Samhain part 1: Transition - Seasonal Feature

Samhain was a major early medieval Irish [and later Scottish] festival, heralding on 1 Nov, the onset of winter. A contributor - in part, to the modern Halloween celebrations. In recent times, thanks to an increase in awareness of pagan topics, and features in popular occult themed TV shows and movies, awareness of Samhain has grown. Despite growing awareness, the vast majority of the original lore surrounding this Celtic Feast is vague at best. Many of the features commonly believed to have been part of the festival are not at all proven from close examination of the principal historical sources. In fact all that can be said with certainty is that during this period major tribal assemblies took place, accompanied by feasting, entertainment and sport. It is also clear that during this time agricultural communities would have been recently busy with preparations for the onset of winter.

Surprisingly, there is little in the way of explicit connection between the feast of Samhain and the dead, much of that material coming instead from the subsequent Christian Feast of All Soul's Day. That's not to say Samhain didn't have these features, but that no conclusive records survive of it. Sources derived from folklore, however, point to a heightened fear of supernatural forces during this time, as is also the case with the May festival of Beltane, with which Samhain was paired. Locations thought likely to attract spirits, such as crossroads and churchyards were therefore to be avoided during this period. The extent to which All Soul's Day absorbed customs common to Samhain is not known. I will explore the possible associations between Samhain and death more fully in part 2 of this feature. For now, I'll continue with the aspect we know for certain was a major part of this ancient tradition: transition and change.

Like Beltane at the start of summer, the feast of Samhain occurred during a period of obvious change in the natural world. By Nov 1, the trees have already shed many of their leaves, the nights are noticeably shorter, and the first chill of winter can be felt in the air. For a pre-industrial agricultural people, this time would have been the last opportunity to deal with any outstanding matters, as preparations were concluded to ensure survival through the winter.  

Today we take the onset of winter largely for granted. We may grumble about snow making our journeys to work difficult. We may become fed-up with the dark nights and cold weather, but it is unlikely we view the onset of winter as a challenge, or as potentially dangerous. Yet certainly our ancestors did, and they gathered for one last celebration to mark its arrival. This theme of feasting before a time of difficulty, of planning and preparing for potential hardship, is I think at the very heart of Samhain; and subsequently the heart of the modern festival we call Halloween. 

Modern pagans see Samhain as being one among eight in a calender of special ceremonial days, known as The Wheel of the Year. Here too, Samhain is regarded as being at the cusp of the transition into winter, and is honoured as a time to reflect on past accomplishments and to prepare to embrace change. It is this meditational aspect of the modern Samhain celebration that I personally find most fulfilling. There is something very powerful about taking time to be aware of what is occurring in nature, and then to spend some time reflecting on what similar patterns might be operating within your own life. For our ancestors, whose lives were so entwined with the changing seasons, I'm sure this would have happened almost by default.

A ritualised act of this type, incorporated into a larger pattern of seasonal observances, also brings recognition of the cyclical aspect of nature into our lives. It helps to highlight how we can devote a great deal of effort to resisting change. How we seek to establish our own pattern of certainty. We are consumed with bolstering our sense of self, our identity, our possessions, our achievements in the eyes of others. Samhain hints to us of a time when few if any of these things will matter. It is an ideal time to embrace uncertainty, to reflect back on our actions, to let go of the things that have outgrown their use, and to challenge ourselves to find courage in the face of the unknown. To do this doesn't require a belief in anything supernatural, or any particular religious ideology. It requires a simple recognition that our mind responds powerfully to ritual and symbolism, and that the ever present symbolism of nature's seasonal transitions are among the most potent of all. 

If you are planning a night of celebration and feasting for Halloween, you may find it interesting to reflect on what it would mean for you if this were your last chance to party. The last time before changes needed to be made to ensure your survival, or the survival of a way of life. If you could let go of unnecessary baggage accumulated in the name of permanence, and instead focus solely on what truly mattered to live your life, what changes might you make? If you had to draw on finite reserves, and preserve what was most precious, what would you keep? What would you discard? When you look back on what you have accomplished, what serves you now? What will you defend through harsh trials, and what will ease your burden if released? These questions are all part of the spirit of Samhain, a time of inevitable transition.

To be continued...

Further Reading:

The Stations of the Sun by Ronald Hutton, published by Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0-19-285448-8. The best resource on the Ritual Year in Britain, by eminent Bristol University professor and the leading scholar on Paganism in the British Isles. Extensive references.

Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night by Nicholas Rogers, published by Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0-19-516896-8. Focusing on the various elements that have contributed to the modern Halloween celebration, including Samhain.

The Wheel of The Wiccan Year by Gail Duff, published by Rider. ISBN 978-0-7126-1230-2. A look at the modern Wheel of the Year, including Samhain, from a contemporary Pagan perspective.