Celebrating Sahmain

[AlphaOmega]

Ok, so I'm kinda new to this, but please go easy on me! So how exactly do you guys go about celebrating Sahmain. I don't have much supplies to work with either, so take not of that. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[Magicfuzzies]

Forgive me if I'm not typing very clearly. I'm listening to some great music. :clapping:

I just enjoy the day.

Get into the spirit of things...wear a costume...

Before I go to bed I spend time thinking of my loved ones who have passed on, say a prayer for them and invite them to send me messages.

I also do some connecting with deity. I light a candle and let the spirit take over. What happens, happens. I thank the Gods/Goddesses for being with me and ask any particular Ones that I want with me for the next year to attend to me. If I ask for any God/Goddess to be with me I'll have some sort of offering prepared ahead of time. Sometimes it's just a simple candle that I've dedicated to that deity.

Just enjoy the day! Don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Hope this helps. :smile:

[Pandoras]

Follow the links in my sig below - Pagan Parenting and I Am A Witch - for ideas.

[*Rain*]

I'm in the UK and this is a typical thing for us to do where I live. We still call it Halloween.

The fun bit! The kids make a lantern each from a turnip and spend the day getting their costumes ready (always something within the horror genre). In the evening they walk around the local estate and go trick or treating. The adults in the house are giving out sweets to any kids that come by the house in costume. Local families take it in turns to host a party for the kids, especially for those who are a bit too old to trick or treat, but still young enough to want to join in all the traditional games. The reason why the kids dress up when trick or treating is to frighten away spirits that may be wandering about outside. The turnip lantern wards them off too.

The serious bit! When it gets dark, a candle is lit in every window of the house to guide the spirits of our loved ones home. Quite late on (the kids are home by this point) we have a meal and discuss those dear to us who are no longer with us. We hear tales and stories and everyone talks about what they remember about each person. We welcome them back to the family. It's nice for the younger ones who may never have met certain family members to hear about those in the family. I never met 3 of my grandparents but they are alive to me through the tales we tell. It tends to be quite a fun and lively evening as in my family we celebrate the life of the person rather than mourn the passing. If the weather is ok we light a small fire in the garden and sit round that drinking and talking into the early hours. When that thins out people tend to wander off to do their own thing, often scrying or individually contacting loved ones on the other side.

[DivineAthena]

This is the first year I actually celebrate Samhain. I'm doing it with a friend and it's becoming a sort of Samhain/Halloween mix. We're having a "sleepover" in my basement and are planning on staying up all night. We're watching two movies "Sleepy Hollow" and "Mists Of Avalon", reading our fortunes in tarot cards, lighting candles and whatever else we can think of.

[PoisonIvy]

I celebrated last night at a party some friends had. We ate,drank,and stood under the big beautiful moon around a bonfire and just talked and enjoyed each others company. I wish it could have been tonight instead but I work nights. I'm not too at all thrilled about going to work tonight!