Wheel of the Year
Artist: Joseph A. Smith

The holidays of Witches occur on what we refer to as the Wheel of the Year. This terminology illustrates the innate belief that earth religions hold that time is circular, not linear. Through the holidays of the year we celebrate the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, apparent in nature as well as human life. Consequently, through the celebration of the Wheel of the Year we are linked to the ever changing cycle of life, death, and rebirth. It is through the celebration and connection of these holidays we are allowed to experience and thus understand the eternal process.

S A M H A I N
(October 31st.)

also known as: Halloween, ShadowFest, Martinmas, Old Hallowmas


SAMHAIN: (October 31-Nov 1) The Last Harvest. The Earth nods a sad farewell to the God. We know that He will once again be reborn of the Goddess and the cycle will continue. This is the time of reflection, the time to honor the Ancients who have gone on before us and the time of 'Seeing"(divination). As we contemplate the Wheel of the Year, we come to recognize our own part in the eternal cycle of Life.



Additional Features: Hearken Now, The Darkness Comes! - story By Lark
Celtic Feast of the Dead - lyric By Fritz
You Call It Hallowe'en... We Call It Samhain - traditions and customs By Peg

A Quick History: The Celtic peoples called the time between Samhain (pronounced "SOW-in" in Ireland, SOW-een in Wales, "SAV-en" in Scotland or even "SAM-haine" in non Gaelic speaking countries) and Brigid's Day "the period of little sun." Thus, Samhain is often named the "Last Harvest" or "Summer's End". While almost all Celtic based traditions recognize this Holiday as the end of the "old" year, some groups do not celebrate the coming of the "new year" until Yule. Some consider the time between Samhain and Yule as a time which does not even exist on the Earthly plane. The "time which is no time" was considered in the "old days" to be both very magickal and very dangerous. So even today, we celebrate this Holiday with a mixture of joyous celebration and 'spine tingling" reverence.

The Samhain Holiday begins at sundown on October 31st. The nightide was always a time to be wary of walking alone in the countryside. So much more on this Night when the veils between the worlds of humans and spirits was at its thinnest. Traditional lore speaks of the dead returning to visit their kin and the doors to the Lands of the Sidhe (pronounced "shee") or Faery Realm being opened.

"The Feast of the Dead" ("Fleadh nan Mairbh") is laid out by many to welcome these otherworldly visitors and gain their favor for the coming year. Many folks leave milk and cakes ("Bannock Samhain" ) outside their door on Samhain Eve or set a place at their table for their ancestors who may want to join in the celebrations with their kin and family.

Some Witches use a chant at the beginning of the Feast to welcome their ancestors. One of these, for example goes like this:


"And so it is, we gather again,
The feast of our dead to begin.
Our Ancients, our Ancestors we invite, "Come!"
And follow the setting of the sun."

"Whom do we call? We call them by name...."
(Name your ancestor that you wish want to welcome.)

"The Ancients have come! Here with us stand
Where ever the country, where ever the land-
They leave us not, to travel alone;
Flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone!

Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Great be their Power!
Past ones and present-at this very hour!

Welcome within are the dead who are kin,
Feast here with us and rest here within-
Our hearth is your hearth and welcome to thee;
Old tales to tell and new visions to see!"


It is also customary to light a new candle for the "new year". This ritual harkens back to the days when Samhain was one of only two days- the other being Beltaine-when it was considered correct to extinguish the "hearth fire" and then to re-light it. If your fire failed at any other time of the year, it was thought to be very bad luck indeed.

Upon the rekindling of the fire in the morning, this blessing was often said:


"We Call Upon
The Sacred Three:
To Save
To Shield
To Surround
The Hearth
The House
The Household
This Night Each Night Every Night."


Many Witches of the Old Ways, actually celebrate "two" Samhains or Halloweens (Yes, some older traditions DO use the term "halloween"!). The "Old" date for Samhain occurs when the sun has reached 15 degrees Scorpio. (As a side note, the Catholic Church has "borrowed" this same day to celebrate the holiday of "Martinmas".) So if you follow this Way, you can always celebrate the "party aspect" with your friends on one date and the "worship" part with your kin on the other.

If you are interested in learning more about Samhain traditions and customs, you can read Peg Aloi's article entitled "You Call It Hallowe'en... We Call It Samhain"


"Samhain Night"

Beneath the square ___ Of Arthur's Wain
The Faery Mounds ___ So long have lain
Like sleeping giants ___ On the Land
Like dreams we seek ___ To understand.

The Darkest Night ___ Has come around
The bay of Hounds ___ The only sound
As star-white steeds ___ Race through the wind
And branches rattle ___ And dry leaves spin.

Flashing silver ___ Pierces the Moon
Swords held high ___ Against the gloom.
Wheels of fire ___ Roll on by
As shields are raised ___ Against the sky.

Gwynn ap Nudd ___ In white and red
Heads the Hunt ___ Of the Ancient Dead
Into the realm ___ Of darkened Light
A mighty Band ___ Charges in swift flight.

This Night holds both ___ Beginning and end.
The Wheel has come ___ Full Circle again.
The past and future ___ Come into our sight
All becomes One ___ On this magick Night.

Between the heavens ___ And the earth
The Way now opens ___ To bring forth
The Hosts of those ___ Who went on before-
They come riding now ___ Through the Open Door.

Dark Wild Hunters ___ Racing the Year.
Time stands still as ___ Past and Future appear
Encircled between ___ The Dark and the Light-
Together again ___ On this Samhain Night.


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