In Search of Samhain

Last updated on: April 15, 2018 at 9:02 pm by D.C. McBride

In Search of Samhain 2018-04-15T21:02:28+00:00 D.C. McBride

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rituals Ancient and Modern

The timing of Samhain in early November would place it at the end of the grazing season, when cattle were being driven back in from their summer pastures [3]. During this time, the cattle that were unlikely to survive the winter would be identified and slaughtered [3][5]. The reunion of the herdsmen with their communities, combined with the abundance of meat and harvested crops, meant that this was a prime opportunity for community feasting. Samhain itself marked a ritual end to the harvest season, as is implied by a number of extant folk traditions [2][5]. For instance: all harvest work was to be finished by Samhain, at which point the Tribe’s contract with the Land expired and land spirits were no longer compelled to cooperate with humanity until Imbolc [2]. Notably, there were prohibitions on picking or eating anything that was left in the fields by Samhain, as they now belonged to the land spirits [5]. One regional tradition claims that such crops would be spat or urinated on by the púca on Samhain eve so as to claim them [5][9].

Wicker man on fire at the Archaeolink outdoor museum, Oyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. (Source: Wikimedia)

Prior to the coming of Christianity, the main Samhain religious practice was a rite that Alexi Kondratiev calls the “bonfire ritual” [2]. This was a ritual extinguishing of all household fires on Samhain eve, only to have them rekindled from a special ritual fire. At Ireland’s spiritual center of Tara, the ritual fire would be kindled on the nearby Hill of Tlachtga, the mythological burial-place of “an archetypal druid of immense power” [2]. Offerings would be cast into the fire [6], and brands lit from it. These torches would then move through the countryside, with all household fires being rekindled from them. In this manner, each household fire (in the entire country, if Geoffrey Keating is to be believed [6]) would be re-lit from the sacred fire near Tara. There were other Samhain bonfire rituals recorded [10], many suggesting that the smoke contained a healing or cleansing property. There were local traditions in Ireland where men and boys would scoop up the embers after the fire died down and throw them at each other. Ashes from the bonfire were considered to have protective properties against harmful spirits or magick [5]. In some areas, two bonfires would be erected and people (sometimes with their cattle) would walk between them to be purified [10].

Another major theme of Samhain was that of hospitality for the dead. Because the boundary between this world and the Otherworld were so thin, the dead could visit and be seen by the living. As a result, a large number of surviving folk traditions in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales emphasize hospitality to the dead. In Ireland, custom was that one should avoid leaving their home on Samhain eve unless absolutely necessary. If one did venture out, they should avoid looking behind them, as they would see the dead following them [6]. However, because the dead were out and about it was just as important that one make their home hospitable to welcome any dead relatives that may stop by. In Wales, while food was left outside to feed wandering spirits, inside the hearth was left stoked and chairs set out to welcome any familial dead. The door would be left unbolted to welcome these relatives in [6]. Similar variants on this tradition come from Ireland. In some cases, the door would be closed but unbolted and a bowl of fresh water put out next to the burning hearth. In others, an extra place would be set at the table and a bowl of special porridge made for the dead, with the door left open. More recent practices included leaving a candle in a window for each expected dead relation, as well as trips to visit and clean up family graves [5]. Morgan Daimler notes that in Irish tradition, the return of the dead specifically occurred on the eve of November 2nd, leading her to speculate that the return of the dead may have marked the final day of the old three-day-long Samhain celebration [5].

Go back Continue Reading

About D.C. McBride

A Unitarian-Universalist since 2009, Dan McBride is a practicing Devotional Polytheist, a member of Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship, and the Coordinating Officer of UUCB-CUUPS. His spiritual interests are in Neo-Pagan religions and Irish folklore and mythology, as well as in inter- and intra-religious dialog. Outside of the grove, he enjoys technology, hiking, camping, skiing, history, photography, and adventuring with his wife. A fifth-generation downstate New Yorker, Dan traces his roots back to the Italian region of Calabria and County Waterford in Ireland. He currently resides near the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers in Binghamton, NY, where he makes his living as a technology professional. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

October 26, 2016

Who Wants to Host Convocations?

Next Post

October 28, 2016 Embracing Samhain, Embracing Life

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Current Events CUUPS Press Release Interfaith liturgy Media Review podcast Religious Education Seasonal Reflection Spiritual Practice Summary Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz