Samhain Traditions

Samhain is a very special time for Divination, as it is said to be the time when the veil between the two worlds is thinnest. It is also a time for celebration. In the yearly cycle of the God and Goddess, the God’s old life has reached it’s close and now continues as a new life in the belly of the Goddess, to return with the sun’s lengthening days at Yule. The Goddess, though pregnant, is also seen in the Crone phase of the Maiden, Mother, Crone trinity. She is the Wise Woman in this time of darkness. The Church made this a festival for the holy or hallowed dead, rather than all the dead, and hence the name All Hallow’s, or Hallowmas. Later it became All Saints and All Souls Day. In Pagan Tradition it is the Eve of the day on which the celebration takes place, hence, All Hallows Eve, or Hallowe’en.

Divining information, often about the future, have long been a tradition at Samhain. Old Fashioned versions of this involved eating apples before a mirror by candlelight in order that a future spouse may appear in the mirror before you, or throwing the long strip of a whole apple peel on the floor to discover their initial. In another version, girls placed hazel nuts along the front of the fire grate, each to represent a suitor.

The outcome of what happened to the nuts represented their feelings for her.Many Pagans today practice divination on this special night using methods such as tarot card readings, rune readings, scrying (eg in a crystal ball) and pendulum work.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, although in the past the European gourd was used rather than the more American pumpkin.

The custom of dressing in costume and 'trick-or-treating' is of Celtic origin however, there are some important differences from the modern day 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 alcohol. 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. 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, that's a tradition I'd like to see revived