Samhain
SAH-win or SOW-in or SAH-van
What was Samhian?
Samhain is a Gaelic festival hsitorically observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man (1). It is one of four seasonal festivals celebrated by the Gaelics, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh being the others. This particular holiday celebrated many things, but most importantly it celebrated the end of the Harvest season and beginning of the dark part of the year - this was a time when animals were slaughtered and foods prepared for winter storage. Late fall fruits and vegetables were also gathered at this time.
In traditional practices, special bonfires would be lit and the "cattle brought back down from the summer pastures" to be slaughtered (1); a reverse of the actions at Beltane. Bonfires were believed to hold "protective and cleansing powers".
Souls were also believed to return home during this time and this was one reason feasts would be held at home or food left out for passing souls. Places at the table were sometimes set for passed kin so they could partake in the feast with the living. Mumming or guising were also parts of this festival and where we get the present day "trick-or-treating". (1)
It is unclear if these guises were meant to confuse spirits or ward away the Aos Sí (ees shee), help them blend in with them, appease them, or perhaps to simply reinact the actions of the dead souls.
Also known as the Aes Sídhe (ays sheeth-uh) or Sith, the Aos Sí are comparible to fairies or elves. The name itself is Gaelic for "people of the mounds" (sídhe itself meaning "the mounds"). They could be both terrifying and beautiful and the ancients would often take care to avoid insulting or angering them. They lived in the Otherworld or Underworld (depending upon legends) and were believed to pass more easily between our realms at dusk and dawn and certain times of the year - such as Samhain. (2)
Whatever the case, people would take up their guises and go door-to-door reciting verses in exchange for food.
In the 18th Century, guisers began to add pranks to their traditions which spread to England by the 20th Century. Turnips or mangel wurzels, were "hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces" and acted as the traditional illumination for these pranksters. Whether they were meant to represent or ward off spirits is unclear, though it is perhaps both. These eventually evolved into the present day Jack-o'-lantern. (10) The pranksters and guisers, along with the Christian Soulers, began the foundation trick-or-treating.
There are many who believe that Samhain comes from the name of a Celtic death deity and that the day itself is a "day of the dead". Sadly there is no evidence of this and, while there are Celtic deities who symbolize death, Sahmain is unlikely to be directly connected to them. In fact, in Etymological Ditionary of the Gaelic Language, McBrain says that the Scottish Gaelic word 'Samhuinn' means "summer's end" - this would be a fitting name for such a seasonal festival. Similarly, writer W. J. Bethancourt III comments "Samhain is the name of the holiday. There is no evidence of any god or demon named 'Samhain', 'Samain', or 'Sam Hane', or however you want to vary the spelling." (6)
There is some belief that this existence of a "god of the dead" comes from those who once believed that the Druids came from India. In ancient Vedic/Hindu scriptures there exists a deity known as Samana, "the leveler", who is a God of the Dead. (5)
Some religions, particularly certain Christian sects, have used this worship and sacrifice to a deity of death as reason to ban the celebration of Halloween, thus perpetuating the myth along with Pagans who continue to celebrate this fictional deity. Those currently worshipping Samhain or looking for a deity to honor during the holiday may consider other Brythonic deities such as Ankou, Arawn, or Donn. Of course, the more traditional Roman and Greek gods could also be called upon at this time: Pluto/Hades, Orcus, or even Dis Pater if one recognizes his later association with the Underworld.
Ankou, as recorded by Antole Le Braz in The Legend of Death was a Breton god worshipped in Cornwall, Wales, and Normandy. About the Ankou Le Braz says thus:
"The Ankou is the henchman of Death (oberour ar maro) and he is also known as the grave yard watcher, they said that he protects the graveyard and the souls around it for some unknown reason and he collects the lost souls on his land. The last dead of the year, in each parish, becomes the Ankou of his parish for all of the following year.
When there has been, in a year, more deaths than usual, one says about the Ankou: – War ma fé, heman zo eun Anko drouk. ("On my faith, this one is a nasty Ankou.") "
Arawn is the Welsh King of Annwyn, the Underworld. He is appears in the First and Fourth branch of the Maginogi, particularly being associated with the legend of Pwyll when the two trade places - Arawn as the King of Dyfed and Pwyll as the King of Annwyn. The Hounds of Annwyn (Cŵn Annwn) "ride through the skies in autumn, winter, and early spring." The baying of the hounds fills the air as they quarry wandering spirits to be returned to Annwn.
Donn, or the Dark One, of Irish tales is also the Lord of the Dead and the father of the Irish race. He as a Son of Mil and was eventually drowned near the island Tech nDuinn (The House of Donn) which became is dwelling place and the place where the dead assembled before their journey to the Underworld.
What about the rest of Britian?
Other European areas had similar festivals. In Britain and Wales, Calan Gaeaf was celebrated as the first day of Winter on November 1st and the night before was known as Nos Galan Gaeaf - a time when spirits were abroad and people avoided churchyards, stiles and crossroads where spirits were thought to gather.
There are many customs surounding Calan Gaeaf, many of which may interest Pagans of the modern age. The night began with Coelcerth or Coel Coth, a great bonfire during which children and women would write their names upon stones and place them around the fire. As the fire began to die, they would return to their homes and then the men would come round with a mare's skull (either real or made from straw) dressed as a ghost and decorated with expensive jewellery and garments - this being was caleld 'Mari Llwyd' and was thought to ward off evil. The men visited the houses and the houses who tipped them were cleansed and protected from the Winter. By not tipping, you let the bad spirits remain in the home. The men sang, read poetry and even danced for their tips which could be in either money, bread, bear, etc. The next morning the village elder would check the stones left on the fire - if a stone was missing, then the person whose stone it was would die within the year. (3)
Yr Hwch Ddu Gwta, a tail-less black sow ridden by a headless woman was said to ride during this night and, when the bonfire died, she would come to devour the souls of any woman or child who remained nearby and outside. As the children ran inside they would cry 'Home, home, let each try to be first, and may the tail-less black sow take the hindmost.' (3)
Hwch Ddu a Ladi Wen heb ddim pen
Hwch Ddu Gwata a gipio'r ola'
Hwch Ddu Gwata nos G'langae
A tail-less black Sow and a White Lady without a head
May the tail-less black sow snatch the hind most
A tail-less black Sow on winters Eve
Apple bobbing (also know as duck-apple, apple ducking, dooking, or snap apple) was popular during this time and has become a tradition in modern day Halloween. Originally a Roman custom centered around the goddess of fruit trees, Pomona, the pentagram created when an apple was cut was believed to symbolize marriage. Apples were placed in a barrel or hung froma string and unmarried people would try to bite them. The first to bite an apple would be the first one to marry in the coming year and girls who slept with the apple they bobbed under their pillows were believed to dream of their future lover during the night. (4)
Similarly in Cornwall there is Allantide (aka Nos Kalan Gwav, while Kalan Gwav or Dy' Halan Gwav was celebrated on Nov 1st). While it may have originally held pagan origins (most likely springing from the same source as Calan Gaeaf), it is now linked to St. Allen/Arian who is a Cornish saint and the day is also known as Allan Night and Allan Day. (7) A large part of this holiday is in the giving of allan apples - large, glossy red apples which are polished to a high shine and given as tokens of good luck.
"The shops in Penzance would display Allan apples, which were highly polished large apples. One the day itself, these apples were given as gifts to each family member as a token of good luck. Older girls would place these apples under their pillows and hope to dream of the person they would one day marry. A local game is also recorded where two pieces of wood were nailed together in the shape of a cross. It was then suspended with 4 candles on each outcrop...Allan apples would then be suspended under the cross. The goal of the game was to catch the apples in our mouth, with hot wax being the penalty for slowness or inaccuracy." (Folklore and Legends of Cornwall by MA Courtney).
Divination rituals were popular here as well, most centering on fertility and marriage. Walnuts were thrown in fires, lead poured into cold water, and again the apples beneath the pillow. "Tindle" fires were also lit, which serve the same function as Coel Coth.
What is the difference between Samhain versus All Saint's Day?
There are three Roman Catholic holidays which are celebrated at this time: All Hallows' Even=, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day.
All Saints' Day (aka All Hallows, Day of the Saints, Solemnity of All Saints, Hallowmas or Feast of All Saints) is a feast day of the highest rank, celebrating the mystery of faith (called a solemnity). This particular day celebrates and honours all saints, both known and unkonwn. Some Protestants celebrate this holiday and Eastern Cahtolicism and Orthodoxy celebrate it on the first Sunday after the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). (8)
Beginning in the evening of October 31st, "the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven" while the next day "commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached Heaven". According to Wikipedia, Catholics who celebrate do so in the believe that there is a "prayerful spiritual bond between those in heaven and the living". Depending upon their Church's beliefs, Christians celebrate and honour either the souls of martyrs, all saints, certain saints, or all devout souls in general.
Those with further interest into the history and practices of the Hallowtide should seek out the below links at the bottom of this page (specifically #8), however a quick overview is that the first traces come from the Byzantine Emporer, Leo VI "The Wise" who is said to have created the first All Saint's day on the first Sunday after Pentecost (All Saints' Sunday) in order to celebrate his wife's devout life (Empress Theophano). At this time all saint's had their own feast days, however, eventually the number of martyrs to be celebrated became too great for each to have their own day (8) and so they were commemorated to a single day.
It was Pope Gregory III who moved the date from May 13th to November 1st. The Irish, however, celebrated All Saints on April 20th. The original date, May 13th, is believed by some to have correlated or grown from the ancient pagan Feast of the Lemures (aka Lemuria), in which malevolent and restless spirits of the dead were appeased.
The falling of Halloween on the same day as Samhain stems from All Saints' Day being a three day observance (called Allhallowtide or Hallowtide) - It begins with All Hallows' Eve (aka Hallowmas, All Saints' Eve, Hallowe'en), followed by All Saints' Day and then All Souls' Day. Traditional observances include lighting candles on the graves of the dead, attending services, and in some demoninations abstaining from meat. (9)
Since it was moved to October/November the two holidays have merged to create what we now know of as Halloween, though most celebrate this as a commericial holiday with hints of traditional pasts in both Christian and Pagan religions.
Other Traditions and Practices for the Holiday
Leave a candle or light in the window to help souls on their journey back to the Underworld.
Bury apples in the ground to feed souls as they pass by, sustaining them for their journey.
Soul Cake - a Christian practice where cakes were given to Soulers (children and the poor, similar to guisers) who go from door to door and sing and say prayers for the dead. In some parts of England they are known as Harcakes. Another recipe is here.
The 1891 song[11] contains a chorus and three verses:
[Chorus] A soul! a soul! a soul-cake! Please good Missis, a soul-cake! An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry, Any good thing to make us all merry. One for Peter, two for Paul Three for Him who made us all. [Verse 1] God bless the master of this house, The misteress also, And all the little children That round your table grow. Likewise young men and maidens, Your cattle and your store ; And all that dwells within your gates, We wish you ten times more. [Verse 2] Down into the cellar, And see what you can find, If the barrels are not empty, We hope you will prove kind. We hope you will prove kind, With your apples and strong beer, And we'll come no more a-souling Till this time next year. [Verse 3] The lanes are very dirty, My shoes are very thin, I've got a little pocket To put a penny in. If you haven't got a penny, A ha'penny will do ; If you haven't get a ha'penny, It's God bless you
Samhain Dumb Supper: "Many Irish and Scottish Celts appeased their dead with a traditional Dumb Supper. On Samhain Eve, supper was served in absolute silence, and one place was set at the head of the table "for the ancestors". This place was served food and drink without looking directly at the seat, for to see the dead would bring misfortune. Afterwards, the untouched plate and cup were taken outside "for the pookas", and left in the woods." (Druidry.org)
Touch or smell ground ivy can allow you to see hags and witched while you sleep.
To see the future, boys would cut 10 leaves of ivy, throw one away and put the rest under their pillow. Girls would grow a raise, train it around a large hoop, then slip through the hoop three times before cutting the rose and placing it under their pillow for the night.
Caseg Fedi, "The Harvest Mare": "When all the corn had been reaped except for the very last sheaf, it would be divided into three and plaited. The reapers would then take it in turns to throw their reaping hooks at it from a set distance and the one who succeeded in cutting it down would recite a verse:
Bore y codais hi,
Hwyr y dilyn hi,
Mi ces hi, mi ces hi!
(Early in the morning I got on her track,
late in the evening I followed her,
I have had her, I have had her!)
The other reapers would then respond with:
Beth gest ti? (What did you have?)
and the reply was: Gwrach! gwrach, gwrach! (A hag, a hag, a hag!)
It was seen as an honour in Wales to be the one to bring down the caseg fedi, and the man who did so was often rewarded. However, his task did not end with the cutting down of the sheaf; he was also expected to carry it into the house without getting it wet, past a team of women who would do all they could to throw water upon it. Often the reaper would hide the ‘mare’ under his clothes in order to get into the house past the women, and this could involve the men being disrobed as they tried to enter. If the man was successful, he would receive all the beer he could drink, or a shilling. If he did not succeed he did not receive his reward and was relegated to the foot of the table rather than the head of it. (Meadmuse's Blog: Caseg Fedi or Harvest Mare - Welsh Corn Dolly)
In Wales, when apple bobbing the size of the apple denotes how much luck you'd get in the forthcoming year and if you throw the peel over your shoulder, whichever letter it most resembles would be the initial of the one you'd marry. (Celebrating Welsh Traditions from Northwest Wales BBC)
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1) Wikipedia, Samhain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain
2) Wikipedia, Aos Sí
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aos_S%C3%AD
3) Wikipedia, Calan Gaeaf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calan_Gaeaf
4) Wikipedia, Apple Bobbing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_bobbing
5) Religious Tolerance.Org
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallo_sa.htm
6) Halloween: Myths, Monsters, and Devils by W. J. Bethancourt III http://www.featherlessbiped.com/halloween/hallows.htm
7) Wikipedia, Allantide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allantide
8) Wikipedia, All Saints' Day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints'_Day
9) Wikipedia, Halloween
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
10) The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain by Ronald Hutton
11) Druidic Dawn.org
http://www.druidicdawn.org/node/311