BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Wicca Celebrating Samhain

What do you do to celebrate Samhain?

I have a stargaze on October 31. For some reason there are a lot of people out early in the evening and we usually attract a good crowd. However, a lot of them have a sweet tooth so I come prepared with sweets; their parents do not mind if I give them candy.

There is a large public spiral dance hosted by Starhawk and the Reclaiming Community, and I usually go to that.

Oh firefly that sounds interesting! Do share more about your stargaze...


Rae, I have always wanted to do that event. We have done a 400 person Spiral Dance in festival ritual before but I am sure it still dosent compare!

For Samhain we have a large ritual (30-40 people) with an alter to the dead and a beautiful dumb supper every year. Other parts of the ritual change but those two elements are always part of the ritual. I believe there will be a Drawing Down at this ritual as well. I am looking forward to it for sure!

I did the Spiral Dance a few years back when it was at Herbst Pavilion in Fort Mason and almost reached 2000 people. That was almost too many really. The ritual last year was about 800 people, but was in a much smaller space, which really changed everything. This year the ritual is within walking distance of my apartment! A friend of mine is coming to stay the night and do the ritual with me. It starts around 8pm and runs until 2am.

I must confess, I'm a lazy witch... I usually get caught up in day to day life and forget the sabbatts. Now, samhain I don't usually forget, but I haven't found something that feels right for me to celebrate it yet. I think I'll just go in my backyard this year which is (thankfully) away from most bright lights and I can see the stars. Given, I don't like the cold... grrr...

Amy

Llama,

As a solitary I most often spend any sabbats by myself. I like to walk down to the ocean (2 miles from my apartment) as I feel close to all the elements there. Just some quiet meditation and reflection can be as significant as a big group ritual.

Yes it can! Especially at Samhain when reflection is a major part of the experience.

I plan to celebrate the passing of a very good year with a small solitary ritual and then spend the rest of the evening welcoming in the new year with my husband by sharing a glass of wine in front of a warm fire.

Greetings all!
We always hold a Feast of the Dead; this is our "Thanksgiving" dinner as well as our New Year celebration. Everyone brings a dish, (one fellow always brings the 'dead bread' LOL)we invite the ancestors and set a place at table for the Spirits, and pig out! Afterwards we dance, play games, do readings and lastly raise our Circle. It's always a good time. I like some of the ideas mentioned here! Might I 'steal' one or two??