Folklore for Krampus dates back thousands of years, predating Christianity and falling sometime within ancient pagan mythology. Anthropologist John J. Honigmann believes that Krampus dates back to the Horned God of the Witches who was eventually bastardized in the horned devil of christianity. Krampus was defiled into horned devils by the time they first began to be portrayed as such in the 11th century stage productions.
The Horned God
Traditional hand carved wooden mask of a Krampus costume
The bastardized version of Krampus in which he is portrayed as the devil
Originally, Krampus and St. Nichola were seen to be working together; St. Nicholas rewarding the well-behaved children and Krampus punishing the naughty ones. But, as pagan traditions, places of worship and rituals were adopted and changed by Christiany, so too was the story of Krampus.
The long-lost tradition has been remembered in many areas across the world, including Europe, the United States and Austria. In some places, men dress as Krampus, drink heavily and run the streets scaring children, beating the delinquent ones with sticks. The Krampus costume is traditionally made of hand-carved wooden masks and suits or sheep or goat leather with cowbells attached to the hips. In the United States and Austria, parades are held in honor of Krampus to depict the upcoming holiday season.
Hecate (sometimes spelled Hekate) was a pre-Olympian Greek goddess—she may have had Thracian origins—and ruled over the realms of earth and fertility rituals. As a goddess of childbirth, she was often invoked for rites of puberty, and in some cases watched over maidens who were beginning to menstruate. Eventually, Hecate evolved to become a goddess of magic and sorcery. She was venerated as a mother goddess, and during the Ptolemaic period in Alexandria was elevated to her position as goddess of ghosts and the spirit world.
Hecate in Classical Mythology
Much like the Celtic hearth goddess Brighid, Hecate is a guardian of crossroads, and often symbolized by a spinning wheel. She is associated with Diana Lucifera, who is the Roman Diana in her aspect as light-bearer. Hecate is often portrayed wearing the keys to the spirit world at her belt, accompanied by a three-headed hound, and surrounded by lit torches.
The epic poet Hesiod tells us Hecate was the only child of Asteria, a star goddess who was the aunt of Apollo and Artemis. The event of Hecate’s birth was tied to the reappearance of Phoebe, a lunar goddess, who appeared during the darkest phase of the moon.
She is sometimes seen as a protector of those who might be vulnerable, such as warriors and hunters, herdsmen and shepherds, and children. However, she’s not protective in a nurturing or motherly way; instead, she is a goddess who will exact vengeance upon those who cause harm to people she protects. Sacrifices were made in Hecate’s honor, during the classical Greek period, and ranged from cakes and eggs to dog meat. Hecate might be invoked by her followers for baneful magic; her name appears on several surviving curse tablets. She could also be called upon for divine retribution against anyone who deserved punishment for his or her misdeeds.
Hesiod describes Hecate in her role as one of the Titans who allied herself with Zeus, and says in Theogony,
“Hekate whom Zeus the son of Kronos honored above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the earth and the unfruitful sea. She received honor also in starry heaven, and is honored exceedingly by the deathless gods . . . For as many as were born of Gaia and Ouranos amongst all these she has her due portion. The son of Kronos [Zeus] did her no wrong nor took anything away of all that was her portion among the former Titan gods: but she holds, as the division was at the first from the beginning, privilege both in earth, and in heaven, and in sea. Also, because she is an only child, the goddess receives not less honor, but much more still, for Zeus honors her.”
Honoring Hecate Today
Today, many contemporary Pagans and Wiccans honor Hecate in her guise as a Dark Goddess, although it would be incorrect to refer to her as an aspect of the Crone, because of her connection to childbirth and maidenhood. It’s more likely that her role as “dark goddess” comes from her connection to the spirit world, ghosts, the dark moon, and magic. She is known as a goddess who is not to be invoked lightly, or by those who are calling upon her frivolously. She is honored on November 30, the night of Hecate Trivia, the night of the crossroads.
Symbolism: Judgment, Transformation, Death & Regeneration, Fate, The Inevitable
Sacred numbers:
Five: each elderflower has 5 petals, 5 yellow stamens, and 5 sepals which form a tiny green star.
Thirteen: Elder is associated with all superstition surrounding the number 13.
Stone: Olivine, Jet (Black Amber)
Flower: Dandelion
Birds: Pheasant, Raven, Rook
Color: Black, Dark Green, Blood Red
Deity: Hel, Hela, Holda, Venus, Hilde, The White Lady
Folk Names: Alhuren, Battree, Boure Tree, Eldrum, Elhorn, Hylder, Lady Ellhorn, Old Gal, Old, Lady, Pipe Tree, Rob Elder, Sweet Elder, Tree of Doom
Medicinal properties:
Traditionally all parts of Elder are useful medicinally. The berries and the leaves are both rich in vitamin C. The leaves can be made into ear drops to treat pain and inflammation. The flowers make a tea that is good for treating coughs and irritable throats, as well as being made into a skin cleanser and lotion. The bark of the new small twigs can be made into a laxative. The bark, roots, berries and leaves can all be used as a dye. And the berries are good for making jam, wine, vinegar, and syrups.
Magickal properties:
Exorcism, Prosperity, Banishment and Healing
The leaves and berries are used for protection and in breaking spells that were cast against you or to undo spells of evil intent. Growing an elder in your garden will protect your property from misfortune and harm. In Europe they planted elder in cemeteries to keep away the evil spirits.
The elder tree ruling time is within the cycle of the thirteenth moon. This is also the end of the old year at the time of Samhain. This is where the elder derives its symbolism of endings and/or death.
In this same vein, the druids and ancient Celts recognized the elder had natural banishing abilities.
The essence of its leaves, and the odor of its pretty white flowers were proven to ward off pesky insects. This origin might have been expanded upon in Celtic lore where we learn branches were hung over doors to ward off evil spirits.
Right on the heels of its associations of banishment and death come the elder’s attributes of rebirth and renewal. The elder earns this symbolism honestly as it has long been recognized as a prized medicinal tree. Everything from bark to berries has been used to treat all manner of ailments. The ancient Celtic people recognized its healing abilities, and honored the elder for the gifts of good health.
Deity: Coventina, Morrigan, Rhiannon, Manannan Mac Lir, Poseidon, Pwyll
Folk Names: Sweet flag, myrtle grass, norfolk reed
Reed has served as a floor covering, roofing, and room deodorizer. The powdered root was used as an insecticide against fleas. Soaked in fat the stalks made a cheap alternative to candles. Other uses include arrow shafts and writing pens. Reed flutes were a subject of legend; it is rumored that the Pied Piper’s magical flute was made of reed, and Pan’s flute may also have been made from reed. Today reed is used in wood-wind instruments. Medicinally the plant was used to treat eye problems.
Dreaming of Reed means not all your friends are true. Handling them in dreams mean that you may be deceived in business.
Use reed with your favorite spell for balance and harmony. Reed is used to make flutes, and a small piece from the reed can be used symbolically to invite sweet harmony into your life. Sing your incantation to it and then place it where you will see it often.
The Reed, called Ngetal by the Celts (“nyettle“), is identified with the submerged or hidden dryad, and can be thought of as the hidden roots of all life. Reed represents the turning within that we must undergo to nurture our spirits. The Reed is associated with the mysteries of death, and it is no accident that its month is when we observe Samhain. For now is the time when the boundaries part between the beloved dead and the living of this world.
Therefore, the Reed Month is most favorable for communication with ancestral spirits and the strengthening of all family ties. Its magickal associations are with fertility, love, protection, and family concerns. Like this astrological time of Scorpio, it is ruled by Pluto.
Samhain is the final harvest, and The Reed reminds us that Winter is approaching. It is a month of turning our energies toward hearth and home. The Reed symbolizes family, fidelity and trust.
Traditionally, reeds are burned to honor the household spirits and a family’s patron deity. In fact, in ancient Scotland, a broken reed was an omen of familial betrayal. You might wish to place reeds throughout your home, especially in the kitchen, to bring blessings of unity to your family.
The time of The Reed is a time of Fate and Destiny. It is associated with the hero of the Mabinogion, Pwyll (“pooeel“), who trades places with the Lord of the Underworld, Arawen (corresponding to Pluto). So this is the time of deep prophecy, communication with spirits, and the ability to face our shadow.
The Reed month is an especially good time to honor The Morrigan, Hecate, Rhiannon, and The Cailleach. The Celtic month of The Reed ends November 24.
The full moon for the month of November is the “Mourning Moon.”
The days are obviously shorter and the sunlight is so weak that it seems that the bright sunlight will never return… but it will.
At this point, the Sun God is about to be reborn and make His way back to us.
This full moon is also known as:
The Fog Moon
The Snow Moon
The Moon When Deer Shed Antlers
THE HISTORY
The mourning Moon is a time of cleansing.
Our ancestors used this time to rid themselves of baggage and negativity and bad habits that will only weaken them especially during winter time when the weather elements can test them.
This was a reminder to our ancestors that death is a reality but just a part of the cycle of life, death and rebirth.
Some of our ancestors also celebrated the new year during this time.
So they celebrate in their own way by offering a ritual to the deities and giving thanks for what they have, help in letting go of what no longer works, and help in bettering themselves.
MOURNING MOON MAGICK
For Pagans, specifically the Celts, November was the start of the new year, which is why magick for this time is to celebrate new beginnings and starting over.
Magick is focused on getting rid of mental and spiritual and emotional baggage and letting go of things that don’t do you any good.
Doing so allows you to focus on the possibilities that the future brings. Performing a sweeping and wearing a Brooms of Elder necklace allows new things to enter your life.
Get rid of bad habits and toxic relationships and get a fresh start for the new year.
Think of the fears and the worries that are holding you back and the bad habits that are negatively affecting your mental and physical and emotional health.
You spirit is also suffering from all the ways you are harming yourself.
Think of all these things, write them on a piece of paper, and perform a ritual to let go of them. Bid bye-bye to things that do you no good and just prevent you from growing.
While you should think of those you wish to let go, also think of things that you want for yourself.
You are going to need new things to replace those you are letting go.
Write down on a piece of paper what new things you want for yourself this new year — not just material things but more in the form of habits, traits, characteristics.
Perform a ritual and hold on to this list by placing it on your night table or wherever you will see it on a daily basis.
Each morning when you wake up, and every night before you go to bed, read your list.
You can do this!
Here are correspondences for this month:
Colors: Gray, blues
Gemstones: Lapis lazuli, turquoise, topaz
Trees: Cypress, alder, hazel
Gods: Bastet, Isis, Kali, Hecate, Astarte
Herbs: Thistle, betony, verbena, fennel
Element: Water
PURIFYING YOUR SPACE WITH THE BROOM
Traditionally called a “besom” and often handmade from the branch of a tree, the broom is not considered to be a core ritual tool in Wicca, but it is often used to purify the ritual space before casting the sacred circle. This doesn’t usually involve actual sweeping, however—the bristles of the besom generally don’t even touch the floor. This is more of a ritual, energetic purifying of the space, removing negative energy or just plain energetic “clutter.” This step happens after a good mundane sweeping with a regular broom (or vacuum) has already taken place. Because ritual brooms serve as purifiers, they are associated with the element of Water, and are therefore sacred to the Goddess.
The broom can also be used to help close the circle at the end of ritual. In fact, it can be highly effective at dissipating residual energies raised during the ritual. During the ritual itself, the broom will usually sit to the side of the Wiccan altar. Otherwise, it’s common to place it near the entrance to your home, to guard against negative or unwanted energy.
FINDING YOUR OWN BESOM
Ritual brooms can be any size, from miniature “decorative” brooms that you sometimes see in craft stores or hanging on the wall in kitchens, to full-sized functional brooms. Traditional woods used for sacred brooms include birch, ash, and willow, but any wood will suffice. You can even find instructions for how to make your own besom using the type of wood available in your area. In fact, some Witches keep it very simple by just using a fallen tree branch as a symbolic broom.
Of course, your broom doesn’t have to be handmade—common household brooms can also be dedicated to the work of Witchcraft, though it should ideally have a wooden handle rather than metal or plastic. No matter what your broom is made of, however, it should never be used for everyday house cleaning, as this would contaminate the sacred energy it holds for ritual and magical purposes. Indeed, this is one tool that should not be “repurposed” for magic, so plan to acquire a new broom of one kind or another, rather than attempting to consecrate an already-used broom from your hall closet!
You can also find a wonderful explanatory article on how to cleanse negative energy from your home and self HERE.
Originating in central and southern Mexico, Dia de Los Muertos is a time in Mexican culture to spend time with family who has passed. It is believed that children descend from Heaven on midnight of October 31st, while adults who have passed join the living on November the second. Altars are created for loved ones to help them find their way home. These Altars are decorated with bright colors, food, photographs and mementos of the deceased. Also found on the altar is Pan de muerto, or, Bread of the Dead, which is made specifically for this celebration.
Families travels to the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and celebrate with picnics and music. Sometimes, families even spend the night.
These traditions date back to the time of the Aztecs; roughly 3,000 years. Despite the Spanish invasion and the belief that this practice was sacreligious, the holiday endured, adopting aspects of christianity such as the days it is celebrated on to coincide with All Saints/Souls Day rather than be celebrated in the summer when it was originally observed. Ironically, the new observance dates were held at the same time that European pagans would hold festivals and bonfires on behalf of their deceased ancestors.
Costumes and parades are common in Dia de Los Muertos celebrations. Skulls and skeletons are the most well known symbols of the holiday. Monarch butterflies also hold an integral role in Dia de Los Muertos because they are believed to hold the spirits of the dead. This is based on the fact that the first monarchs arrive in Mexico on November first for their yearly migration.
Here are some of the common foods consumed for the holiday.
Atole
A hot cup of this thick and hearty maize-based drink is just the thing to warm you up inside and out on a cold November evening, regardless of whether you’re cozily ensconced at home or spending part (or all) of the night at the cemetery overlooking the tombs of your loved ones.
Though consumed all year round, this comforting beverage is especially appreciated at the Day of the Dead and during the December holidays. Atole is a Mexican drink with indigenous roots, made out of milk, piloncillo, cornflour, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Cook the ingredients for 25 minutes, stirring constantly, and enjoy hot.
Ingredients
3 cups water (or whole milk)
1 small cone piloncillo (or 5 tablespoons brown sugar)
2 teaspoons Mexican vanilla (good-quality, or 1 vanilla bean)
Pinch of salt
Instructions
Heat water or milk in a medium-sized saucepan and add the piloncillo or sugar; cook and stir until sweetener is dissolved. If using piloncillo, keep the heat on low to medium because this cane sugar-based sweetener tends to burn fast, giving your atole a burnt taste. If using milk, use low heat to avoid a quick boil and spillage.
Create the masa harina slurry by blending the masa harina with the 1/4 cup warm water. Stir vigorously to avoid clumps of cornflour.
Add the masa harina slurry, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt to the pot. Stir for 1 minute.
Bring to a simmer and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 20 to 25 minutes until thickened to the preferred consistency. Atole should be thick, creamy, and velvety, without lumps.
Remove cinnamon stick and vanilla bean, if using.
Pour into rustic clay mugs if you have them, or use thick ceramic glasses. Enjoy hot!
Sugar Skulls
You will find these distinctively decorative and edible objects on almost every family’s ofrenda (offering) for the dead. The skulls are made of white sugar mixed with egg whites and pressed into molds. They are allowed to dry, becoming hard, and then adorned with brightly colored icing as well as occasional non-edible items such as colored foil or sequins.
Colorful mountains of large and small sugar skulls are sold by market vendors in Mexico during the weeks leading up to Muertos. You need to plan ahead, as the candy needs to dry overnight.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg white from an extra large egg, or 2 from small eggs
1 teaspoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cornstarch, about a half cup, for powdering surface
Colored sprinkles
Food coloring
Fine paint brush
Colored icing
Optional: Candy sticks
Instructions
Sift sugar into a large mixing bowl.
In another bowl, mix the egg whites, corn syrup and vanilla.
Slowly pour the liquid into the powdered sugar. Mix with your hands until sandy dough forms.
Form dough into a ball. At this point, you can continue or you can refrigerate dough for later use.
Lightly dust surface with cornstarch as well as your hands. Pinch off a heaping tablespoon of dough and shape it into a skull.
Press the candy sticks into the bottom of each skull.
If you’re using them, lightly press colored sprinkles into the soft candy.
Let the candy dry overnight.
When candy is dry, use the paintbrush with food coloring to decorate the skulls. Or you can use frosting (one that will dry hard) with a fine tip to decorate them.
Hand them out as is, or wrap in a small cellophane bag tied closed with a small ribbon.
Tips
The skulls may not dry completely on a humid or rainy day.
If you use the molds, you should follow each manufacturer’s instructions as some molds only work with certain recipes.
The “dough” should be the consistency of damp sand. Just moist enough to hold together. If “dough” is too dry and crumbly, add 1 teaspoon of water at a time to moisten.
If “dough” is too moist, add sugar one tablespoon at a time until “dough” is the right consistency.
If the candy has trouble drying completely, place in a 125 F oven until dry.
Pan De Muerto
Ingredients
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup (half a stick) margarine or butter, cut into 8 pieces
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup very warm water
2 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour, unsifted
1/2 teaspoon anise seed
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons sugar
Instructions
Bring milk to boil and remove from heat. Stir in margarine or butter, 1/4 cup sugar and salt.
In large bowl, mix yeast with warm water until dissolved and let stand 5 minutes. Add the milk mixture.
Separate the yolk and white of one egg. Add the yolk to the yeast mixture, but save the white for later. Now add flour to the yeast and egg. Blend well until dough ball is formed.
Flour a pastry board or work surface very well and place the dough in center. Knead until smooth. Return to large bowl and cover with dish towel. Let rise in warm place for 90 minutes. Meanwhile, grease a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Knead dough again on floured surface. Now divide the dough into fourths and set one fourth aside. Roll the remaining 3 pieces into “ropes.”
On greased baking sheet, pinch 3 rope ends together and braid. Finish by pinching ends together on opposite side. Divide the remaining dough in half and form 2 “bones.” Cross and lay them atop braided loaf.
Cover bread with dish towel and let rise for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix anise seed, cinnamon and 2 teaspoons sugar together. In another bowl, beat egg white lightly.
When 30 minutes are up, brush top of bread with egg white and sprinkle with sugar mixture, except on cross bones. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Enjoy some of the beautiful photographs documenting modern celebration here and here. And here are some photos of the celebrations that take place in Los Angeles.
Post-Mortem Photography was popular in the 19th and 20th centuries. They were taken to treasure a loved one who had passed. Death was much more common in the 19th century and often happened in the home rather than at a hospital or care facility. At the time when photography was still relatively rare, it was believed that having a photograph of your loved one deceased, was better than none at all. The photographs were precious to families and were often made into lockets to be carried by the grieving families.
Child mortality was exponentially higher around this time period and were, tragically, the most common subject for Momento Mori. When a child was photographed, the practice was specifically called “Little Angels”. The children were featured in very tender poses; sleeping in cribs with toys or flowers, or being held lovingly by their mother for example.
Posing the dead wasn’t as easy a task as it seems. As rigor mortis set in, belts, pulleys, and levers were often employed to ensure the deceased was properly posed. While some families preferred their loved ones to look asleep, a much easier job for the photographer, some preferred the “alive” feel. So the photographer would gently arranged the deceased, using clothing, blankets, and furniture to hide the supports. Glass eyes were used should the family wish their loved one looked alive.
With the advances in medicine, steadily declining mortality rate, and increase in photography ease and availability, post-mortem photography has fallen out of practice. However, it is safe to safe that photos have remained the most popular way to remember a lost loved one.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Seances became a popular fad across Europe and the U.S. Groups would regularly hire a medium to host seances at homes in the fashionable interest of morbid curiosity of the unknown. Even Mary Todd Lincoln would hold seances in the White House to remain in contact with her deceased son.
In the 1870s, an apparition named Katie King became a regular appearance at Seances. She was believed to be the daughter of a higher spirit controller named John King. John King often claimed to be the spirit of infamous pirate Henry Morgan. However, the controversy surrounding Katie King continues, whether she was an apparition visiting the brave seance goers or a sham by fraud mediums exploiting the gullible. Fraud mediums would strategically place bells and inconspicuous systems to levitate furniture in order to pass themselves off as a medium that could relay messages from the dead.
Some would go as far as to expel a mysterious substance from their bodies that eventually became known as ectoplasm. They would often ingest ot before the seance to expel it during to really sell it. The ectoplasm was usually made of gauze, muslin, chiffon, or sheep’s lung.
(Marthe Beraud ectoplasm during seance)
Marthe Beraud was the first medium to use ectoplasm. Known as daring and perverse, she became one of the most notable mediums in the early 1900’s. She was well known for stripping nude during seances and even performing sexual acts with seance goers. She had an assistant that would physical prove that no ectoplasm was inserted into Beraud’s vagina before the seance. Although many considered her performances fraudulent and pornographic and came forward with proof of Beraud’s deception, she maintained a large following who believed she and her assistant were truly making contact with the dead. Sir Arthur Canon Doyle, renowned author of SHerlock Holmes, was one of her most outspoken supporters. He hosted a seance with Beraud present and afterwards claimed that there had been no deception and that her performances were genuine.
Sir Arthur Canon Doyle was a large believer in the supernatural and often held seances with his wife in their home. He declared he was a spiritualist and traveled the world, writing books on the subject and giving lectures. At one point, he had a disagreement with Harry Houdini who completely dismissed the idea of communing with the dead stating that the parlor tricks involved could be done by a competent magician. He would even demonstrate the illusions himself with his wife, Bess, assisting.
After his death in 1926, his wife began holding seances in her tea house in New York. Despite Houdini’s cynicism, the couple had agreed that the living spouse would make an attempt to contact the spouse that had passed away first. They had a predetermined code that their spirit would pass to the medium to ensure authenticity. That code was “Rosabelle- answer- tell-pray, answer- look- tell- answer, answer- tell,” based off of the inscription on Bess’ wedding band; “Rosabell”. Bess made attempts to contact her dead husband for 10 years before finally resigning herself. The final Houdini seance was conducted on Halloween of 1936.
Another common ruse was spirits and phantoms appearing in photographs taken during or after the seance was held. While some frauds put effort into the illusion using double exposures for ghostly forms, some were horribly obviously staged and only succeeded as the con artist preyed on the sadness and vulnerability of their clients.
Here is a link to a video with more information as well as more vintage photography of the supposed seances.
Samhain is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. In modern times, Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow-win”) is usually celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.” Celebrants believe that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world break down during Samhain, allowing more interaction between humans and denizens of the Otherworld.
ANCIENT SAMHAIN
Ancient Celts marked Samhain as the most significant of the four quarterly fire festivals, taking place at the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. During this time of year, hearth fires in family homes were left to burn out while the harvest was gathered.
After the harvest work was complete, celebrants joined with Druid priests to light a community fire using a wheel that would cause friction and spark flames. The wheel was considered a representation of the sun and used along with prayers. Cattle were sacrificed, and participants took a flame from the communal bonfire back to their home to relight the hearth.
Early texts present Samhain as a mandatory celebration lasting three days and three nights where the community was required to show themselves to local kings or chieftains. Failure to participate was believed to result in punishment from the gods, usually illness or death.
There was also a military aspect to Samhain in Ireland, with holiday thrones prepared for commanders of soldiers. Anyone who committed a crime or used their weapons during the celebration faced a death sentence.
Some documents mention six days of drinking alcohol to excess, typically mead or beer, along with gluttonous feasts.
SAMHAIN MONSTERS
Because the Celts believed that the barrier between worlds was breachable during Samhain, they prepared offerings that were left outside villages and fields for fairies, or Sidhs.
It was expected that ancestors might cross over during this time as well, and Celts would dress as animals and monsters so that fairies were not tempted to kidnap them.
Some specific monsters were associated with the mythology surrounding Samhain, including a shape-shifting creature called a Pukah that receives harvest offerings from the field. The Lady Gwyn is a headless woman dressed in white who chases night wanderers and was accompanied by a black pig.
The Dullahan sometimes appeared as impish creatures, sometimes headless men on horses who carried their heads. Riding flame-eyed horses, their appearance was a death omen to anyone who encountered them.
A group of hunters known as the Faery Host might also haunt Samhain and kidnap people. Similar are the Sluagh, who would come from the west to enter houses and steal souls.
MYTHS OF SAMHAIN
One of the most popular Samhain stories told during the festival was of “The Second Battle of Mag Tuired,” which portrays the final conflict between the Celtic pantheon known as the Tuatha de Danann and evil oppressors known as the Fomor. The myths state that the battle unfolded over the period of Samhain.
One of the most famous Samhain-related stories is “The Adventures of Nera,” in which the hero Nera encounters a corpse and fairies, and enters into the Otherworld.
Samhain figured into the adventures of mythological Celtic hero Fionn mac Cumhaill when he faced the fire-breathing underworld dweller Aillen, who would burn down the Hall of Tara every Samhain.
Samhain also figures into another Fionn mac Cumhaill legend, where the hero is sent to the Land Beneath the Wave. As well as taking place on Samhain, it features descriptions of the hero’s holiday gatherings.
SAMHAIN IN THE MIDDLE AGES
As the Middle Ages progressed, so did the celebrations of the fire festivals. Bonfires known as Samghnagans, which were more personal Samhain fires nearer the farms, became a tradition, purportedly to protect families from fairies and witches.
Carved turnips called jack-o-lanterns began to appear, attached by strings to sticks and embedded with coal. Later Irish tradition switched to pumpkins.
In Wales, men tossed burning wood at each other in violent games and set off fireworks. In Northern England, men paraded with noisemakers.
DUMB SUPPER
The tradition of “dumb supper” began during this time, in which food was consumed by celebrants but only after inviting ancestors to join in, giving the families a chance to interact with the spirits until they left following dinner.
Children would play games to entertain the dead, while adults would update the dead on the past year’s news. That night, doors and windows might be left open for the dead to come in and eat cakes that had been left for them.
CHRISTIAN SAMHAIN
As Christianity gained a foothold in pagan communities, church leaders attempted to reframe Samhain as a Christian celebration.
The first attempt was by Pope Boniface in the 5th century. He moved the celebration to May 13 and specified it as a day celebrating saints and martyrs. The fire festivals of October and November, however, did not end with this decree.
In the 9th century, Pope Gregory moved the celebration back to the time of the fire festivals, but declared it All Saints’ Day, on November 1. All Souls’ Day would follow on November 2.
HALLOWEEN
Neither new holiday did away with the pagan aspects of the celebration. October 31 became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, and contained much of the traditional pagan practices before being adopted in 19th-century America through Irish immigrants bringing their traditions across the ocean.
Trick-or-treating is said to have been derived from ancient Irish and Scottish practices in the nights leading up to Samhain. In Ireland, mumming was the practice of putting on costumes, going door-to-door and singing songs to the dead. Cakes were given as payment.
Halloween pranks also have a tradition in Samhain, though in the ancient celebration, tricks were typically blamed on fairies.
WICCA AND SAMHAIN
A broad revival of Samhain resembling its traditional pagan form began in the 1980s with the growing popularity of Wicca.
Wicca celebration of Samhain takes on many forms, from the traditional fire ceremonies to celebrations that embrace many aspects of modern Halloween, as well as activities related to honoring nature or ancestors.
Wiccans look at Samhain as the passing of the year, and incorporate common Wiccan traditions into the celebration.
In the Druid tradition, Samhain celebrates the dead with a festival on October 31 and usually features a bonfire and communion with the dead. American pagans often hold music and dance celebrations called Witches’ Balls in proximity to Samhain.
CELTIC RECONSTRUCTIONISTS
Pagans who embrace Celtic traditions with the intent of reintroducing them faithfully into modern paganism are called Celtic Reconstructionists.
In this tradition, Samhain is called Oiche Shamnhna and celebrates the mating between Tuatha de Danaan gods Dagda and River Unis. Celtic Reconstructionists celebrate by placing juniper decorations around their homes and creating an altar for the dead where a feast is held in honor of deceased loved ones.
How to Celebrate Samhain
Samhain is typically celebrated by preparing a dinner to celebrate the harvest. The holiday is meant to be shared with those who have passed on as well as those still with us. Set a place at the table for those in the spiritual plane, providing an offering for them upon every serving throughout the meal. In addition to those who have passed, invite friends and family to enjoy the feast with you. Typical beverages include mulled wine, cider, and mead, and are to be shared with the Dead throughout the meal.
Despite occurring at similar times and containing similar themes, Samhain and Halloween actually are not the same holiday. Halloween, short for All Hallow’s Eve, is celebrated on and around Oct. 31 and tends to be more family-focused. On the other hand, Samhain is more religious in focus, spiritually observed by practitioners.
There are some more light-hearted observances in honor of the dead through Samhain, but the underlying tone of Samhain is one of a serious religious practice rather than a light-hearted make-believe re-enactment. Today’s Pagan Samhain rites, while somber, are benevolent, and, although centered on death, do not involve human or animal sacrifices. Another difference between Samhain and Halloween is that most Samhain rituals are held in private rather than in public.
If you want to start honoring this pagan tradition, you might wonder when to start. Well, the timing of contemporary Samhain celebrations varies according to spiritual tradition and geography. Practitioners state to celebrate Samhain over the course of several days and nights, and these extended observances usually include a series of solo rites as well as ceremonies, feasts, and gatherings with family, friends, and spiritual community.
In the northern hemisphere, many Pagans celebrate Samhain from sundown on October 31 through November 1. Others hold Samhain celebrations on the nearest weekend or on the Full or New Moon closest to this time. Some Pagans observe Samhain a bit later, or near November 6, to coincide more closely with the astronomical midpoint between Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice. Most Pagans in the southern hemisphere time their Samhain observances to coincide with the middle of their Autumn in late April and early May, rather than at the traditional European time of the holiday. In the end, it’s really up to you!
Samhain isn’t necessarily a creepy, morbid holiday obsessed with death, as some may conclude. Instead, it reaches for themes deeper than that, tying in with Nature’s rhythms. In many places, Samhain coincides with the end of the growing season. Vegetation dies back with killing frosts, and therefore, literally, death is in the air. This contributes to the ancient notion that at Samhain, the veil is thin between the world of the living and the realm of the Dead and this facilitates contact and communication. For those who have lost loved ones in the past year, Samhain rituals can be an opportunity to bring closure to grieving and to further adjust to their being in the Otherworld by spiritually communing with them. However, it’s also a way to appreciate life, when you get right down to it.
There are many rituals you can partake in to celebrate Samhain. Here are just a few ideas (and none of them involve life sacrifice):
Samhain Rituals
Samhain Nature Walk
Take a meditative walk in a natural area near your home. Observe and contemplate the colors, aromas, sounds, and other sensations of the season. Experience yourself as part of the Circle of Life and reflect on death and rebirth as being an important part of Nature. If the location you visit permits, gather some natural objects and upon your return use them to adorn your home.
2. Set Up A Samhain Altar
If you’re new to the pagan tradition and don’t have a permanent altar in place, you can easily set up a table to leave in place for the three days prior to Samhain. Decorate the altar with symbols of late fall, such as:
• Skulls, skeletons, grave rubbings, ghosts
• Harvest food such as pumpkins, squash, root vegetables
• Nuts and berries, dark breads
• Dried leaves and acorns
• A cornucopia filled with an abundance of fruit and veggies
• Mulled cider, wine, or mead
Samhain Ceremony
Start out by preparing a meal for the family, focusing on fruits and vegetables, and wild game meat if available. Include a loaf of a dark bread like rye or pumpernickel and a cup of apple cider or wine. Set the dinner table with candles and a fall centerpiece, and put all the food on the table at once. Consider the dinner table a sacred space.
Gather everyone around the table, and say this, “Tonight is the first of three nights, on which we celebrate Samhain. It is the end of the harvest, the last days of summer, and the cold nights wait on the other side for us. The bounty of our labor, the abundance of the harvest, the success of the hunt, all lies before us. We thank the earth for all it has given us this season, and yet we look forward to winter, a time of sacred darkness.”
Take the cup of cider or wine, and lead everyone outside. Make this a ceremonial and formal occasion. Head to your garden (if you don’t have one, find a grassy place in your yard). Each person in the family takes the cup in turn and sprinkles a little bit of cider onto the earth, saying, “Summer is gone, winter is coming. We have planted and we have watched the garden grow, we have weeded, and we have gathered the harvest. Now it is at its end.”
Collect any yard trimmings or dead plants and use them to make a straw man or woman. If you follow a more masculine path, he may be your King of Winter, and rule your home until spring returns. If you follow the Goddess in her many forms, make a female figure to represent the Goddess as hag or crone in winter. Once that is done, go back inside and bring your deity into your home. Place him on your table and prop him up with a plate of his own, and when you sit down to eat, serve him first.
Begin your meal with the breaking of the dark bread, and make sure you toss a few crumbs outside for the birds afterwards. Keep the King of Winter in a place of honor all season long — you can put him back outside in your garden on a pole to watch over next spring’s seedlings, and eventually burn him at your Beltane celebration. When you are finished with your meal, put the leftovers out in the garden as an offering for the dead.
Make an Ancestors Altar
Honor your deceased family members with this ceremony. Gather photographs, heirlooms and other mementos of deceased family, friends, or even pets. Arrange them on a table, dresser, or other surface, along with several votive candles. Light the candles in their memory; while you do so, speak their names out loud and express well wishes and thank them for being part of your life or lineage. Sit quietly and pay attention to what you experience. Note any messages you receive in your journal. This Ancestors Altar can be created just for Samhain or kept year round.
Guide the Spirits
Place a white seven-day candle in the window to guide the dead to the Spirit World. Light the candle and speak these words, “O little flame that burns so bright, be a beacon on this night. Light the path for all the dead, that they may see now what’s ahead. And lead them to the Summerland and shine until Pan takes their hands. And with Your light, please bring them peace, that they may rest and sleep with ease.”
Visit a Cemetery
Another way to honor the passing of family and friends is to visit and tend their gravesite at a cemetery. Call to mind memories and consider ways the loved one continues to live on within you. Place an offering there such as fresh flowers, dried herbs (rosemary is one great choice), or fresh water.
Hit ‘Pause’
As we mentioned, Samhain is also a time to celebrate life in contrast to death, which makes it a great moment to stop and introspect. Reflect on you and your life over the past year. Review journals, planners, photographs, blogs, and other notations you have created during the past year. Consider how you have grown, accomplishments, challenges, adventures, travels, and learnings. Meditate. Journal about your year in review, your meditation, and your reflections.
Hold a Séance
Also as we mentioned, Samhain is thought to be a time of little distance between the living and the dead. If there’s anyone on the other side you’d like to communicate with, now is an excellent time, according to the pagan tradition.
Bonfire Magic
Kindle a bonfire outdoors when possible or kindle flames in a fireplace or a small cauldron. Write down an outmoded habit that you wish to end and cast it into the Samhain flames as you imagine release. Imagine yourself adopting a new, healthier way of being as you move around the fire clockwise.
Divinatory Guidance
Using tarot, runes, scrying, or some other method of divination, seek and reflect on guidance for the year to come. Write a summary of your process and messages. Select something appropriate to act upon and do it.
Divine Invocations
Honor and call upon the divine in one or more sacred forms associated with Samhain, such as the Crone Goddess and Horned God of Nature. Invite them to aid you in your remembrance of the dead and in your understanding of the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. If you have lost loved ones in the past year, ask these deities to comfort and support you.
Herbs and Spices
There are many plants that tie in closely with Samhain. To name a few: allspice berries, broom, catnip, mountain ash berries, mugwort, mullein, oak leaves, acorns, rosemary, sage, pine cones, and straw. Find creative (and safe; research each before consuming) ways to use them in your cooking and around your house as decorations.
Community Connections
Connect with others. Join in a group ritual in your area. Organize a Samhain potluck in your home. Research old and contemporary Samhain customs in books, periodicals, on-line, and through communications with others. Exchange ideas, information, and celebration experiences. Regardless of whether you practice solo or with others, as part of your festivities, reflect for a time on being part of the vast network of those celebrating Samhain around the world.
Hold an image of the person you wish to speak with. Do this in a quiet location with a clear mind and no distractions. Begin with simple questions requiring no more than a yes or no answer. The methods for answering should be clearly defined and explained such as knocking on the wall (one for yes, two for no). Do not be embarrassed of trying this as you are attempting to speak with a loved one. You should consider it as though the loved one is in the room with you.
Dreaming
Pay close attention to your dreams as it may be an ancestor attempting to reach out and communicate with you. With the veil thinning and with how sleep lowers your barriers, it makes it easier for spirits to contact you in your dreams.
Meditation
This is to assist our consciousness to make contact with our loved ones. Communication with them is often subtle and easily missed. Meditation helps to quiet the mind and sharpen the senses.
Intercessors
Not everyone will have the ability to commune with the dead. Some will need help from a person who is more experienced and successful in their communications. This person is known as an intercessor and can be a religious authority, a medium, or even a friend has been successful in communication. It is important to research mediums before selecting one if that is who you choose to assist you. Some mediums are frauds only out to get a quick buck from the vulnerable. They can be identified by their line of questioning and whether or not those questions are leading so that they can get certain answers from you.
Pray
Most religions have specific beliefs regarding death and the afterlife. Some religions do not allow communication with the dead at all. However, a prayer is never a bad idea. You can send a message directly to your loved one or a prayer that your message reaches your loved one somehow.
Holding a belonging
Holding a belonging that was precious to a loved one can enhance the connection with the loved one and is especially effective with meditation.
Tarot
Asking simple questions and allowing yourself to be spiritually guided to a card. You would then determine the message through the cards meaning.
Candle Scrying
Safer and more effective than scrying with a crystal or mirror. Scrying to commune with the dead could result in the spirit becoming trapped in the crystal or mirror. When candle scrying you want to relax, clear your mind of thoughts and emotions and allow yourself to become entranced by the flame. Allow the visions to come to you. You may also ask simple questions with simple ways to respond. For example: A flicker of the candle could mean yes while the flame shrinking or dimming could mean no.
Spirit Writing
Also known as automatic writing, this method invites the spirit to write a message. Hold a pen loosley in your hand above a piece of paper and let it move freely. Stay detached and do not read the message while it is being written. It is common to have misspelled words and backwards letters in a successful ritual. If the markings are illegible, you must come to terms with the fact that the ritual was not successful.
This method is best used for contacting one familiar spirit. Inviting multiple spirits will create nothing more than a mess on the paper as well as increasing the danger of multiple uninvited spirits.
This method is prone to attracting more malicious spirits than other methods like tarot or candle scrying. Trust your instincts and stop if you begin to feel uneasy.
Spirit Painting
Much like Spirit Writing, you will allow yourself to be guided spiritually. When the painting is complete, decipher the message.
Ouija Boards
Also known as Spirit Boards or Talking Boards, these can be homemade or bought. Never use a board that has already been used. While a rectangular shape is traditional, a circle shaped board may serve better as the circle is protective and helps sheild against evil spirits. Your board should include the alphabet, “yes”, “no”, and the numbers 0-9. A symbol of protection is also highly recommended.
You will also need a planchette. This is a triangular marker and can be as simple as a piece of cardboard with a line on one edge. This will be used for the spirit to point to specific numbers, letters, and answers on the board.
At least 2 people are needed to use a Ouija Board, but three is preferable. This is to increase the odds that someone will remove their hands from the planchette and break the circle if a negative energy enters.
Hold the hands of the people assisting you and invite the dead to join you. Ask to speak with a familiar spirit for the least amount of risk
Ouija boards are notorious for attracting evil spirits. It is important to remember the rules of spirit communication. Using a board too often will give negative energies the impression that you are up to no good and encourages them to wreak havoc.
However, if used only on Samhain, it is a very effective way to speak to the dead as it allows more detailed messages.
Spirit communication is NEVER a game. The consequences need to be considered thoroughly before ANY attempt is made. Using it to show off makes you prey for evil spirits and will bring disaster and negative, unbalanced emotions.
Safety Tips
Shield charms on yourself and the tools you will be using
Visualize an impenetrable shield of white light surrounding what you wish to protect
Add an affirmation such as Only good spirits may enter here. This path is closed to evil; they cannot come this way
Scatter Protective substances in your workplace
Burnt matches
Pepper
Salt
Cumin
If at any time you feel scared, uneasy, or suspicious, immediately abandon the attempt. Do not allow curiosity take precedent over instinct and gut feeling.
Moderation
Spirits with ill intentions may try to take advantage of you opening a path for spirits to come through. It is important to keep these kinds of rituals to a minimum to limit danger.
Intent
Raising the dead with the attempt to gain power, control, or to impress or intimidate will attract bad karma.
Protect yourself while summoning with one or more of the following methods:
Gems: Agate, Emerald, Bloodstone,Black Tourmaline, Black Onyx, Labradorite, Peridot
Cleansing Your Sacred Space
Start by burning sage, frankincense, or sandalwood and sprinkling sea salt around the room. Sage and sea salt are two of the most powerful spiritual cleansing agents. While you spread the smoke and salt, speak out loud. This can be anything that feels right to you, but it should convey the message that all spirits that are not there for positive help should leave. Be firm. You’re sending them home. There will be no sticking around after this. Make sure to thank them when you’ve said your piece, and repeat it as often as you need until you feel satisfied with the result. I recommend cleansing both before and after the summoning.
Bless your tools with the following spell:
Use one of the following methods that can be found here.
Learning Wicca and the Tradition of the Craft 