October is fondly referred to as #witchyseason for good reason. The weather is getting cooler, nightfall is coming earlier, pumpkin spice flavored everything lines the shelves, and the Fall Equinox has passed. It's officially autumn and for many people, it’s also time to gear up for Halloween!

What is at the heart of this ancient festival and how did it become the costumed mainstream celebration?

In the beginning…

Halloween, the night when the veil between the worlds is said to be thinnest, holds a special place in the hearts of witches worldwide. It's a time for honoring ancestors, connecting with the spirit world, and celebrating the power of nature.

Today’s mainstream Halloween celebration is loosely derived from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain, pronounced sah-win or sow-in meaning 'Summer’s End', marked the end of the warm harvest season and the start of the cold, harsh winter. Samhain is one of four ancient Cetic Fire Festivals which mark the transition into each season. Also, known as cross-quarter days, these festivals are regarded as the peak of their seasonal energy.

Samhain marks the end (on Oct. 31) and beginning (on Nov. 1) of the Celtic year. On October 31, it was believed that the year's ending is also when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was lifted, making it possible to communicate with beings from other worlds including our ancestors and loved ones.

Mark this sacred season with a thoughtful talisman from our Halloween Collection

Samhain was also celebrated with huge sacred bonfires for sacrifices to Celtic Gods. The celebrating Celts would don costumes of animal heads and skins and enjoyed a veritable feast of seasonal crops.

The Christian Takeover

You’re likely at least somewhat familiar with how Christians strategically integrated pagan beliefs into their religious holidays and beliefs in order to ensure assimilation. Well, Samhain is no different. In the mid-eighth century, Pope Gregory III appointed the Celtic new year celebration (Nov. 1) as All Saints Day. This mandatory, “new and improved” festival was meant to celebrate Christian saints and martyrs. Samhain became known as All Hallow's Eve, which later became Halloween.

Witchcraft and Halloween: A Deep Connection

 Our Witch's Broom Besom Ring is the perfect piece to call upon purification and renewal.

We know the mainstream vies toward costumes, carving pumpkins, and trick-or-treating. But why and how do witches celebrate?

Witches, with their innate connection to the natural world and the unseen, have long celebrated Halloween as a time of empowerment and spiritual renewal.

Many participate in more traditional Samhain practices and rituals or derivatives of such centered on the intention to honour the past and our ancestors.

Some ideas include:

• Altar dedicated to ancestors: Halloween is a prime opportunity to honor ancestors and connect with their wisdom and guidance. Witches may perform rituals or cast spells to communicate with their ancestors and seek their blessings.
• Nature walk: The changing of the seasons, symbolized by Halloween, is a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the importance of honoring the Earth. Witches often incorporate natural elements like pumpkins, apples, and oak leaves into their Halloween celebrations.
• Show gratitude to the Gods and Goddesses you honor: As the veil between the worlds is said to be thin on Halloween, it's a propitious time for connecting with spirits, guides, and deities. Witches may use divination tools like tarot cards or scrying mirrors to communicate with the spirit world.
• Releasing items and energies: Halloween is a time of transformation, as the year draws to a close and new beginnings loom. Witches may perform rituals or spells to release old patterns and embrace positive change.

• Samhain Altar: Creating a Samhain altar is a popular way to honor ancestors and connect with the spirit world. The altar may include offerings like food, drink, candles, and personal items such as sacred jewelry.
• Spellcasting: Witches may cast spells for protection, abundance, or transformation on Halloween night. Spells can be performed using herbs, crystals, candles, and personal intentions.
• Divination: Divination tools like tarot cards, runes, and scrying mirrors can be used to gain insights into the future or connect with spirit guides

When it’s all said and done, there is no right or wrong way to approach your festivities. You can honor Samhain with a coven or without. You can have intricate, scripted rituals or a simple meditation. There's only one thing to keep in mind - this reverent time holds powerful energies ready for you to draw upon and celebrate.