BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Wicca Samhain - How do you celebrate Halloween?

Information about Samhain

We usually have a big party/pot luck. Invite friends over, eat, drink and be merry.

We set up an altar, and tell stories of those who've passed. We decorate the house with garlands of autumn leaves, put out our favorite smelling candles; pound cake, berries, vanilla spice... mmmmm....

I liked your idea of burying apples for those returning. Maybe I'll have the kids do that - and maybe leave out an offering - bread and honey, ya know?

How do we celebrate Samhain in my home? We do a small ritual to remember the ancestors. Because we use a dresser top for the alter, the alter itself is large enough to have a special spot for the ancestors up all year. For those interested this special spot consist of three candles, an item that represents my husband's family (a wooden Scottish Terrier carved by one of his great grandparents) and an item that represents mine (a small ceramic box my grandmother gave me from her native country). The ritual consist primarily of lighting the three candles and burning incense in honor of the dead. This is done in complete silence much like the "dumb dinners of old".

I make a list of what I want to accomplish in the coming year, then burn the list.