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Halloween/Samhain

Samhain (as it is known in the Gaelic) marks a number of things in the time line (oppppsssss ) I mean Wheel of the Year.

I would like to start off by saying what Samhain is not and then go in to what it IS.

Samhain is not a night for Satan. I am not saying it was not adopted by Satanist, as Anton LaVey makes mention it is one of the High Holidays for the Satanist. But this was not the case to begin with, as we will see. Oh yes a side note. Mr. Chick (maker of those wonderful cartoon tracts) and other would have you believe this was a night to honor the Celtic Lord of Death Samhain, Sorry Mr. Chick the Celts had no God named Samhain. The closest I can find is an Aryan God named Samana. Samhain means "Summers End" and hold no relation to Samana?Sorry

The Early Celts (NO not the Larry Bird Celtics) Were a very nature based people. They saw the seasons turn and life reborn. So they came up with stories and ways to explain this turning of the Wheel. They saw the World rest and then wake up. So this was the main focus of the Wheel.

I think it is important to point out the Celtic calendar does not run like our "Modern" one. The days ran from Sun down to Sun up. Much like the Jewish Calendar for the Sabbath. So Samhain did not start till sundown on that evening. It was also The Celtic New Year. The God is wounded on Lughnasadh and "dies" on Samhain. This is very important as he goes to the "Underworld" to rest before he is reborn at Yule. It is at this time The God leaves the Goddess (Crone) to rule this would explain the old Hags we see stirring the cauldron at this time. Shhhh here is a secret?. The cauldron is a symbol of rebirth. So yes Samhain has a duel image, the death with the promise of rebirth.

Samhain was a number of things the most being misunderstood.

It was a Harvest festival. In fact it was the third of the three Harvest feasts. The First being Lughnasadh (The Harvest of grains) the second being Mabon (The Harvest of fruits and Vegetables) the Third being Samhain (The Harvest of Meat) Meat? Hmmm well this could explain a myth. The animal sacrifice myth is rooted here.

Winter is Celtic Europe was a little harsh and most people thought it better to butcher some of the older livestock then use all the grain to feed them. So they also had meat to survive the harsh cold winter. Make sense to me. This would leave the family with enough meat and grain to eat as well as care for the rest of the livestock that would provide milk and meat, well and other livestock to reproduce. Pretty smart in my book.

Samhain is a good night for divination; this is because the veil between the world of the living and the dead is at its thinnest points. As a personal note I would also say it is just as thin at Beltane. Being thin in both the Dark and Light halves of the Year. But anyway, it makes it easier to get "messages" from the departed on this night.

Samhain is also a Memorial Day. People would place candles in their windows (I would use electric ones no need for a fire) to light the way for the departed family members to come and visit them on this night. A "dumb supper" was also held where they would set a dinner setting for the departed and invite them to join in. This is still a common practice among some pagans.

- by Special Guest Contributor Raven Spirit of www.WordFromTheBird.com

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