Samhain

Today is Samhain – (pronounced ‘Sow-wen’ where ‘sow’ is as in a female pig) – meaning summer’s end. Samhain falls halfway between autumn equinox, and winter solstice, and has its roots in ancient traditions. Archaeology suggests that the festival originated with the Celts of ancient Gaul (France today). At the end of summer, when the harvest was over, and days were darker, people celebrated the start of a new year. The festival spread with the Celts as they settled across Europe.

In 835 AD, Pope Gregory III moved the Christian ‘All Saints Day’ to 1 November. This was to coincide with Samhain, and 31 October became known as ‘All Hallows’ Eve’. The evening was set aside by the church to prepare for feasting on All Saints Day. Over time, All Hallows’ Eve came to be Halloween. While Samhain had honoured the dead – remembering ancestors, and warding off dark spirits – the Christian version sought to remember dead saints.

Harvest

Despite being commandeered by the Christian church, today’s Halloween celebrations owe much to their traditional Pagan origins. One of the rituals adapted from the Celts is that of vegetable carving. Originally, vegetables were used to represent harvest. They were hollowed so a light – the Sun – could be placed inside. This was done so that the powerful magic of the Sun would keep the harvest preserved over the coming dark winter months. Over time, the carvings took on the appearance of scary faces, to frighten off evil spirits which wander at this time of year.

One of the wandering entities, Stingy Jack, came from Irish legend. Cast out by the Devil to roam with only a glowing coal to light the way, Jack put the coal inside a hollowed out turnip. He was known as ‘Jack of the Lantern’, which was compressed over time to ‘jack-o-lantern’.

The custom of trick or treating has its origins in Celtic ritual. Offerings from the harvest were left out to appease wandering spirits, and prevent them from causing harm to harvest or home. Far from being the American import which some think of it as, it was the Celts who exported the custom to the States.

Ancestors

Samhain is considered the time of year when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest. It is a time when our ancestors are close. We take space to remember, reflect, and give thanks for those who have come before.

Some might host a dumb supper (silent meal). A place (or places) are set for those to be remembered, and they are included in the meal, which is eaten in silence. We remember the ones we loved, perhaps placing photographs of them on the table, or things which were meaningful to them. Candlelight replaces electric lights, to create better ambience for the occasion. Sometimes people write messages to those who are remembered, burning these in an open fire after the meal. A time for reflection, and also understanding that while death is an ending of sorts, memories endure.

 

Black Cats

It was another pope who encouraged the vilification of cats. Pope Gregory IX declared in his 1233 paper ‘Vox in Rama’ that cats were an incarnation of Satan. Before this proclamation, witches and the Christian church had coexisted quite comfortably.

Witches were practical people, often keeping cats to help manage rodent numbers. Possibly favouring black cats as their colouring meant they tended to be more successful hunters. The connection which witches had with nature meant some saw them as rivalling the church for hearts and minds.

Vox in Rama was the first time that cats had been associated with witchcraft. The paper was an attempt to build fear and suspicion towards rumoured Satanic cults in Germany. It served to transform the cat from sacred Pagan animal to feared Satanic agent. So began the long persecution of witches and cats across Europe.

As fear and suspicion of the Pagan festival Samhain developed, so too did the association of witches and their cats with the season.

Today, many of the ancient Pagan Samhain customs endure, while some of the worst associations are relegated, to sit within the shameful religious histories of the church. This is the time for the Earth to rest before the next season of growth. Blessed be.