The Veil Between Worlds: Exploring the Symbolism of Samhain and the Origins of Halloween
Samhain Symbolism: A Celebration of the Cyclical Nature of Life and the Afterlife
(Art by IrenHorrors)
Samhain (pronounced sow-in,) an ancient Gaelic festival steeped in tradition, hails the end of the bountiful harvest season and heralds the onset of the wintry embrace around November 1st. Unlike the modern-day approach of marking the occasion with a single calendar event, Samhain was once celebrated over a series of days, much like its sister festivals, Imbolc, Bealtaine, and Lughnasa.
Rooted in a deep reverence for the land and its connection to our forebears, this festival echoes the unbreakable ties that bind us to our ancestral roots.
As May commences, Beltaine beckons us to embrace the liminal realm, a threshold that stands between worlds. Along with its counterpart Samhain, this time is marked by a thinning veil, a gateway to the Otherworld that grants us the privilege of communicating with our departed ancestors who have traversed into the Summerland, the mystical afterlife realm.
Samhain's close association with death and the departed is rooted in the natural world's cyclical pattern. At sunset on Samhain, the Celtic New Year commences, marking the end of the old year, the harvest's completion, and winter's arrival. Cattle and sheep are brought indoors from the fields, and leaves fall from the trees, and the earth withers.
As the growing season ends, frost sets in, and vegetation withers, creating an atmosphere of decay and death. This further emphasizes the ancient belief that during Samhain, the line separating the realm of the living from that of the dead becomes blurred, facilitating communication and interaction. Those who have lost loved ones in the past year can use Samhain's rituals to help them come to terms with their grief and connect with their departed loved ones in the Otherworld.
From Samhain to Halloween: How Samhain Customs became part of All Hallows Eve
(Art by IrenHorrors)
The adoption of Christianity in the Western world did not eliminate the pagan roots of Samhain. The customs and practices of this festival were incorporated into the observance of All Hallows Eve or Halloween, which retained many of the traditional pagan rituals, particularly among Irish immigrants in 19th-century America. Trick-or-treating has roots in ancient Irish and Scottish customs, such as mumming, which involved wearing costumes and singing to the deceased while receiving cakes as payment. The tradition of playing pranks on Halloween also harkens back to Samhain, where such tricks were often attributed to fairies.
The story of "Stingy Jack" was a popular myth in ancient Ireland and Scotland. This trickster character played pranks on the devil but was denied entrance into both heaven and hell after his death. As he wandered the earth with only a piece of coal to light his way, he carved out a turnip and made a lantern to hold the burning coal. To ward off Stingy Jack and other malevolent spirits during the Samhain festival, people began carving scary faces onto turnips and potatoes, which eventually transitioned to pumpkins when the tradition was brought to America by Irish immigrants. Thus, the jack-o-lantern symbolizes protection against the dangers of the spirit world when the living and the dead intermingle.
The Dumb Supper is a meaningful ceremony that honors the departed. It is a solemn occasion where guests consume a four-course meal in complete silence, creating a pathway for the spirits to pass through and allowing the attendees to connect with their ancestors. This age-old practice encourages guests to bring photos and keepsakes that will help summon the souls of their loved ones on the other side. The meal is served in reverse order, with dessert served first and the appetizers and bread served last, reflecting the meal the dead would remember.
Creatures of the Night of Samhain (Halloween)
Samhain and the Aos Sí
Legends and folklore recount the tales of supernatural beings, the Aos Sí, supernatural beings in Irish mythology dwelling within the earthen mounds or sídhe, where they could traverse into the earthly plane and engage with mortals. The Aos Sí are commonly believed to be vestiges of ancient pagan deities. During Samhain, offering them food and drink was customary to seek their favor and protection for the coming winter, not only for the people but also for their animals. These tales remind us of the entwined relationship between our world and that of the unseen, where the threshold between realism and liminal is blurred.
Samhain and the Púca
Samhain is surrounded by a mythology that includes several creatures of fright. Amidst the mythological creatures of Ireland lies the púca, a being known for its ability to transform its shape, who receives offerings from the fruitful harvest fields. This creature has strong ties to Samhain. According to tradition, anything left in the fields after the harvest is considered "puka" or cursed by fairies and thus unsuitable for human consumption. In some places, harvesters leave a small portion of the crop, known as the "púca's share," to appease the creature. However, November 1st holds particular significance as it is the púca's day, the only day of the year when one can expect it to act agreeably.
Samhain and the Dullahan
(Art by IrenHorrors)
The Dullahan is another frightening entity that may appear during specific festivals and feast days, such as Samhain. He is also known as the Headless Horseman, a mythical figure often linked to the Celtic God Crom Dubh. He is depicted as riding a black horse or carriage pulled by horses that create fire with their hooves and nostrils.
The Dullahan is said to speak only once during his journey, and that is to call out the name of the person whose life he seeks to take. Once named, the victim's soul is summoned to death without any chance of escape. The only thing that can deter the Dullahan is precious metal, which can cause him and his horses to flee if thrown on the ground before him. The Irish legend of the Dullahan is the basis for Washington Irving's tale, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," and appears in several German stories, including those by the Brothers Grimm.
Samhain and the Lady Gwyn
Under cover of darkness, travelers were warned to beware of an ominous figure known as the Lady Gwyn. Clothed in all-white, this headless woman was infamous for chasing down unsuspecting wanderers who dared to cross her path. In addition, a tailless black sow often accompanied her on her haunting journeys, adding to the ominous aura that surrounded her. Those who encountered her were lured in by her guise as a lost soul, only to find themselves ensnared by her malevolent intentions.
Samhain and the Sluagh
Emerging from the shadows and carried by the west winds, the Sluagh, known as the Underfolk, has haunted Irish mythology for ages. This dreaded entity, more sinister than even Death itself, reigns as the nastiest creature of the Faerie realm. Indeed, even Death must yield to the Sluagh, who race to claim the immortal souls of the living.
As a collective, the Sluagh, meaning "host" in Irish, would fly in from the West to seize a dying soul before it received Last Rites. Even today, when someone is sick or passing, doors and windows on the west side of a home are kept firmly shut to ward off the Sluagh's grasp.
Legends and Folklore of Samhain (Halloween)
The Second Battle of Mag Tuired
During Samhain, myths and stories were often told of legendary Celtic heroes and their encounters with supernatural beings. Among the popular tales was "The Second Battle of Mag Tuired," where the Tuatha Dé Danann gods fought their oppressors, the Fomoire. Chaos ensues on the eve of Samhain as both groups clash in a bloody battle. This story is about oppression and freedom, depicting how the Tuatha Dé Danann settled in Ireland and were taught agriculture by the Fomoire.
The Adventures of Nera
Another renowned tale associated with Samhain is "The Adventures of Nera." It follows the journey of Nera, a brave protagonist who encounters a corpse and other mystical beings, ultimately leading him into the Otherworld.
King Ailill of Connacht presents a challenge to his entourage on Samhain night: to make it to the gallows and tie a band around a hanged man's ankle. All those who attempt the challenge are hindered by demons and run back to the king's hall in terror, except for Nera, who triumphs.
The hanged man then asks for a drink, and Nera obliges, carrying him on his back as they stop at three houses. When they enter the third house, the dead man drinks and spits the liquid on the householders, killing them. On their return, Nera witnesses a fairy host setting the king's hall ablaze and slaughtering those inside. He pursues the host through a doorway into the Otherworld and discovers that what he saw was only a vision of what will occur the following Samhain if nothing is done. Nera returns to the hall and warns the king, preventing the tragedy from taking place.
Fionn mac Cumhaill battles Áillen of the Tuatha Dé Danann
Fionn mac Cumhaill, another Celtic hero, also faced supernatural challenges during Samhain. In one story, Fionn mac Cumhaill achieved a remarkable feat at the tender age of 10. He defeated the fire-breathing man Áillen of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who had been wreaking havoc on the Irish capital of Tara every Samhain for the past 23 years. When the King of Ireland sought volunteers to defend Tara, Fionn courageously stepped forward. Armed with a unique spear, he resisted the sleep-inducing music of Áillen's dulcimer. After defeating the invader and saving Tara, Fionn's valor and prowess were recognized, and he was appointed as the commander of the Fianna.
Samhain Significance & Meaning
(Art by IrenHorrors)
Samhain, a time of mystical wonder, holds significant implications for our psychoemotional growth.
🌙 It serves as an opportunity to revere our ancestors and to reconnect with our heritage, embracing the traditions, places, and people that molded us into who we are.
🌙 As the darkness descends, we are invited to seek solace in the past, reflect on the year's journey, and acknowledge the cycle of life's ebbs and flows. Like the leaves falling, this period reminds us that there are seeds of new beginnings, even in death.
🌙 Samhain urges us to take stock of our year's journey, much like our ancestors did with their harvest and crops. It encourages us to pause and reflect, to renew and transform, and to shed qualities and circumstances that no longer serve us.
We stand poised for renewal and growth as we shed old skin and transform ourselves anew. With Halloween's costumes and masks surrounding us, we can contemplate the ones we wear throughout the year. Are they still a good match for who we are, or have we outgrown them?
In his extensive body of work, Carl Jung devoted a significant portion to the concept of the Shadow, which resonates profoundly during this season of descending darkness. Jung's words hold particular resonance as he posits that filling our conscious mind with idealized visions is a hallmark of Western theosophy, while true enlightenment stems from confronting the Shadow and embracing the world of darkness. According to Jung, the process of making the darkness conscious is a challenging one but a necessary and transformative journey.
As we turn inward during this period, we can delve deeper into our psyche to understand and integrate our shadow qualities and parts. By developing a greater awareness of our internal darkness and cultivating compassion toward it, we can embrace ourselves as a mosaic of all those who have come and gone in our lives. Through this process of self-discovery, we can approach future seasons with grace and fortitude. For inner peace lies not in evading our shadows but in integrating all our parts into our whole being to become a fuller expression of ourselves.
Inviting Halloween Within: Samhain Blessings
May this season of Samhain bring forth a renewed cycle of inner tranquility, deep introspection, and invigorated fortitude for each of us. May we delve deeper into the stillness within and find solace in our innermost being, gaining clarity in our path.
As we traverse the threshold between the old and the new, let us embrace the blessings that Samhain bestows upon us. May we honor our ancestors, heritage, and all that has brought us to this moment.
(Art by IrenHorrors)
With Halloween festivities abounding, let us also revel in the joy and whimsy this holiday brings. May we celebrate life, death, and all that lies in between with playful abandon and childlike wonder.
May this season be one of transformation, growth, and new beginnings. Samhain Blessings to all, and a Happy Halloween!
Warmly,
Anny
🎃💀👻
Kindly note: The information included in this blog is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for mental health services. Please consult with a qualified professional to determine the appropriateness of the information for your own life experiences or if you have any questions. .
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References
Jung, C. G. (1945). The Philosophical Tree. In CW 13. Alchemical Studies, Collected Works Volume 13, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
