In late October and early November, many witches, Wiccans and other pagans around the globe celebrate Samhain, believed to be an ancient Celtic festival in celebration of autumn harvest and the onset of winter.
CaroleGomez via Getty Images
1. Samhain is typically celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1, almost halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.
2. Samhain is pronounced "sah-win" or "sow-in."
3. Some modern pagans consider it the "witch's new year," and the end of the harvest season. It is a time of renewal and spiritual intention-setting.
Chris Ison/PA Archive
4. Rituals surrounding Samhain include bonfires, dancing, feasting and building altars to honor deceased ancestors. Some pagans bake special loaves of Samhain bread and leave offerings to the spirits outside their homes.
5. Samhain is one of eight annual festivals commonly celebrated by pagans of various traditions, along with Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnassad and Mabon.
6. It's considered a liminal time, when the veil between life and death grows thin. Food is set aside for ancestors and protective spirits and rituals honoring the dead take place.
Zing Images via Getty Images
7. Samhain is believed to be one of the original festivals behind the holiday we know as Halloween. Some also associate it to the Christian All Saints' Day on November 1.
8. Some of Halloween's most common traditions are rooted in Samhain's harvest festival roots, such as the carving of pumpkins and bobbing for apples.
9. The Yellow Book of Lecan, a medieval book of tales, reported that people referred to Samhain as the "Feast of Mongfind," a legendary witch-queen who married the King of Tara in old Ireland and was central to ancient Samhain celebrations, Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary writes.
Felipe Dupouy via Getty Images
10. Some celebrate Samhain with a ritual to guide the dead home by opening a western-facing door or window and placing a candle by the opening.
How do you celebrate Samhain? Let us know in the comments!
Also on HuffPost:
Samhain 2015: Dates, Traditions And Rituals Of The Pagan New Year It's considered a liminal time, when the veil between life and death grows thin.
Samhain 2015: Dates, Traditions And Rituals Of The Pagan ...
4. Rituals surrounding Samhain include bonfires, dancing, feasting and building altars to honor deceased ancestors. Some pagans bake special loaves of Samhain bread
Samhain 2015: Dates, Traditions And Rituals Of The Pagan ...
SAMHAIN 2015: DATES, TRADITIONS AND RITUALS OF THE PAGAN NEW YEAR In late October and early November, many witches, Wiccans and other pagans around the globe
Samhain Rituals and Ceremonies Witches Of The Craft®
SAMHAIN RITUALS AND to Celebrate Samhain Looking for a ceremony or ritual to celebrate the Pagan sabbat of Samhain? Wiccan traditions,
Samhain Ritual 2015 The Pagan Collective of Victoria
Posts about Samhain Ritual 2015 written by Pagan Collective of Victoria Selene is available again for Samhain Ritual, the dates will be discussed with
Samhain 2015 festivities - Temple of Witchcraft
Samhain 2015 festivities. by Gemini This year, the Temples annual Samhain Psychic Fair and Ritual fall on the actual date Pre-registration for our Samhain
Samhain 2015: 5 Things You Need To Know About The Pagan ...
Samhain 2015: 5 Things You Need To Know About The Pagan Festival. but its roots are in a far lesser-known pagan holiday Samhain. October 27, 2015 .
Samhain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frazer also put forth that Samhain had been the pagan Celtic festival of the dead often celebrate Samhain on the date of On specific customs and rituals.
Samhain 2015 - Circle Sanctuary
Samhain 2015 October 30 All are invited to this legal Pagan You are invited to put your energy into the preparation of tonights Samhain Ritual as we work
Celebrating Samhain - Circle Sanctuary
Most Samhain rituals are held in Research old and contemporary Samhain customs in an international Wiccan church and Pagan resource center