SAMHAIN / ALL HALLOWS / ALL SAINTS / DIA DEL MORTE
Compiled by my friend, Dr. Leslie Emery
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS
Samhain:
This name apparently was for the Druid Lord of the Dead. It came to denote
the Celtic new year, held on the full moon nearest the Autumnal equinox
and later November 1, when the Goddess trades center stage with Horned
God and the movement is from the physical to the spiritual ascendant --
"the time of the light that looses, the night that wins." Also the Sun God
was thanked as the ripener of the grain. Samhain released the souls of
those who had died in the preceding year from the bodies of lower animals
where they had been confined. Horses and humans were once sacrificed.
Also called the "Blood Moon" -- noting the movement from eating fresh
vegetables to living more off animal slaughter. A celebration of Death in
Life and time to placate dead with hospitality. It was the most solemn of
pagan festivals but not one of mourning. Supposedly dates to Greek and
Egyptian versions. Also a day of reckoning, of paying debts and vengeance
a gathering in or counting, settling quarrels with the living and the dead -
- thus the trick or treat tradition. A time of rift in the laws of nature
that allows for seeing though. Originally a two week `season.' Time for
family reunions, end of fighting season in feudal times. Our contemporary
Halloween traditions are mostly derived from Irish and Scottish Celtic
traditions. Faeries, who are jealous of humans because at judgement day
humans will be given eternal life, though the Faeries are `deathless' till
then, are also active and like to pray on people this time of year.
Witches: originally associated with Hecate: the broom stick her pointer or
"shaman's horse." The witch is the Goddess in Crone aspect. Her pointed
hat draws power to her that she sends out from its flat brim to do her
bidding. Black soot is related to flying ability. Witches like shamans go up
the chimney or smoke hole. Smoke from their chimneys goes against the
wind. Witches were originally a positive personification whose cult
survived underneath Christian dominance for centuries, despite
demonization and persecutions. The witches' sabbath was held at the four
quarters of the year. These were times for feasting and revelry. Dances
were performed in rings by couples back to back, arms linked, alternately
carrying each other. Witches and cats were persecuted alike as demonized
figures of feminine powers.
The Man In Black: The Bum, Hobo, Fool who wears old clothes, soot
blackened skin, who led the magical dance disguised as dog, goat, bull deer
or cat. A death or inter-worldly figure?
All Hollows: Oct. 31
This is the eve of Samhain and All Saints day, on which hallow mass was
said, so the name Hallowe'en, on which the offerings were sometimes
first placed out, similar to Christmas eve.
All Saints: November 1
This day was designated by the Church to honor all Saints because there
were not enough holy days for them all in the year. This move helped
over-lay the pagan holiday with a Christian one and emphasize the
distinction between good and evil spirits.
All Souls: November 2
This day the Church designated to honor those who died in the faith,
particularly in the last year. A feast of general intercession for the souls
of the dead. It was practically universal by the 13th century.
Dia Del Morte: November 2
The Mexican Day of The Dead combines indigenous American notions
similar to the Celtic ones with Catholic Christian culture celebrations of
the souls of Saints, known and unknown. It is a celebration of death in life
that follows All Hallows (Oct. 31) and All Saint's Day (Nov. 1). Ofrenda
altars are set with images, photos and food for the souls the dead who
come to visit. Candles burn all night. Vigils are held in cemeteries.
Marriages of a man to a woman corpse, or skeleton woman, played by a
man carried in a coffin, are held in public. The Spirits are invited to
party. Images of jolly skeletons proliferate.
RITUALS AND ENACTMENTS
*Bells: tolling of bells to guide travelers to refuge, save them from
faeries, cast protective spells. This is not a time to be alone in the
woods.
*Masks and costumes: Invocations of Gods, Animals, Spirits and the
dead. Masks may be made to be positioned around the gathering's circle
and/or worn by dancers.
*Fire: For Celts a Fire Festival similar to Beltane. Bonfires lit to
welcome and warm, encourage sun to get though winter, guide travelers on
this mysterious night. Fire was considered purifying by pagans and
Christians.
*Divinations: A time when the veil between worlds of living and dead,
past and present is thinnest and so a good time for divining: Wine glass
and alphabet (ouiji board), Tarot readings, rune casting, dripping of candle
wax into water to form image for interpretation, etc. Apple bobbing or
snapping a `lottery for immortality' or luck in the coming year. Important
time for dream interpretation.
*Midnight invocation on All Hallows eve, the 30th, by putting out food for
spirits
*Wrong or ragged dressing to amuse the devil and faeries, throw them off
*The choosing of a `priest' and `priestess' for the ceremonies to be
goddess and horned god.
*An Altar or Ofrenda where objects and photos relative to the dead are
placed with candles. Figures of celebrating skeletons, some edible, a
popular motif.
*Dancing with unseen spirits that come to visit as well as spirits of
animals eaten. Bidding animals `merry meet, merry part and merry meet
again.' Thanking them.
*The Feast of the Dead or The Dumb Supper: places set for the dead at
table.
*Cakes and wine set out by the fire side or in the cemetery for spirits
*Welcoming the dead into the assembled circle of the living through the
Western Gate
*Burning of indigo blue candles to symbolize attaining higher spiritual
plane with the rune like a backwards Z on it that describes travel between
the planes of material and spiritual
*Speaking to the dead through devices or mediums
*Daubing the ashes of the Sabbath fire on one as protection
*Processions of costumed people called "soulers" who walked singing
through towns, stopped at houses to request alms for which they would
say prayers for the dead. Bakers made soul cakes with currant decorations
and saumas or soul mass loaves one of which was kept in the house all
year for good luck. In some places soulers were rowdy and begged for wine
and beer. Some processions involved a man in a horse costume and another
who officiates is known as The White Mare.
TRADITIONAL FOODS AND DECOR
*Fierce faced pumpkins to scare evils spirits: gate keepers
*Autumn harvest items: pumpkins, gourds, hazelnuts, corn stalks,
walnuts, apples, cider. Apples a symbol of immortality to Celts.
*Spiced mulled wine or cider that will keep the evil spirits away
*Candles that welcome, guide spirits of dead, those of children to be born
in the new year, and in some cases ward off bad spirits.
*Sweets in shapes of goblins, spirits, witches, gods
*Panes de muertos, or bread of the dead: flat sweet bread in shapes of
people and animals decorated in colored icing costumes.
*Tequila pudding.
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