Oíche Shamhna

Note:This article does not cover all traditions associated with this holiday and includes my own Unsubstantiated Personal Gnosis

Observed By: Irish People, Scottish People, Neopagans, Celtic Re-constructionist Pagans,

Date:Evening of October 31st to the Evening of November 1st

Related To: Hallowe'en, All Saints Day, All Souls Day

Also Known As: Samhain(Neopagan/Wiccan), Oidhche Shamhna(Scots Gaelic), Oíche Shamhna(Irish)

Pronunciation: Oíche Shamhna(Irish):ee-heh how-nah, Oidhche Shamhna(Scots Gaelic):oy-hya how-na, spoken very roughly, Samhain(Neopagan/Wiccan): sah-vwin or sow-en


Oíche Shamhna is the final harvest festival and a time for mourning the newly dead as well as venerating the ancestors. It was also known as the "meat harvest" since livestock was slaughtered for the winter at this time. So it is no surprise that death is a main component of this holiday. It comes at the time of the first frost and usually the final harvest of vegetable crops, such as pumpkins, apples, etc. This is the time of year when the veil between worlds is thinnest, some say for 3 days, October 31st to November 2nd, and is an ideal time for divination, prophecy, communing with the dead, contacting the ancestors, and starting new endeavours. This three day festival has it's routes based in the Celtic Festival of the Dead. In Ireland and Scotland, the Féile na Marbh was a 3 day period of feasting and honouring the newly dead and the ancestors. It is also considered a day if mischief as not only do the Ancestors return but so do playful if not harmful spirits. Pumpkins are carved with grotesque faces, costumes are worn, and candles are lit to ward off the restless dead. The God goes into darkness, he dies and goes to the Underworld at this time and The Crone reigns. It is considered the Witches New Year by most Neo-Pagans and Celtic based Pagan faiths, although there is no concrete evidence to suggest this at this point in time. It is also balancing kind of day for the Celtic peoples, as most of the year was ruled by strict regulation and logic, this was day for mischief and nonsense. It is also said that the modern act of carving pumpkins stems from the Celtic tradition of placing the skulls of the ancestors outside their front doors at this time of year. Originally it was turnips that were carved. Crops left in the fields at this time are considered taboo and are to be left as offerings. The Fairy Folk become very active this time of year. In Irish mythology the shield of Scathach was lowered on this evening, allowing the dead and those yet to be born to pas through and wander, the world of chaos infiltrating the world of order, the dark invading the light.

Ideas for Celebration:
- carving pumpkins/various gourds
- dressing up in costume
- Feast of the Dead, a dinner featuring seasonal foods and making sure to set a place for the Beloved Dead(make sure you give them some food and wine as well, just as if they were there in body), and don't forget to give them a chair as well.
-light two bonfires and lead yourself and any pets(or livestock if you have any) you may have between the two, a throwback to the bonfires the Celts held this time of year. The Celts would lead livestock between the two huge bonfires to purify and keep them safe from evil spirits. If you can't make any bonfires a simple candle will do, simply move the candle around the person/pets body. I believe the fire will purify no matter how big the flame.
-light a candle for the Dead and the Ancestors.
-write down a weakness on a piece of paper and throw it into the fire to be rid of it
-harvesting
-butchering
-divination
-scrying
-telling scary stories or tales of your ancestors
-leave a candle in the window to help spirits find their way home
-leave food/offerings on the front step or altar for the wandering dead
-bury apples along roadsides or paths for the dead who have no one to mourn or leave offerings for them



Symbols:
-jack o' lanterns
-fall leaves
-pumpkins, seasonal gourds and squashes
-bonfires
-masks
-brooms
-cauldrons
-waning moon
-apples/seasonal fruit
-black cats
-scythe

Herbs:
-Mugwort
-Allspice
-Broom
-Catnip
-Deadly Nightshade
-Mandrake
-Oak Leaves
-Sage
-Straw

Colours:
-red
-black
-silver
-orange
-white
-silver
-gold

Incense:
-Heliotrope
-Nutmeg
-Mint

Foods:
-turnips
-apples
-gourds
-squash
-nuts
-mulled wines
-meat

Stones:
-all black stones








Sources:
CR FAQ - Holidays
Wikipedia - Samhain
Irish Culture and Customs
Pro Z - The Translation Workplace
Pagan Pages - Samhain
The Celtic Year
Celebrate The Celtic Year
Wiccan, Pagan, and Witchcraft Holidays
Wikipedia - Festival of the Dead
Samhain