) is a ritual some use to show our guests, giests, ghosts (2) our hospitality. The fairies, goblins, and other spirits from the Other World arrive at our door on the Day of the Dead, and we hand them treats to pacify them and beg for good luck in the New Year, or at least bribe them so they leave us alone.. Though only children now play the roles of the spirits, sprites, the traditional adult version of Hogmany, hagmane, or Hag's Moon, still takes place during the modern New Year, where mummers dress up in costumes and harass passers-by for drinks to curry the favour of the spirits. (3)
Halloween, on the other hand, is the Christian corruption and secularization of these nearly timeless rituals. First, they were banned outright, of course, condemned as Satanic. Unfortunately, they were way too much fun, and had so much antiquity, that the country folk continued on almost unabated. Next was the reduction to mere festival. As most of the sacred aspects were removed, the Church threw their blessing behind it, even turning the third day into All Saints Day, and the most sacred Eve was transmogrified into quaint country custom. With this maneuver, the sacred Death or ghosts or monsters could be now anything, like professions, though that took centuries to really stick. And it was only last century that saw the degeneration to "slutty cat" costumes.
Naturally, however, witches have always been associated with this season in particular. Specifically targeted by the Christian power elite for many reasons, they are also known for their correspondence with the Other World. Many were known as shamans, but they also performed the vital function of preparation and pacification of the dead, a task the Christian professionals later took over. Witches were a vital and venerated part of the ceremonies, so with the denigration of Samhain as a Day of the Dead and start of the New Year to a costume party, the demonization of witches was inevitable. The myth of Satanic worship doesn't hold quite as much water these days, of course, so the caricatures and stereotyping of witches has descended to the level of cartoons, but there is still that element of horror and fear associated with us, and the images are still used to frighten children and disgust adults.
I once saw a poster around the time of Samhain entitled "Questions to Ask a Witch' in an elementary school I was visiting for a spinning function. I thought "Great! Very enlightened and multi-cultural of them.' Until I saw the questions, like "Why are you evil?" I'm surprised they didn't have the baby eating bit, too.
I called the school and was told by the principal that it was a project by only one teacher and her class. I gave the usual arguments; that some of the children there might be witches or come to it later and think it's something to hide - the standard issues for many minority groups. The poster was down the next day. The principal called me back to follow it up and told me that my complaint had made the teacher cry. Not my fault, of course, but it did point out that she knew that she had just not thought that through... Hallow'een is chock full of such negative images. It takes great patience to decide which ones are worth the effort to fight, and which ones to simply avoid...
My only necessary ritual for Samhain is getting dressed up in my full witch gear and give out candies to the goblins and fairies to sweeten the New Year. It's also the only time I can wear my outfits without getting, say, stoned, in my little Bible Belt area.
I sometimes get out some pictures of my ancestors, put them on the kitchen table, and treat them like giests. That is, both ghosts and guests. I set places for them, or offer them refreshment, and have a chat with them. Tell them how my life is going, ask for advice, burn a few candles, like you would for a ritual or a nice dinner, maybe spill some alcohol to drink on the ground outside. Pumpkin or turnip carving was originally sacrifice and ritual. I place potatoes and other harvest foods outside and on the table and other display areas. I also have a sickle, scythe, and other harvest objects that are integral parts of any displays. I also cook, play music, as I am also a professional Celtic musician, and do an ancient craft, like needlework or rugmaking. If you can't get everything done on Hallow's Eve, you still have two more days to celebrate! Like all pagan Holy Days, Samhain is a three day event, which start on the Eve and ends on Nov. 2. So I leave my altar and decor up the entire time.
If you don't have your own permanent Talking or Spirit Board, but would like to try communicating with your ancestors or house giests on this Night of Nights, when the Veil is thinnest, this traditional Wine glass divination should suffice.
Spirit Board Ritual - from Campanelli "The Wheel of the Year"
"An inverted wineglass...surrounded by a circle of letters. An alphabet in Gothic style drawn on squares of white paper help to create an appropriate atmosphere...
The wineglass... has several built-in safety devices. It cannot easily be operated alone, so spiritual possession is less likely, and since two or more people are operating it, self delusion is not so easy. (Ed. I personally disagree with that.)"
They also suggest five candles, one an indigo blue, anointed with oil, with a rune for travel between the spiritual planes.
"After a moment of meditation each person present places a fingertip on the upturned base of the wineglass and the traditional "Is anyone here that wishes to give us a message?" is asked. Then as the glass slides from one letter to the next, rapidly spelling out messages, read the words. You may find it easier to use a taper recorder because it can get confusing."
Dress up and decorate as you wish, even if you don't recognize Samhain as a sacred day, but please keep some sensitivity in mind. Hallow'een doesn't give anyone a free pass to racism, sexism, or depictions of other people's sacred objects in a secular manner. If it's a costume party for you, then have fun! I'll be in my medieval garb lighting incense, playing madrigals, and of course, handing out candy to the spirits disguised as children who come to my door...
Endnotes:
Dress up and decorate as you wish, even if you don't recognize Samhain as a sacred day, but please keep some sensitivity in mind. Hallow'een doesn't give anyone a free pass to racism, sexism, or depictions of other people's sacred objects in a secular manner. If it's a costume party for you, then have fun! I'll be in my medieval garb lighting incense, playing madrigals, and of course, handing out candy to the spirits disguised as children who come to my door...
Endnotes:
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