Samhain is quickly approaching, and I've got a number of things yet to do. But I was also asked by a news reporter about Samhain, and I thought to post my response here as well (just before the article comes out at the end of the week).
Um, need to post an announcement to the blog too... Sorry, nearly forgot that.
Samhain is regarded as the one of the 8 High Days that we, as ADF Druids (Ár nDraíocht Féin: Irish translated as Our Own Druidry ) celebrate, as well as a number of other Pagan and Neo-Pagan groups in the Northern Hemisphere around October 31st/November 1st as the End of Summer (folk tradition has references to the Old Irish meaning sam-fain being summers-end). A time to stock up for the coming winter months, a time of plenty and feasting for the community.
In a Celtic hearth culture, it's a time to celebrate the third and final harvest of the year. The end of one year, and the start of another, and is usually thought of as the Celtic New Year (although, this too may be a folk custom, as the supporting sources such as the Coligny Calendar did not state how it matches with the Roman Calendar around the 1st Century CE). For many pagans it's a time to remember the honoured dead, the ancestors of blood and spirit of a person, group, tribe or family. Some light bonfires, and reference it as a fire festival (much like it's counterpart holiday, Beltane).
- Is it related to Halloween (other than being the same date)? If so, how?
Halloween, the secular holiday, has roots in Samhain. A time where children dress up as spooks and ghouls and go 'trick or treating' in the neighborhood, a time of harmless fun that families have enjoyed for years (from my own point, seen from going door to door, and handing out candy). Some refer to it a All Saints day (which you could argue are ancestors themselves from a religious standpoint).
- Why do you observe it? / How do you celebrate it?
I, personally, observe it because I feel it is the best time to give praise to my Ancestors, those gone from this world, of both those related to me and those hero's, people and animals no longer amongst us. I feel that it is a time where the barrier between our world and the otherworld is thinner. To those who have passed away this past year I have the chance to praise, and toast them, and use it as part of the grieving process.
As a member of Snow Water Grove, ADF, we spend time honouring the Ancestors at this time of year, as they are one of the three Kindred (the others being the Nature Spirits, and Shining Ones) we routinely praise, and have a reciprocal relationship with not only in our rituals, but our lives too, and gives the Grove and the community it supports, the chance to offer praise; be it old songs family members enjoyed, stories and memories, or their favorite food, drink, even tobacco.
We set out an additional place at the table for the Ancestors too, and invite them to join us for our rite at this time. As in all our public rites, we send gifts and praise to the Ancestors at Samhain, and ask for their blessings, wisdom, and help in the coming winter months, as we have a belief in reciprocity, a belief of a Gift calls for a Gift.
- I saw on your Web site that you have a public ritual scheduled for Nov. 1. I just wanted to make sure that the time listed there is correct. (The U.N.C.L.E. Web site says 5 p.m.)
Alas, I had made a mistake and not updated our website. The public ritual is to start at 5pm on Sunday November the 1st at the Meadville UU Church, in the Parish House dining room.
- Anything else you'd care to add?
Some say it's the time of both good and bad ghosts, hence the dressing up as spooks to scare the bad ones away, to others it's a way to make the spirits feel more at home by seeing those like themselves, and help them to their old places, to see their families once again. Some say it's an evil time, and the practice should be banned, which doesn't promote tolerance in the community at all. I fear that some don't think about it at all.
"We whisper words as the wheel and the world turn,
I take a minute, a moment for those missing,
Hail the Ancestors, Hail the hero's we learn,
To the Ancestors: I remember your deeds."
- Your name and title (if you have one) with Snow Water Grove.
- Grey Paul Whittney, Snow Water Grove, ADF (Senior Druid)
Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF) is an international fellowship devoted to creating a public tradition of Neopagan Druidry. See www.adf.org for more information.
See: www.snowwatergrove.org for more information about the grove.
