Halloween/Samhain

[Lilith79]

Do you look at these as separate holidays? Halloween for those non-pagan folk, which includes scary costumes and ToT. Samhain for pagans which includes celebrating life/death and paying reverence to your chose dieties. Or, are they one in the same for you? If you separate them in your mind, do you celebrate both or only one?

[MoonDragn]

To me they are just different labels. The whole scary costumes etc is also based on an original pagan custom so its really pagan, not non-pagan.

[Gnoblod]

They're the same to me, but I know other people aren't thinking of the same thing I am when they say "Halloween", for the most part.

[Morgandria]

I don't think of them as the same thing at all. I don't celebrate Hallowe'en - it's a commercial, secular holiday for children (big and small, one supposes).
Samhain is a religious holiday, a time when the Veil is thin, the worlds overlap, and a time to honour one's Ancestors.

You can celebrate both, but I don't. I personally don't have any need for costumes, candy, decorations, parties, or the like, so I don't celebrate Hallowe'en. It doesn't hurt anyone, though. I just get confused when people act like Samhain and Hallowe'en are the same thing, because they're not.

[Jenne]

Tho I may tend to celebrate them on the same day/at the same time, they are separate for me. Halloween is the "fun, kid-friendly" time I have with family time, Samhain is the serious, getting-in-touch-w/-my-spirituality time. I do a dumb supper and tarot reading/crystal ball session on Halloween, but the Samhain part of that is not Halloween, just Samhain ON Halloween.

LOL That sounds convoluted, but that's the way it is, lmao.

[MariThorn]

We have never done Halloween as the commercial broohaha . . . Before learning the witch path, I observed that it was what I thought was mid fall. I learned as a witch that it is actually the last day of fall, and the old year. Samhain, or what ever name you call it is a season that ends with a celebration. We usually have a dumb dinner, do readings for the coming year, carve pumpkins, and light the family altar candles. It will be nice this year to observe All Saint's and the Church holy days that go hand in hand with my witch path for the first time.

MariThorn

[Lunacie]

I see 'em as two separate deals that sometimes happen on the same date or maybe a couple of days apart. Samhain is really supposed to be celebrated on about November 6th, but apparently it's easier for most of us to smush the holidays together.

[Elaethril]

They're both separate for me. I'll sometimes throw a Halloween party but that's about. Samhain is my time to honor the turning of the Wheel and to practice my own religious observances. That has nothing to do with candy and trick or treaters and parties.

[Lilith79]

For us it's separate. For the kids, we do Halloween with ToT and all that rut. It's fun, and expected since our two oldest are in public school. But, at home we'll also have a circle and a ceremony. One for the kids during the day, and one later at night for dh and I. :)

[SkySilver]

No matter what I do, I can't help but celebrate both. For one, I got so used to the Halloween that's been conditioned into me my whole life. So I won't be able to get away from that. Plus it's so much fun seeing the kids in their cute costumes. :ghostie:

But now that I know the true meaning of this holiday through Samhain, it takes on a more richer feeling for me. One that I will hold dear always.

So, I celebrate it the way I was brought up to, but I'll always know what it truly stands for in my heart. :apumpkin:

[OpenHands]

Lilith79,

"Do you look at these as separate holidays? Or, are they one in the same for you? If you separate them in your mind, do you celebrate both or only one?"

I consider them separate. Halloween is a secular holiday that I celebrate. I recognize Samhain as a religious holiday celebrated by many pagans who follow Celtic or Wiccan-based religions/paths. I observe my religion's festival to honor the dead in December, but some Canaanite pagans try to time it around Samhain.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I treat them both seperately and together if that makes any sense. My celebrations tend to last about three days, that's typical for me on any of the four Feast Days that I do keep. Samhuinn is fairly easy to split, easier than the others.

The first day is the secular holiday of Halloween. I dress my kid up, take him trick or treating and all that jazz. The other two nights are more personal and private. One of them will be spent on introspection, meditation, and divination and the other is left for honoring the ancestors (which for me includes the Mighty Ones) through prayer and offerings.

[jcldragon]

I see 'em as two separate deals that sometimes happen on the same date or maybe a couple of days apart. Samhain is really supposed to be celebrated on about November 6th, but apparently it's easier for most of us to smush the holidays together.I was wondering about that. I examined my calendar & saw that the mid-point between Equinox & Solstice this year would fall on Nov 6th. So I figured that that must be the date for Samhain, but I don't know of any Pagans who will be celebrating it then.

I suggest celebrating both holidays. I loved Halloween as a kid, and i won't give up that piece of Joy for anything. This year I'll be performing as the Mad Hatter in the Ding Dong Show this coming Monday night.

[BabyBird]

I definetly see them as different holidays. I celebrate Halloween but I don't celebrate Samhain. One's a traditional secular holiday I grew up with, another is a religious holiday that I don't feel I need to celebrate.

[LostSheep]

Seems to me it's a bit like Christmas; originally a pagan festival that was taken up by the 'normal' folks as a convenient date to hang celebrations of their own on - one as a different religious festival, one just for some fun to brighten up the dark evenings. Maybe we should be kind of pleased that pagan festivals have such a great influence on the psyche.... or something.

_inabox_

[Hazel BlueMoon]

Do you look at these as separate holidays? Halloween for those non-pagan folk, which includes scary costumes and ToT. Samhain for pagans which includes celebrating life/death and paying reverence to your chose dieties. Or, are they one in the same for you? If you separate them in your mind, do you celebrate both or only one?

I really think about the dead, ghosts, spirits and graves around this time of year, I mean, yes, it's fun to dress up, but for some reason those feelings of costumes and candy remind me of children...which of course I am not anymore, so I tend to honor those you have passed, and make sure they are never, ever forgotton.
Maybe when I have my own children I'll think of it the other way also again.

[Dave the Druid]

I'm good with Samhain, halloween is for the children.

Hi Morag! Long time not seen yee.

[bbnflpn]

ever since i was little i knew there was something special about halloween. all of the symbolic things that we do celebrating it (costumes, tot, and pumpkin carving, ect) all have their reason, i knew that growing up even though i didnt know why we did those things. i always rememberd the dead at that time as well. now that i am a witch, i kind of think of them as the same thing because i identified the traditions as somthing other than just walking around asking for candy, dressing up as what ever i wanted to be that year, and carving pumpkins. most people dont see the true aspect of halloween, or even think to wonder why it is the way it is. one thing that i really liked about the holiday is the fact that it is the only time that people will willingly open their doors to strangers, to me now it is kind of like letting the ancestors visit, i know that sounds strange. i have only been a witch for a year and a half, and i have not done a samhain ritual yet (this year i am, the witches ball, and another rite the same evening) last year i spent my samhain at a rennisance fair, and then the laundery mat lol) at this time i consider them the same, who knows my thoughts might change

[Dave the Druid]

I was wondering about that. I examined my calendar & saw that the mid-point between Equinox & Solstice this year would fall on Nov 6th. So I figured that that must be the date for Samhain, but I don't know of any Pagans who will be celebrating it then.

I suggest celebrating both holidays. I loved Halloween as a kid, and i won't give up that piece of Joy for anything. This year I'll be performing as the Mad Hatter in the Ding Dong Show this coming Monday night.

I once read that after the xian church co-opted the the holiday the 'original' date was lost. It was suggested that perhaps Bonfire Night is closer to the 'original' date. On a cultural note, Bonfire Night fits really well with the Samhain fire tradition; a large fire, gathering of people etc.

[coyoger]

They are not the same for me. Halloween is a occation to have fun and play around. Party and give/get treats. I enjoy the idea behind the day and enjoy decorating for it and sharing my joy for the day as well.

Samhain is observed with the respect it deserves. After all the sillyness and decorating is all said and done, my faimy and I perform a ritual in respect for tyhose who have passed on, say our good byes and then find it handy to clean out all the bad vibes that have buildt up over the year.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I'm good with Samhain, halloween is for the children.

Hi Morag! Long time not seen yee.

:wave: Hi Dave! I know I've not been around much. Switched jobs and can't really go online much during the day. And I've been really busy at home.

And what are adults but big kids? Halloween is for everyone I say. :alol:

[Knight]

The first coven I was involved with had two celebrations. The first, a few days before Samhain, they called "The Feast of Masks". They would do the scary/ fun stuff, including a fairly elaborate haunted house. My second year, A few of the guys made me up to look like a grey alien. I looked really creepy.

Afterward, as a ritual, they would break out papier mache and arts and crafts stuff, and make masks. The mask was to represent something you wanted to rid yourself of in the next year.

Their Samhain ritual was amazing. The high priestess' house sat on about half an acre of land, including a big back yard with a fire pit. I'll never forget my first Samhain there. We went out into the back yard where dozens of votive candles had been placed at random on the ground. We were to walk through the vague path formed by the candles, chanting as we went. As I stood there, at the head of the procession waiting to go, the full moon was up, backlighting the clouds with silver. It was like the line from the poem 'The Highwayman': "The wind was a torrent of darkness amongst the ghostly trees, the moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon the cloudy seas".

At the climax of the ritual, we would throw the masks we had made into the fire, calling out their names, banishing them. Then, as the flames consumed them, we were to name what we wanted to replace them in our lives.

Amazing stuff.

[Dave the Druid]

Fair point Morag. I am still a kid at heart I guess, being adult has it's benies but...

I'm still looking for a position.

Knight, a brilliant storey!

[ObsessedFae86]

I celebrate them together..go out and trick or treat and then come home and do ritual :) Same for Yule..

[LacyRoze]

We do both, trick-or-treating for the kids and then a small ritual after the kids are in bed. Tho we do them on the same night, they are not the same to me. Halloween is for the children. I love seeing them all dressed up and they love all the decorations. It's a time for family fun. As my children grow old enough to understand, I will teach them all about Samhain as well. They will decide for themselves if they want to celebrate this special time or not...

[Lamyra]

Well to some that could be quite the touchy subject. I personally celebrate both.I celebrate "Halloween" to give the children around our neighborhood gifts with meaning to my family and to let them know it's not all about the candy. Plus then my son gets to attend the beliefs of his friends that aren't pagans and have fun with them as well.I also celebrate Samain as my new year and a time to show respect to the goddess and be thankful for the year; and bless and welcome the new one. My family and I usually get together with fellow wiccans/pagans around here for that. We welcome the new year then we celebrate! When we are home as a family again,we have our family celebration and let the goddess know what we are thankful for and what blessings we hope for in the new year for ourselves and the world. Then we light the candles on the altar take a few minutes to center ourselves then go outside, and spend the night by the fire inside our circle of trees to wake in the new year with the morning light. I could go forever on this, but I'll spare everyone's eyes from that. I do encourage my son to be without religous prejudice and I think that this is a perfect time of year to do so. Since it starts with our New Year and goes through the whole public struggle of beliefs and which ones are the right ones. It's a very educational point I try to get across. I want my son and our friends to be open minded as long as if follows the "Harm None" Law.
Best of Blessings in the New Year, and Happy Halloween to everyone else!
:huddle: :apumpkin:
~Lamyra~

[semi]

I'm pagan, but have never celebrated Samhain because it isn't part of my religion. The holiday means nothing to me. As far as working with my ancestors, I do that every day. Though it is unusually easy this time of year.

I like Halloween because it's a chance to go to good parties with good friends. However, I'm too busy to party this Halloween and I'll be watching Monday Night Football on the 31st. Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburg Steelers. Go Ravens!

[Calen]

I acknowlege both, separately. Halloween is a time for candy, costumes and craziness. Samhain is for reflection, introspection and divination, at least for me.

I will be doing most of my Samhain things on a different date than my Halloween things, just so I'll have time to do both things properly.

[talamh]

I have always thought that bonfire night (Nov. 5) was simply a way to have a Samhain fire without being labled a witch (instead of a commemoration of the foiling of a plot to blow up the British parliament in 1605)... an example of the art of being hidden in plain sight which has allowed many pagan folk to survive in pagan-hostile environments. Hallowe'en for me is a contempory, secular take on Samhain or the Feast of the Dead or any of a number of names for this season and this observence. Hallowe'en is a way for western society to address death by laughing and having fun and accepting that death is also a part of life - something western societies don't generally do very well.

Samhain is ancient. It is a time that is outside of time. Generally we have three celebrations - a circle with the children (but not on the 31st so as not to interfere with trick or treating) , one with Circle members (on or about the 31st), and a smaller, deeper one on Old Samhain (Nov. 6 this year).

Interestingly, this year Samhain coincides with the Islamic and B'ahai Ramadan and the Hindu Darwali as well the the Christian All Saints' Day. Wouldn't it be lovely to think that the coinciding is a harbinger of all of us being able to celebrate together with respect for all faiths?

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Fair point Morag. I am still a kid at heart I guess, being adult has it's benies but...

I'm still looking for a position.

Knight, a brilliant storey!

Knight that is a fascinating ritual. Thanks for sharing.

I try not to be an adult when I can avoid it. I tell my dh all the time that I don't want to grow up. Heck I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. :cool:

You'll find one soon. I'm sure of it. I'm still stunned that it only took me a week. After the last fiasco when it took a year. :geez:

[Elaira]

I think of the holiday as something seperated into 2,because different people will have different views on it: Halloween as the holiday that non-pagan/pagan celebrate, with having fun as the main theme, while Samhain for those who are serious about their religion, honouring your ancestors and reflecting on your life etc.

Oddly though, when i see the word "Halloween", i'll think of Samhain.... but when i see the word "Samhain" (rarely in public here...), i dont think of Halloween. I usually celebrate Samhain by myself, caz people here dont really celebrate Halloween at all.