Celebrating Samhain: Ideas & Ways to Celebrate
Halloween is my favorite time of the year. There is so much to love about the end of the beautiful month of October: Costumes, making spoopy treats for friends, decorating, buying new seasonal socks, parties and get-togethers, and, of course, celebrating Samhain.
For those who do not know much about the holiday, Samhain is a traditional Celtic celebration that was meant to honor past ancestors and the final harvest. Over centuries, Samhain would eventually evolve into what we now know as Halloween. The traditional Samhain celebration though is still celebrated by many modern pagans of all backgrounds. Just as how the traditional holiday evolved over the years, the way pagans celebrate Samhain has changed as well.
I enjoy holding a traditional-inspired ritual with friends every year, but I also enjoy experimenting with the way I honor the holiday. I respect the ancient, original roots of Samhain, but I also strive to fulfill my own personal needs when celebrating. These are not necessarily specific ideas, they are open-ended points to inspire new--or rediscover old--ways of celebrating Samhain.
1. Honor all kinds of endings
A very traditional way to honor the season is to remember passed loved ones and to honor the dying harvest. But just because this the usually trademark of the holiday, it doesn't mean that you can't be creative in interpretation. You can celebrate all varieties of loss and letting go. In my practice, I honor this by using associated directions. I use the North to honor lost loved ones, the East for letting go of old thoughts, the South to honor past actions, and the West for letting go of old feelings. You can celebrate all facets creatively.
2. Hold a ritual
Solitary. In a large group. A small gathering of intimate friends. No matter how many people you have in your sacred circle, rituals are a nice and intimate way to celebrate. Rituals are also a great way to express your own interpretations and values. You can make them as formal or informal you want, use any spirit-guides or deities you choose, and can choose to integrate them with your regular Halloween festivities.
3. Take time to learn about other customs and cultures while creating your own traditions
One of my favorite aspects of paganism is that it is a spiritual practiced centered around learning. Holidays are great excuses to educate yourself and expand your horizon. Though it is always fun to look forward to the things you do year after year, it can be great to learn about other customs and respectfully incorporate them into your own practice*. Learning can also inspire you to create an entirely new, personal tradition.
4. Celebrate a brand new start
Samhain has also been coined as the "pagan New Year". With this in mind, Samhain can also be a time to think about resolutions and improving your own life. This holiday doesn't just have to be about remembering and staying rooted in the past. You can use it to think about new goals and beginnings. You could even use this as a ritual topic or create spell around this idea. You could write letters to your future self, write a charm for influencing better habits, or simply meditate on your intentions.
*A note about incorporating learned traditions and customs: Make sure that you are practicing both mindfully and respectfully. Cultural appropriation is serious and can be harmful. Learn as much as you can about other cultures, but remember to be smart and empathetic about how you use what you learn.
