SAMHAIN

Samhain (sou' an) is the most solemn holiday of the year. It is held on the second full moon after Harvest. .Samhain is the time of year's end. The barrier between this world and the Otherworld is thinnest on this night and communication and spirits may cross the barrier with more ease than at any other time. Samhain is a time when the ancestors are honored and those who have passed to the Otherworld are remembered. The ritual for Samhain is usually begun by casting a circle, a relatively uncommon practice in Druidism but often used on this night, since negative spirits and energies have as free access to this world as spirits of good intentions. The ritual is a time to remember those who have passed on and welcome any communication or information from the Otherworld. The ritual is followed by a feast. During the feast, a portion of the food is set aside as a gift for invited spirits. If the spirit food is not consumed by the end of the feast, the food is taken outside and left. The best time of day to hold the Samhain ritual is midnight. A common color associated with Samhain is black (often seen as a color of ending). In modern day, Samhain is even more important since so few people have any awareness of their ancestors, and Samhain is the best time of year to get in touch with our past. By learning from our past we achieve a greater sense of who we are. For this holiday, the food should be of as many varieties as possible and in goodly amounts. The feast is the only tangible symbol of Samhain, with the portion set aside for visiting spirits and ancestors. Since it is mostly a time for spiritual comtemplation and inward focus, few external symbols are needed.