How the Celts Celebrated Samhain - A Window into the Ancient Festival

Samhain (pronounced “sow-en”) is one of the most important festivals in the Celtic calendar, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. This ancient celebration, which typically falls on the night of October 31st through November 1st, is considered the Celtic New Year and a time when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest. For the Celts, Samhain was a powerful and magical time, filled with both reverence for the dead and preparation for the cold, dark months ahead.

In this blog, we’ll explore how the Celts traditionally celebrated Samhain, the significance behind their customs, and how you can incorporate some of these ancient practices into your own modern-day Samhain celebrations.

Samhain marked a pivotal time of transition for the Celts, symbolizing the shift from the light half of the year to the dark half. The festival was seen as a “liminal” period, when boundaries between the physical world and the spirit world blurred, allowing spirits, both friendly and malevolent, to cross over into the realm of the living.

Samhain was also a time to honor the ancestors and the spirits of those who had passed. The Celts believed that during this time, the dead returned to visit their homes and families, and many of the customs surrounding Samhain were designed to honor and appease these spirits.

The word "Samhain" itself means "summer’s end," reflecting the end of the harvest season and the start of winter, a time when resources became scarce and survival depended on careful preparation.

One of the most significant aspects of Samhain for the Celts was honoring their ancestors. They believed that during this time, the dead could visit the living, and they welcomed their presence with reverence and hospitality. Special rituals and offerings were made to the spirits of deceased family members, and many households set up altars or dedicated spaces to honor them.

The "Dumb Supper" was a key ritual during Samhain. A place would be set at the family dinner table for the spirits of the deceased, and food offerings were left for them. The meal was typically eaten in silence to show respect for the spirits, allowing space for their unseen presence. Families would place portions of food outside or on altars to ensure their ancestors were nourished and content.
You can incorporate this tradition by creating an ancestral altar with photos, mementos, and offerings of food and drink. Set aside a quiet time during Samhain to connect with your ancestors, lighting candles in their honor and speaking to them through prayer or meditation.

Bonfires played a central role in Samhain celebrations. These fires, lit on hilltops and in communities, were believed to have protective and purifying powers. The Celts gathered around these fires to burn offerings of crops and livestock, seeking protection for the coming winter. Sometimes, they would carry embers from the communal Samhain bonfire to light their hearth fires at home, symbolizing the carrying of communal protection into their personal spaces.

The fire represented both the end of the growing season and the light that would protect them during the long, dark winter ahead. It was also believed that the bonfires could ward off harmful spirits or malevolent forces that crossed into the physical realm during Samhain.
You can honor this tradition by lighting a small fire or candles on Samhain night. As you do, visualize the light protecting you, your home, and your loved ones from any negative or unwanted energies. You might also write down fears or things you wish to release, and then burn them in the fire as an act of purification.

With the thinning of the veil between the worlds, Samhain was considered an ideal time for divination and seeking insights into the future. The Celts practiced various forms of fortune-telling during Samhain, believing that the heightened spiritual energy made it easier to glimpse what was to come.

One popular form of divination during Samhain was apple divination. The Celts believed that apples, which were associated with immortality and the Otherworld, held magical properties. Young women would peel apples in one continuous strip and toss the peel over their shoulder; the shape it landed in was said to reveal the initials of their future spouse. Others would bob for apples, believing that the first person to bite into an apple would be the next to marry.

Scrying—using reflective surfaces such as water, mirrors, or fire—was another common practice. The Celts believed that gazing into these reflective surfaces could reveal messages from spirits or provide glimpses into the future.
You can practice divination during Samhain by using tarot cards, runes, or scrying with a mirror or bowl of water. Set an intention to receive guidance from the spirit world, and be open to any messages or symbols that come through. You might also try the apple peel divination as a fun way to connect with ancient traditions!

The tradition of wearing costumes during Samhain has ancient Celtic roots. The Celts believed that harmful spirits or faeries might wander the earth during Samhain, and people would disguise themselves by wearing costumes to avoid being recognized and harmed by these wandering spirits. This practice was called “guising,” and it allowed people to blend in with the supernatural beings thought to roam freely on this night.

In some regions, people also went door-to-door in their costumes, reciting verses in exchange for food. This custom eventually evolved into what we know today as trick-or-treating.

Wearing costumes on Halloween is a direct descendant of the Celtic tradition of guising. You can honor this custom by creating a costume that reflects your magical intentions or by dressing in a way that symbolizes a part of yourself you wish to empower or explore.

While the Celts welcomed the spirits of their ancestors, they were also wary of other, more malevolent spirits that might cause harm during Samhain. To protect themselves and their homes, people would leave offerings of food outside to appease these wandering spirits, ensuring they would pass by without causing trouble. This is thought to be the origin of the modern practice of leaving candy out for trick-or-treaters.

In addition to honoring ancestors, the Celts made offerings to the Sidhe, or fae folk, who were believed to be particularly active during Samhain. The Sidhe were powerful beings who could bring either blessings or mischief, so offerings of milk, bread, or butter were left outside to keep them appeased and prevent them from causing harm.

Leave a small plate of food outside your home or on your altar as an offering to the spirits and fae. You can also place crystals, herbs, or other magical items that represent protection around your home to create a protective boundary during this liminal time.

Samhain continues to be celebrated by modern witches, pagans, and those who honor Celtic traditions. While many of the original customs have evolved over time, the essence of Samhain remains the same—a time to honor the dead, connect with the spirit world, and prepare for the winter months ahead.

Whether you light a candle in memory of your ancestors, engage in divination, or hold a bonfire to release what no longer serves you, Samhain offers a powerful opportunity to connect with the cycles of life and death, and to celebrate the magic of the unseen world.

How to Celebrate Samhain in a Modern Context

Even if you don’t follow the exact traditions of the ancient Celts, you can still bring the spirit of Samhain into your modern celebrations. Here are some ideas:

• Create an Ancestral Altar: Dedicate a space in your home to your ancestors. Place photos, heirlooms, and offerings of food and drink on the altar, and spend time in meditation or prayer, connecting with their wisdom and guidance.

• Practice Divination: Use tarot cards, runes, or scrying tools to tap into the heightened spiritual energy of Samhain. Ask for insights into the coming year or guidance from the spirit world.

• Host a Bonfire or Candle Ritual: If you can safely do so, gather around a fire with friends or loved ones, and share stories of the past year. You can also write down things you wish to release and burn them in the fire as a symbolic act of letting go.

• Leave Offerings for the Spirits: Place a small plate of food outside your door or on your altar as a gesture of goodwill to the spirits and fae. This offering can be a simple way to honor the old customs and protect your home.

• Reflect on the Year: Take time to reflect on what you have harvested in the past year, both literally and metaphorically. What lessons have you learned? What challenges have you overcome? Consider setting intentions for the new year ahead, as Samhain is seen as the Celtic New Year.

Samhain was, and remains, a festival rich in symbolism, mystery, and magic. For the Celts, it was a time to honor the dead, celebrate the harvest, and prepare for the challenges of winter. Today, we can still connect with the energy of Samhain by celebrating its themes of death, renewal, and the unseen.

Whether you observe Samhain through ancestral rituals, divination, or simply lighting a candle in the dark, this ancient festival offers a powerful opportunity to connect with both the past and the future, and to honor the cycles of life and death that continue to shape our world.