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| THE STORY OF SAMHAIN Copyright 2001 Rachel Walker The land was cold and grey, and the days were short. Over the hill, the god was leaving, his work for another year was done. The people huddled together as they watched him leave, sorrowful and afraid in case he did not return. The stores were full of grain and fruit and vegetables with which the god had blessed them, and they thought gratefully of the sacrifice he had made in giving them these things. They knew that if the god had not given all his strength and power, he would not now have to leave - but they also understood he would not do this, for the god loved the people, and knew that if he did not sacrifice himself they would have no food and would perish. The people turned their gaze to the goddess, sad and silent as she watched her Lord grow more distant over the horizon. She smiled at the people, and reassured them that she would not be leaving, however weary she would remain to guard and protect the land and the people alone. Silently, the people sat together, each lost in his or her own thoughts of their own departed loved ones. They remembered them filled with life and laughter, and knew that like the god, they would one day return. They knew that this was a time of mourning for things gone, but also of looking forward to things yet to be, and prepared a feast of seasonal fruits, apples and pumpkins, and sat together under the watchful gaze of the grieving goddess. |
| PLANT - Pumpkin, thistle, hazel, wormwood. ALTAR - A pumpkin, chrysanthemums, black candle FOOD - Apples, raisins. (Baked Alaska is good!) "On this night of Samhain I must bid goodbye To the God and Lord of the daylight sky I honour too, those who have gone before Resting until we meet once more Eternal Lady, Goddess of the night Help me see that from dark comes light" Light your black candle, thinking of departed souls. Think about things in your own life that you wish were different and visualise all the negative aspects being burned in the flame: "Goddess of all the Earth and life Help me see what's caused me strife Transform that which troubles me Guide me to the best that I can be From the dark, light ever springs Hail Goddess and the hope you bring." SAMHAIN Copyright © 2001 VirtualCoven. All Rights Reserved |
| The Witch submitted and written by: Shedea <mailto:shedea@hotmail.com> The Witch finds her way to the sacred grove Her path is lit by the full moon above The sky is dark;the moon is bright And illumines the grove with ethereal light She solemnly grasps her sacred sword And draws a circle without a word She purifies,blesses water and salt then sprinkles the mixture about She treads the same path with charcoal and censor the fragrant,swirling clouds become denser Four candles she lights;the circle she blesses before her alter,the God she addresses She calls to the wind and the sun and the moon Dancing in time to a haunting tune Bewitchingly moving with rhytmic grace Lithe of figure and fair of face Round around and around she goes Chanting a rune that only she knows Faster,faster then faster around She spins till she finally sinks to the ground To the flames in the cauldron she casts magickal herbs Gazing in trance whilst repeating strong words Nine times nine she chants them out Louder then louder she ends with a shout With her knife she blesses the cake and the wine And after a toast to the old ones in rhyme She partakes in honour of the Goddess and God Salutes and gives them a gentle nod Smiling she takes up her knife again Dismissing the Elements whence they came She opens the circle and snuffs out the flames And then slowly returns to the world mundane |
| MAGIC There is magic everywhere--you can see it. It's the blue up in the sky, And the twinkle in an eye, Or the love baked in a pie. And the rules of magic say--you can be it. Put some magic in your pocket--then just share it. Laugh with someone who is sad, Forgive a person who's been bad, Really listen to your dad, Spread the rest across your face--and you'll wear it. Put the edges of your mouth--up in the air. It's amazing how a smile Will last a long, long while. And is never out of style. Soon the magic that you seek--it will be there. --Grandpa Tucker Copyright ©1997 Bob Tucke |
| Pin The Smile On The Pumpkin Make a huge pumpkin out of poster board. Decorate the pumpkin with eyes minus a smile. Make a smile for each child out of black construction paper. Then play the game pin the smile on the pumpkin. http://www.crystalforest.homestead.com |
| Samhain Pantomime Move as if you are: Carrying a great big pumpkin. A little baby ghost. Putting on your Samhain costume. Carving a little tiny pumpkin. Going up and down a porch's steps trick or treating. Jumping up to say Boo-oo-oo. A big black cat. See if the children can guess what you are performing and then see what they can come up with and act out. http://www.crystalforest.homestead.com |
| Ghost Callers/Ghost Hunt Materials: Two ghosts; draw them or use two ghost figures. Directions: Cut white construction paper into 4"x5" pieces. Roll and tape to form tubes. These are the ghost callers. Make one for each child. 1. Go on a ghost hunt. Show everyone the two ghosts. Have children close their eyes. Supervising adult hides the ghosts. 2. Children open eyes and count 1-2-3 GHOST! On the count of "ghost" the hunt begins. 3. The children who find the two ghosts sit by the supervising adult. Give them a ghost caller and let them make ghost noises for the next ghost hunt. The noise helps call the ghosts from their hiding places. 4. Continue until all children are making ghost noises. http://www.crystalforest.homestead.com |
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| Bright Futures Materials: 10-12 flower bulbs, A trowel or small shovel, a small spot of earth for a flower bed. Decide where you want the flowers to bloom in the spring. Dig the holes for each bulb two and one half time the diameter of the bulb. Place or pour some fertilizer into the bottom of the hole. Place in the bulb, root side down, and cover with dirt. Water the area well. (Tell the children about how the bulbs are buried just as the Sun God starts his journey to the Underworld. Just as he is not really dead, neither are the bulbs. They are warm and alive beneath the ground, in the womb of the Mother Earth, gathering strength for when they emerge and bloom as bright as the Sun, come next spring.) http://www.crystalforest.homestead.com |
| Witch, Witch, Ghost (Play exactly like "Duck, duck, goose"--just change the names. You can play this game all the time but change the names to fit theme or holiday http://www.crystalforest.homestead.com |
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| Fabric Softener Sheet Ghosts Ever wondered what to do with old fabric softener sheets? Why not make a spooky little Ghost! And they smell great too! Don't have enough sheets? Use white tissue paper instead. You will need: Three used fabric softener sheets; Some string or an elastic band; A black marker. Crumple two of the sheets into a ball. Put the other piece on the table, spread out and flat. The put the ball of tissue paper in the center of the flat peace. Pull up all the corners and squeeze the paper just under the ball (it should look like a ghost shape now). Tie the string or elastic band (just under the ball). Add eyes and a mouth with the marker. Voila! A little Ghost!! http://www.crystalforest.homestead.com |
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| Five Little Pumpkins Five little pumpkins (hold up fingers for pumpkins) Sitting on a gate The first once said "Oh my! It's getting late" The second one said, "There are witches in the air" The third once said " But we don't care" The fourth once said "It's Samhain fun" Ooooooh went the wind And out when the lights (clap hands to the word "out") And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight (roll arms) |
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| Witch on Samhain Tune Farmer in the Dell The witch on Samhain, the witch on Samhain, Heigh ho, let's trick or treat, the witch on Samhain 2nd verse: The witch chooses a goblin 3rd verse: the goblin chooses a bat 4th verse: the bat chooses a cat 5th verse: the cat chooses a ghost. 6th verse: the ghosts says, "Boo!" 7th verse: they all screech and scream |
| Great Pumpkin is coming to Town You better not shriek, You better not groan, You better not howl, You better not moan, Great Pumpkin is comin' to town! He's going to find out From folds that he meets Who deserves tricks And who deserves treats, Great Pumpkin is comin' to town! He'll search in every pumpkin patch, Haunted houses far and near, To see if you've been spreading gloom Or bringing lot's of cheer. So you better not shriek, You better not groan, You better not howl, You better not moan, Great Pumpkin is comin' to town! |
| Magic Potion Most of you have probably done this in science class at one point...it's loads of fun for the kids and would go GREAT with a Halloween, Harry Potter or wizard party. 2 Tbsp Water 1 Tbsp Baking soda 2 Tbsp Vinegar Place a bowl or cup on a pan or tray (or you'll get potion all over the place!) Fill the bowl with 2 tablespoons of water and stir in a tablespoon of baking soda until it dissolves. Measure 2 tablespoons of vinegar into a separate cup. Pour the vinegar, all at once into the water/baking soda mixture and watch your potion bubble up! WHY'D THAT HAPPEN?? The bubbles that are created are filled with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is a gas that forms when the vinegar (an acid) reacts with the baking soda (a base). For all you bakers out there, this is also what makes cakes and quick breads (the no yeast kind) get all nice and fluffy. Tips For those of you who don't allow Halloween, potions, witches or brews, this craft recipe is still a really NEAT science experiment! |