Samhain
The true origin of Halloween
Samhain (pronounced SOW-in or SAH-win) is one of the most important and sacred festivals in pagan and witchcraft traditions, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Celebrated on the night of October 31 st, it is both a time of reflection and reverence for the dead and a celebration of the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. For pagans, witches, and practitioners of modern Wicca, Samhain represents the turning of the “Wheel of the Year,” when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is said to be at its thinnest.
Ancient Origins and Traditional Celebrations
Samhain has its roots in ancient Celtic culture, dating back over 2,000 years. It marked the end of the agricultural year—a time when crops were harvested, livestock were brought in from the fields, and preparations were made for the harsh winter months ahead. For the Celts, Samhain was not just a seasonal event but a deeply spiritual one. They believed that during this liminal time, the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead dissolved, allowing spirits and ancestors to cross over.
Communities would light large bonfires on hilltops to ward off evil spirits and honor the gods. Offerings of food and drink were left outside homes or near sacred sites to appease wandering spirits and ensure protection and good fortune for the coming year. People also wore animal skins and masks to disguise themselves from malevolent entities—a custom that would later evolve into the Halloween practice of dressing in costumes.
Samhain in Modern Pagan and Witchcraft Traditions
In modern paganism, particularly Wicca and contemporary witchcraft, Samhain remains a central sabbat—a sacred festival marking the end of the Wheel of the Year. It is viewed as a time of introspection, honoring ancestors, and celebrating the eternal cycle of life and death. Many pagans create altars adorned with photographs, heirlooms, or symbols of departed loved ones. Candles are lit to guide spirits home, and rituals are performed to express gratitude for the harvest and to seek wisdom from the spirit world.
Modern celebrations often blend ancient customs with personal spiritual practices. Witches might perform divination rituals, such as scrying or tarot reading, as Samhain is believed to be a particularly potent time for psychic work. Some hold “dumb suppers”—silent meals shared with the spirits of the dead—where places are set at the table for ancestors as a gesture of remembrance and love.
Herbs, Candles, and Offerings Associated with Samhain
Samhain carries rich symbolism expressed through its traditional herbs, colours, and offerings. Common herbs used in Samhain rituals include sage, for purification; rosemary, for remembrance; mugwort, for divination and dreams; and apple blossoms, associated with love and the afterlife. Pumpkins, apples, pomegranates, nuts, and grains are typical offerings, representing the final fruits of the harvest and the cycle of renewal.
The colours of Samhain—black, orange, red, and gold—reflect both death and the fire of life. Black candles are used to honor ancestors and the crone aspect of the goddess, while orange or gold candles symbolise the harvest’s warmth and the promise of rebirth. Offerings of food, wine, or cider are often placed outside under the moonlight as gifts to spirits or the fae.
From Samhain to All Hallows’ Eve and All Hallows’ Day
When Christianity spread through Celtic lands, the Church sought to replace pagan observances with Christian holy days. In the 8 th century, Pope Gregory III established All Saints’ Day (also known as All Hallows’ Day) on November 1 st, followed by All Souls’ Day on November 2 nd. The evening before, October 31 st, became known as All Hallows’ Eve—the night before the feast of all saints. Though rebranded under Christian tradition, many Samhain customs persisted, blending pagan and Christian elements into one continuum of remembrance for the dead.
Samhain’s Transformation into Halloween
As European immigrants, especially the Irish and Scots, brought their Samhain and All Hallows’ Eve customs to North America, these traditions evolved into what we now know as Halloween. Practices such as carving jack-o-lanterns (originally made from turnips in Ireland) and dressing in costumes to ward off spirits were adapted and secularised. Over time, the spiritual and agricultural aspects of Samhain gave way to a more community-based, festive holiday centered on costumes, trick-or-treating, and storytelling.
Despite its modern commercial transformation, Halloween still carries traces of its ancient origins. The themes of death, spirits, and the supernatural remain central, reflecting humanity’s enduring fascination with the mystery of life and the afterlife.
The origin of trick or treat
The tradition of “trick or treat” on Halloween has deep roots that stretch back centuries, blending ancient Celtic customs, medieval Christian practices, and modern American culture into one festive ritual.
The Medieval Influence: “Souling” and “Guising”
In the Middle Ages, as Christianity spread through Europe, the Celtic festival blended with All Saints’ Day (All Hallows’) and All Souls’ Day (November 1st and 2nd). During this time, the poor and children practiced “souling,” visiting homes and offering prayers for the dead in exchange for small cakes known as soul cakes. This practice evolved into “guising” in Scotland and Ireland, where children would dress up in costumes and perform songs, poems, or jokes in return for food or coins. Unlike souling, guising introduced the idea of performance—and sometimes playful mischief.
The American Transformation
When Irish and Scottish immigrants came to the United States in the 19th century, they brought these customs with them. By the early 20th century, Halloween had become a community-centered holiday. Children would dress in costumes and go door-to-door asking for treats, a practice that became known as “trick or treat” by the 1920s and 1930s. The phrase reflected a playful bargain: give a treat, or risk a harmless prank (“trick”). Some historians however believe that the concept of trick or treat was the other way around with children being treated or tricked.
Modern Trick-or-Treating
After World War II, with sugar no longer rationed and suburban neighborhoods growing, trick-or-treating became a widespread American tradition. By the 1950s, it was promoted through television, movies, and advertisements, cementing its place in popular culture. Today, the tradition has spread beyond North America to other countries, combining ancient superstition with modern fun.
In essence, “trick or treat” evolved from ancient rituals of honoring the dead and protecting the living into a joyful, community-based celebration that reflects centuries of cultural blending. What began as offerings for spirits and prayers for souls has become a night of costumes, candy, and laughter
Deities associated with Samhain
While specific beliefs varied among Celtic regions (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Gaul), several deities are closely associated with Samhain and its themes:
1. The Morrígan – Goddess of Fate, Death, and Prophecy
Perhaps the most prominent deity linked to Samhain, the Morrígan (or “Great Queen”) is a powerful triple goddess associated with war, death, and sovereignty.
• She is said to appear as a crow or raven on the battlefield, foretelling death and guiding souls to the Otherworld.
• During Samhain, when the veil between worlds was thin, the Morrígan’s prophetic and transformative powers were at their peak.
• She is also connected to renewal — death as a precursor to rebirth — reflecting Samhain’s theme of endings and new beginnings.
2. Donn –Lord of the Dead
Donn (“The Dark One”) is often considered the Celtic god of the dead.
• In Irish mythology, Donn dwells on Tech Duinn (“The House of Donn”), a mythical island where souls of the dead gather before moving on to the Otherworld.
• During Samhain, people believed the spirits of ancestors returned to visit, and Donn’s realm was thought to open more easily, allowing communication between the living and the dead.
3. Dagda – The Good God
The Dagda, one of the chief gods of the Tuatha Dé Danann, is associated with fertility, abundance, and the changing seasons.
• According to myth, the Dagda met with the Morrígan at Samhain to unite and ensure the land’s fertility for the coming year.
• He is also known for his magical cauldron that never runs empty — symbolising plenty at harvest’s end, just before the winter scarcity.
4. Arawn – Welsh God of the Otherworld
In Welsh mythology, Arawn is the ruler of Annwn, the Otherworld realm of the dead and the divine.
• While not Irish, Arawn shares many thematic ties to Samhain: he governs the land of spirits and presides over the hunt that crosses between worlds.
• The Wild Hunt, sometimes led by Arawn or similar figures, was believed to ride during Samhain nights.
5. Cailleach – The Divine Hag or Winter Goddess
The Cailleach (meaning “old woman” or “crone”) is a powerful goddess of winter, storms, and transformation.
• Samhain marked her rise to power as she brought the cold and darkness of winter.
• She embodies the life–death–rebirth cycle central to Celtic cosmology and seasonal change.
6. Manannán mac Lir – God of the Sea and the Otherworld
A guardian of the boundary between worlds, Manannán mac Lir ferries souls to the afterlife and protects travelers.
• During Samhain, he was honored as a guide through the mists separating the mortal world from the Otherworld
Samhain is far more than the precursor to Halloween—it is a profound spiritual observance rooted in honouring the dead, celebrating the harvest, and embracing the cycle of life and death. For pagans and witches today, it continues to serve as a sacred time to remember ancestors, connect with the spirit world, and prepare for the introspective months of winter. While modern Halloween may have shed much of Samhain’s deeper meaning, its origins remind us of the timeless human desire to find light, warmth, and continuity amid the darkness of the year’s turning
