Samhain - Hallowe'en - The Festival of the Dead...

Posted on 31 Oct, 2009 41 comments

In the USA it’s known as ‘Trick or Treat’, when youngsters use scare-tactics to get a handful of candy in exchange for good neighborly conduct. Everyone dresses up – not just the children – and the front yards are bedecked with witches, ghosts, spectral forms rising from coffins…I once saw a whole front yard in Saugus Massachusetts, from house to sidewalk, turned into a cemetery for the occasion, and very effective it was, too!

In the UK Hallowe’en seems to have combined with ‘Mischief Night’ – celebrated by children, primarily in the north of England and more specifically in Yorkshire – on the evening of November 4th when the ‘normal’ practice was for all sensible folk to lock their doors and let the kids just get on with it! Although we also celebrated a very low-key Hallowe’en on October 31st, with clumsily carved swede or turnip lanterns, it was Mischief Night that gave us a special frisson in the lead-up to the glorious 5th of November!

The ‘mischief’ ( based historically on York-born Guy Fawkes and his chums busy making mischief with their kegs of gunpowder beneath the Houses of Parliament ) took the form of tying one neighbour’s doorknob to that of an adjacent one with a length of stout string, usually washing line, then knocking on both doors and running like hell to hide in the lavvy yards whilst both neighbours tried valiantly but in vain to open their doors. Tee hee. Sometimes ( we liked variety down our way ) a doorknob would be attached by string to all the metal dustbin lids in the toilet block yards – crash, clatter, BANG! Great fun.

It had the advantage of being CHEAP….here’s the equipment you needed for Mischief Night in Britain:

Unlike the American version, no recompense was sought by the kids, it was just a once-a-year opportunity to get their own back on the crabby inhabitants of the street without the reprisals! No adult could touch you on Mischief Night, you were invincible…as long as you didn’t overstep the mark. The night had a code of honour and we all tried to respect it. No eggs ( too wasteful ), no paint, no small giggling ghosts draped in white sheets lurking in the outside toilets to frighten the life out of some poor unsuspecting ‘visitor’, and no chucking of pre-bonfire night ‘bangers’...well, maybe just the odd one….or two….

Quite why the American festival of ‘Trick or Treat’ allied itself with the underplayed British Hallowe’en celebration and ‘ran’ with it is a mystery, because it seems to have much more in common with the very English ‘Mischief Night’. Whatever the truth of the matter, they have since given it back to us in the form we know today. Somewhere along the line, the mischief and trick-or-treating became overlaid with the veneer of death…

So…a time for scary antics and spooky happenings, ghosties and ghoulies and things that go ‘BUMP!’ in the night….

Oooooo! Bet THAT frightened you, didn’t it?

But what is Hallowe’en, really, where did it come from, and why all the fuss? Gather closer, me bairns, and Trumwin the vampire bat and Pickle my old ‘familiar’ will try to explain….

First things first…the name derives from the Old English ‘hallowed’ evening – meaning holy or sanctified evening and is now usually contracted to the more familiar word Hallowe’en.

For the pagan Britons who pre-dated the Christian conversion, this time marked the death of the old Celtic year and was called Samhain ( properly pronounced ‘Sow-iin’ in England, Sow-ain in Wales and Sav-an in Scotland – Gaelic for ‘Summer’s End’ ). For many of today’s neo-Pagans this is the most significant date in their calendar, for it is the Feast of the Dead. No surprise that today’s popular ( non-Pagan ) Hallowe’en celebrations involve spooky goings-on…a much-diluted and misunderstood version of the real thing, but significant, for all of that.

Samhain has been celebrated in Britain for centuries and has its origin in pagan Celtic traditions. It was that misty, darkening time of year when the veil between this world and the Otherworld was at its most fragile; when the spirits of the dead could more easily slip through the barrier which separated them from the living to be with their loved ones again. Later, when the festival was adopted by Christians, they celebrated it as All Hallows’ Eve, followed by All Saints Day, though it still retained elements of remembering and honouring the dead.

To most neo-Pagans, while death is still the driving force of the festival this does not mean it is a miserable event. For Pagans, death is not a thing which should be feared, though any passing should be mourned. Old age is valued for its wisdom and this is the festival of the Crone, the Triple Goddess in her aspect of ‘Wise Woman’ – the Mother of the harvest now grown old. This Crone aspect of the Goddess is ‘remembered’ in today’s ‘silly-celebrations’ by the witches’ broomstick and pointy hat. Please note: all witches and ‘Wiccans’ ( not necessarily the same thing! ) are neo-Pagans ( just as all Roman Catholics or Protestants, Methodists, Baptists, etc., are Christians ) BUT not all neo-Pagans are witches or ‘Wiccans’!

The warty old witch is none other than the Great Mother to whom all men ( and women ) cry out at the moment of their death…and we poke fun at her because we dread her coming…

Samhain is also the festival which marks the death of the Oak King of Spring and Summer, and welcomes the Holly King of the Dark Days, who will take on the mantle of coming Winter and rule over the land until Imbolc ( Candlemas ) when the Light returns. “The King is dead! Long Live the King!”

As well as feasting, Pagans often celebrate Samhain with traditional games such as bobbing for apples….it is also known as the Apple Festival. The apple is, of course, sacred to the pagan God and Goddess ( if you’re a Pagan you’ll know why! )

Death symbolises endings and Samhain is therefore not only a time for reflecting on the fragility of our own and others lives, but also on the passing of relationships and other significant changes. A time for taking stock of the past and absorbing it graciously into our selves, in order to move on and look to the future, and to rebirth. In the fields and gardens little grows, the earth has put on her sombre cloak of stillness, yet the seeds for the year to come lie dormant underground, and in this season, between Samhain and the Winter Solstice, they will begin, slowly, to germinate and come to life.

The delightful tradition of creating pumpkin lanterns is entirely American. The scary faces were meant to frighten away the approaching dead….exactly the opposite effect to that which the Pagans sought. To honour my family, both two-legged and four, I don’t carve faces, instead, I fill a hollowed out pumpkin with flowers from the garden ( or the florists if the garden’s had a bad year! ) and instead of putting a lighted candle inside, I place one on the top, and light it as a small beacon to all of those who have left me with nothing but memories, for now…

I leave this outside on the doorstep until All Saints and All Souls ( November 2nd ) have passed and then it goes in the composting bin to be recycled ready for the next growing season.

This Samhain my thoughts will be for my Golden Boy, Pip, undergardener, friend, slayer of many voles, mice, shrews and rabbits, killed on the road on September 28th 2009. He will have his own special candle, lighted forever in my heart…the first name we gave him, when he came to us, was ‘Pumpkin’, so it seems appropriate for more than one reason.

So Happy – if ‘Happy’ be the right word – Samhain, my friends. And a very Happy Celtic New Year tomorrow. Light your candles, light your pumpkins, lighten your hearts from sorrow, and may the coming year bring healing and be good to you and yours.

Last words to The Bard, that weaver of words, master of magick, mover of souls, William Shakespeare, who may have written this for the festival of the forever-remembered and always-loved dead – Samhain – although I suspect the lines ( from his play ‘Cymbeline’ ) speak more of the ‘All Hallow’s Eve’ he would have been familiar with:-

“Fear no more the heat o` the sun,
Nor the furious winter`s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta`en thy wages.
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o` the great;
Thou art past the tyrants stroke;
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak.
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor th` all-dreaded thunder stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan.
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have;
And renowned be thy grave!”

The Wheel turns…So Mote It Be…

Comments

Mavisc52

Lots of interesting things here bscott about Halloween.I liked the poem your spooky pictures and the pumpkin and of course Pip.

31 Oct, 2009

Healerwitch

Thanks you for all the hard work that went into this blog....great work. Pip and Lil Man (my passed cat this year) are having a high old time now!

Pipo was orange and Lil Man was black...just the right colors for halloween!

Blessed be

=^..^=

31 Oct, 2009

Bscott

Thank you, both! I enjoyed putting it together.
Bless you both
xxx

31 Oct, 2009

Healerwitch

B...forgot to mention another kitty who passed this year...my daughter's, Nikki...mustn't forget him! 3 kitties playing across the seas togther all on a Samhain night!

blessings to all who pass by here!

=^..^=

31 Oct, 2009

Sue_birming..

FABULOUS B !! A lot of interesting things that I wasn't aware of. Love your pumpkin at the door.
I love the bit about Samhain being a time for taking stock, in order to move on and look to the future. Very apt . :-)))

31 Oct, 2009

Drc726

Lovely blog you make it all sound so idillic!
Not so in the village where we live. Older teenagers not bothering to dress up - they just wear hoodies knocking on our door every 1/2 hour till gone midnight demanding money (even with the lights off). Last year my husband at about 11pm told them to stop coming back (they didnt stop) the next morning he had long scratches down his car. I see it as begging by intimidation and am dreading this evening.
The little ones who used to come dressed up and were given treats seem to have stopped or have they just grown up?

31 Oct, 2009

Bscott

What a shame. Let's keep the politics and lack of social conscience by youngsters away from this one, please! It's a celebration, and this is its history...that's all.

Blessings

31 Oct, 2009

Ian_digs_v2

What a brill blog B. Very informative and yes I remember tricksters night. We used fishing line to tie little sticks together and put one propping each letterbox up criss crossing all the way down the street. I think my personal record was nine people answering the door, one after the other. I also remember those adults laughing to each other that they had been 'got'. (My best friend of the time, Steve, managed around the twelve or thirteen mark and he was considered a hero at school the next day!)
A lot has changed over the years and like others I have been trick or treated and found mud slopped all over the car and a wing mirror damaged for not 'treating' those hooded teens.
Thanks for reminding us of the values we once held and the origins of one of our oldest celabrations.
Bless you.

31 Oct, 2009

Bscott

Tonight I have an anticipated ( pre-planned ) visit from two little ghouls, grandchildren of my good neighbour. They will have to ( as was common practice in this part of Scotland...I don't know about areas outwith Aberdeenshire ) 'perform' - a song, a dance, or a recitation in exchange for a wee treat. Nothing for free, and no 'threats'! Once they've been here and done their 'turn' they'll progress - with their Mum and Granny - to the next house and repeat the process. Nice, huh?

31 Oct, 2009

Alzheimer

What a great blog Bscott...and I have learned a lot...I guess I must have had a very sheltered childhood LOL
What a brilliant idea with your pumpkin....I really go for that and may indeed do so.
All in all - a wonderfully edifying celebration as you say - and I agree - let us all keep this blog this way...a happy one!!!

31 Oct, 2009

Madperth

Fascinating Blog, Brenda!! LOVE the pumpkin idea, much better than carving it!!
Yes, Guising tradition in Edinburgh was that you had to 'do a turn' if you wanted a treat too! We werent allowed to go guising, as my dad considered it begging!!

31 Oct, 2009

Tulsalady26

Great blog you've educated me this morning.

31 Oct, 2009

Bscott

The old pagans used to put out food to welcome their 'dead' to the 'party'...honouring their ancestors, and sharing their bounty with them ( bounty as in plenty, not as in chocolate-coated coconut bars! ). So...the 'guisers of today might not realise that they, in their costumes, are 'standing in' for the dead. And if you refuse to 'feed' the dead, well.....you have to expect what you get! At least that's how I understand the transition from pagan times to nowadays...the more things change, the more they stay the same....

31 Oct, 2009

Madperth

Lol! You're so right!

31 Oct, 2009

Catfinch

Love this and I really like your pumpkin floral with candle..excellant...thank you! Happy Halloween.. :o)

31 Oct, 2009

Pansypotter

Such an interesting blog which bought back many childhood memories especially Duck Apples and Trick a Treat, your Pumkin flower arrangement is lovely and like the idea of lighting the candle for loved ones who have past away.. well done Brenda!

31 Oct, 2009

Bscott

Thank you so much for all your kind comments. They mean a lot. It's been a tough old year for lots and lots of us, and a few kind and encouraging words mean a lot.
Everyone seems to like the pumpkins....I hope I start a trend!!!!!
;-)
Blessed Be, everyone.

31 Oct, 2009

Arlene

~ love the pumpkin arrangment!

31 Oct, 2009

Bscott

Thank you, Arlene. It's actually looking a bit sad, now, as we've had nothing but rain for a fortnight, and a nasty wee frost the other morning ( during which period it stopped raining for a few hours! ).

So all those lovely cosmos and Michaelmas daisies and viburnum berries are in the composting bin now! Instead we have a bunch of white 'pinks' courtesy the supermarket, some variegated holly, courtesy the garden, and a big lime green candle...topped off with a couple of Hallowe'en balloons, one black, one orange....just for the kids who'll be coming round later....

;-)

31 Oct, 2009

Madperth

Blessed be , Brenda!

31 Oct, 2009

Arlene

same as my cyclamen Brenda ~ they don't like heavy rain either!

31 Oct, 2009

Bscott

NOTHING likes heavy rain, Arlene.
Apart from ducks ( and I'm not sure about them, either! )

Thank you, Marie......that avatar of yours is really bizarre, by the way! ( said she, owner of a green one-eyed cat avatar...Pickle would like it to be known that although she has only the one eye, she is NOT green! )

Blessed Be
xxx

31 Oct, 2009

Madperth

Bizzare? Moi? I'll have you know thats my normal dress! Lol!

31 Oct, 2009

Sue_birming..

Did you need the garlic last night Marie ???? LOL

31 Oct, 2009

Madperth

Nah, much more fun without it!! Lol!

31 Oct, 2009

Sue_birming..

I nearly choked on me coffee then !!!!! LOL

31 Oct, 2009

Lincslass

Thanks Brenda,thats really good and must have taken you ages,really entertaining and also amusing, Like Marie we were never allowed to go trick or treating or collecting for the guy, also for the same reason.
Its nice to remember our loved ones whether they are pets,friends or family and your way is special to you and its lovely......

1 Nov, 2009

Madperth

;~))

1 Nov, 2009

Spritzhenry

We were ready with small treats for the young children in the village, who normally dress up and come to 'scare' us with one of their parents - but none at all this year! I thought it was a shame. It's a bit of fun for them, after all - that's all.

1 Nov, 2009

Catfinch

I had Trick-or Treaters last night...lol...I had them dancing for me...they thought I was crazy...but I like that..lol...so it was fun..their parents laughed, as they stood out in the the light of the very nearly full moon...two of the parents are neighbors and both came and gave me hugs and kisses and invited me to walk with, as their children ran off..lol...I had to stay for my Grands who were going to be arriving..so turned them down..and was exhausted from a day of having a garage sale..but so loved the hugs and fun.

1 Nov, 2009

Sue_birming..

I had two young children, about 5 and 7 and with their Mom, who live over the road ring the bell. I pretended to be SO scared..... they were giggling their heads off !! It was lovely ! :-)))

1 Nov, 2009

Bornagain

What a lot of work you put into a blog, you put us all to shame. Really enjoyed it, fascinating, loved the pumpkin idea for dead loved ones and was so sorry to hear about Pip. Very pleased to have the apple connection explained too as we always called it 'Duckapple Night' as children. I wonder if the Mexican Festival of the Dead comes into the American celebrations? We 'had' Halloween at our house this year we normally have it at my daughters. The children love it. Our Neighbourhood Watch handed out signs to put in windows saying 'no trick or treat' I thought that hilarious. My lot went out at 6 o'clock and returned triumphant in about half an hour or so. They only knocked on doors that had a pumpkin in the window and were richly rewarded! I've put them on a blog (shameless touting for viewers) Thanks again for your hard work B:-)

2 Nov, 2009

Bscott

Thank you, again, everyone! I really enjoyed doing this blog, and when I started it Pip was still alive..in fact, he was hiding UNDER the 'ghost' in the photograph ABOVE! He thought it was great fun, helping his Mum with a tablecloth, some old bits of pillowcase, a pair of gardening gloves, etc!

Thank you, BA for those nice words. Mexican Feast of the Dead is a very similar 'celebration' but whether it's origins come with Roman Catholicism or stem back further I can't say....I suspect a side-shoot from the RC church's All Souls and All Saints, Mexico being a predominantly RC country.

2 Nov, 2009

Madperth

We enjoyed it too, Brenda! Thanks for that!!

2 Nov, 2009

Bscott

Thank you, Marie! Hope you had a good Hallowe'en as well!

2 Nov, 2009

Madperth

Too good (can't you tell by the avatar?? Lol!), my feet are all cut, & I'm STILL hungover!!

2 Nov, 2009

Orgratis

Always interested in scraps of Celtic lore, and this is a feast. Had read that Samhain was when the souls of those who'd died that year were released from attachment to earth, so began a private tradition (living as I did near the cemetery) of praying for the peaceful release and return of energy to our Mother. Have wondered, tho, what the ancient Celts believed the Otherworld to be...?

Especial thanks for the Dirge of Cymbeline which I am unfamiliar with. My father has been quite a Shakespeare scholar the last 20 years, and now is courting his death following a second stroke. I will copy it out and send it to him, hoping to ease his passage.
Blessed be.

2 Nov, 2009

Bscott

Thank you OR.....prayers for your father, and a warm hug for you.

Marie....what have I missed about your 'cut feet'????? The hangover I can fully understand, but the FEET?

3 Nov, 2009

Sue_birming..

Slingbacks B !! Remember those devils ?? lol :-))

3 Nov, 2009

Bscott

Ah! Right, Sue...I thought she'd been walking on broken glass or something! Slingbacks, yep, I vaguely remember those! Never really liked them much ( sorry, Marie! ) though I've had a few pairs in my time!
;-)
xxxx

3 Nov, 2009

Madperth

Neither do I, B! Now I remember why I dont wear them!!
My heels are cut right round!! :~((

3 Nov, 2009

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