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| Samhain |
| Samhain.....Ahhhhhh what a wonderful time of the year!~ A time when the veil between the worlds is the thinnest and this is the time best for divination and psychic abilities to be used! This is THE most important of all eight Witches Sabbats! It is the time to honour the spirits of deceased loved ones and friends. This Sabbat is known as the "Witches New Year". It is believed that the ghosts of all persons who were destined to die in the coming year could be seen walking through the graveyards at midnight on Samhain. Many ghosts were thought to be evil natured, so for protection, jack-o'-lanterns with carved, hideous faces were lit to scare away the malevolent spirits. Some Samhain customs are preparing special "Cakes for the Dead". A cake is eaten for each spirit honored, and the more cakes you ate, the more the dead would bless you. Another custom was to lite a fire on the household hearth and let it burn continuously until the first day of the following Spring. Lighting a orange-colored candle at midnight on Samhain and allowing it to burn until sunrise will bring one good luck; however, according to old legend, bad luck will befall those who bake bread on this day or journey after sunset. Divinatiry arts of scrying (crystal gazing) and run-casting on the night of Samhain are Wiccan traditions, so is standing before a mirror and making a secret wish. The traditional Pagan food are apples, pumpkin pie, potatoes, sausages, hazelnuts, Cakes for the Dead, corn, muffins and breads, ale, cider and herbal teas. The traditional colors of this festival are dark red, purple and black for the Crone and dark green and black for the Hunter. Since then, orange has been added. Samhain starter recipes: Samhain Bread of the Dead Hot Apple Cider Apple Bread with Cinnamon Butter Colcannon Roast Loin of Pork |