Halloween, Magic and Myth

Samhain. All Hallows. All Hallow’s Eve. Hallow E’en. Halloween.  The most magical night of the year.  

 A night of glowing jack-o’-lanterns, bobbing for apples, tricks or treats, and dressing in costume.  A night of ghost stories and séances, tarot card readings and scrying with mirrors.  A night of power, when the veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is at its thinnest.  A “spirit night”, as they say in Wales.

 All Hallow’s Eve is the eve of All Hallow’s Day (November 1).  And for once, even popular tradition remembers that the eve is more important than the day itself, the traditional celebration focusing on October 31, beginning at sundown. 

The Celts called it Samhain, which means “summer’s end”, according to their ancient twofold division of the year, when summer ran from Beltane to Samhain and winter ran from Samhain to Beltane.  Samhain is pronounced, depending on where you’re from, as “sow-in” in Ireland and England, “sow-een” in Wales or “sav-en” in Scotland.

Not only is Samhain the end of autumn; it is also, more importantly, the end of the old year and the beginning of the new, a Celtic New Year’s Eve.  There are many representations of Celtic Gods with two faces, and it must have been one of them who held sway over Samhain, one face turned toward the past, in commemoration of those who died during the last year, and one face gazing hopefully toward the future, attempting to pierce the veil and divine what the coming year holds.  These two themes, celebrating the dead and divining the future, are inexorably intertwined in Samhain, as they are likely to be in any New Year’s celebration.

As a feast of the dead, this was the one night when the dead could, if they wished, return to the land of the living, to celebrate with their family, tribe, or clan.  And so the great burial mounds of Ireland (sidhe mounds) were opened up, with lighted torches lining the walls, so the dead could find their way.  Extra places were set at the table and food set out for any who had died that year, though all must return to their appointed places by cock-crow.

The Christian religion, with its emphasis on the “historical” Christ and his act of Redemption 2000 years ago, is forced into a linear view of time, where seeing the future is an illogical proposition.  In fact, from the Christian perspective, any attempt to do so is seen as inherently evil.  This did not keep the medieval church from co-opting Samhain’s other motif, commemoration of the dead.  To the church, however, it could never be a feast for all the dead, but only the blessed dead, all those hallowed (made holy) by obedience to God thus, All Hallow’s, or Hallowmas, later All Saints and All Souls.

There are so many types of divination that are traditional to Hallowstide, it is possible to mention only a few. Girls were told to place hazelnuts along the front of the firegrate, each one to symbolize one of her suitors. She could then divine her future husband by chanting, “If you love me, pop and fly; if you hate me, burn and die.”  Several methods used the apple, that most popular of Halloween fruits.  You should slice an apple through the equator (to reveal the five-pointed star within) and then eat it by candlelight before a mirror.  Your future spouse will then appear over your shoulder.  Or, peel an apple, making sure the peeling comes off in one long strand, reciting, “I pare this apple round and round again; / My sweetheart’s name to flourish on the plain: / I fling the unbroken paring o’er my head, / My sweetheart’s letter on the ground to read.” 

Perhaps the most famous icon of the festival is the jack-o’- lantern.  Various authorities attribute it to either Scottish or Irish origin.  However, it seems clear that it was used as a lantern by people who travelled the road this night, the scary face to frighten away spirits or faeries who might otherwise lead one astray.  Set on porches and in windows, they cast the same spell of protection over the household.  However, the American pumpkin seems to have forever taken over from the European gourd as the jack-o’- lantern of choice.

The custom of dressing in costume and “trick-or-treating” is of Celtic origin, with survivals particularly strong in Scotland.  However, there are some important differences from the modern version.  In the first place, the custom was not relegated to children, but was actively indulged in by adults as well.  Also, the “treat” that was required was often one of spirits (the liquid variety).  And in ancient times, the roving bands would sing seasonal carols from house-to-house, making the tradition very similar to Yuletide wassailing.  In fact, the custom known as caroling, now connected exclusively with Midwinter, was once practised at all the major holidays.  Finally, in Scotland at least, the tradition of dressing in costume consisted almost exclusively of cross-dressing.  It seems as though ancient societies provided an opportunity for people to “try on” the role of the opposite gender for one night of the year. 

To Witches, Halloween is one of the four High Holidays, or Greater Sabbats, or cross-quarter days.  Because it is the most important holiday of the year, it is sometimes called “The Great Sabbat”.

 Another date that may be used in celebrations is the actual cross-quarter day, or Old Halloween.  This occurs when the sun has reached fifteen degrees Scorpio, an astrological “power point” symbolized by the Eagle.  The celebration would begin at sunset.  Interestingly, this date was also appropriated by the church as the holiday of Martinmas.

Of all the Witchcraft holidays, Halloween is the only one that still boasts anything near to popular celebration. Even though it is typically relegated to children (and the young-atheart) and observed as an evening affair only, many of its traditions are firmly rooted in Paganism.

Nonetheless, it seems only right that there should be one night of the year when our minds are turned toward thoughts of the supernatural.  A night when both Pagans and non-Pagans may ponder the mysteries of the Otherworld and its inhabitants.  And if you are one of them, may all your jack-o’-lanterns burn bright on this All Hallow’s Eve.

Love and light.