Blessed Samhain

2,000 years ago, the Celts lived all across what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Northern France. The Celts celebrated on November 1 to mark the end of the summer season and the harvest, and the start of their new year which began with dark, cold and the association with human death. They believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. It was the night to honor the Lord of the Dead, Anwinn. The belief was that spirits of those who had died during that year also gathered that night, driven out of the bare woods and empty fields. The spirits returned to their homes and needed the help of their kin to cross over to the land of the dead. So on this night, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter. To commemorate the event, the Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

So, on this day and night of Hallow E'en, remember those who may have passed this year and celebrate in remembrance of them. And look ahead to the dark, cold time upon us and remember that with every death there is new life, and the sun will return again. We just need to endure the darkness for a short time to make us remember and appreciate the season of new life.

Blessed Be!