Samhain

Date: October 31

Description: The first celebration of the Winter and the day the Celtic New Year begins.

Samhain is a time for both beginnings and endings. In ancient times the Celtic people celebrated the Celtic Feast Of The Dead, to honor the memories of their ancestors.

Wiccans today often share this custom by lifting the veil on this night of high psychic charge to contact their own ancestors. Spells are perfomed to do away with old negative patterns or situations to make room for new life.

Samhain is also know as: Hollomas, Samana, Samhuinn, and Samonios. (Halloween in modern Christian times as well.)

Colors: Black, Orange, White, Silver and Gold.

Symbols: Cauldron, Jack'O Lantern, Mask, Gourds, Apples, Black Cats, Besoms (Brooms), and Balefire.

Deities: Crone Goddess, Dying/Aging Gods & Goddesses, Sacrificial Gods/Goddesses, Death and Otherworld Gods/Goddesses.

Herbs: Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak Leaves, Sage and Straw.

Foods: Turnips, Apples, Gourds, Nuts, Mulled Wines, Beef, Pork & Poultry.

Incense: Heliotrope, Mint, Nutmeg.

Stones: All Black stones preferably Jet or Obsidian.