SECTION I - HOLIDAY LORE

All Hallows Eve - Mike Nichols 
Samhain - Baboo Kyra Finch
Origins of Halloween - Rowan Moonstone

All Hallow's Eve by Mike Nichols

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Halloween. Sly does it. Tiptoe catspaws. Slide and creep. But why? What for? How? Who? When! Where did it all begin? 'You don't know, do you?' asks Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud climbing out under the pile of leaves under the Halloween Tree. 'You don't REALLY know!' --Ray Bradbury from 'The Halloween Tree'
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Samhain. All Hallows. All Hallow's Eve. Hallow E'en. Halloween. The most magical night of the year. Exactly opposite Beltane on the wheel of the year, Halloween is Beltane's dark twin. A night of glowing jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for apples, tricks or treats, and dressing in costume. A night of ghost stories and seances, tarot card readings and scrying with mirrors. A night of power, when the veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is at its thinnest. A 'spirit night', as they say in Wales.

All Hallow's Eve is the eve of All Hallow's Day (November 1st). And for once, even popular tradition remembers that the Eve is more important than the Day itself, the traditional celebration focusing on October 31st, beginning at sundown. And this seems only fitting for the great Celtic New Year's festival. Not that the holiday was Celtic only. In fact, it is startling how many ancient and unconnected cultures (the Egyptians and pre-Spanish Mexicans, for example) celebrated this as a festival of the dead. But the majority of our modern traditions can be traced to the British Isles.

The Celts called it Samhain, which means 'summer's end', according to their ancient two-fold division of the year, when summer ran from Beltane to Samhain and winter ran from Samhain to Beltane. (Some modern Covens echo this structure by letting the High Priest 'rule' the Coven beginning on Samhain, with rulership returned to the High Priestess at Beltane.) According to the later four-fold division of the year, Samhain is seen as 'autumn's end' and the beginning of winter. Samhain is pronounced (depending on where you're from) as 'sow-in' (in Ireland), or 'sow-een' (in Wales), or 'sav-en' (in Scotland), or (inevitably) 'sam-hane' (in the U.S., where we don't speak Gaelic).

Not only is Samhain the end of autumn; it is also, more importantly, the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Celtic New Year's Eve, when the new year begins with the onset of the dark phase of the year, just as the new day begins at sundown. There are many representations of Celtic gods with two faces, and it surely must have been one of them who held sway over Samhain. Like his Greek counterpart Janus, he would straddle the theshold, one face turned toward the past in commemoration of those who died during the last year, and one face gazing hopefully toward the future, mystic eyes attempting to pierce the veil and divine what the coming year holds. These two themes, celebrating the dead and divining the future, are inexorably intertwined in Samhain, as they are likely to be in any New Year's celebration.

As a feast of the dead, it was believed the dead could, if they wished, return to the land of the living for this one night, to celebrate with their family, tribe, or clan. And so the great burial mounds of Ireland (sidh mounds) were opened up, with lighted torches lining the walls, so the dead could find their way. Extra places were set at the table and food set out for any who had died that year. And there are many stories that tell of Irish heroes making raids on the Underworld while the gates of faery stood open, though all must return to their appointed places by cock-crow.

As a feast of divination, this was the night par excellance for peering into the future. The reason for this has to do with the Celtic view of time. In a culture that uses a linear concept of time, like our modern one, New Year's Eve is simply a milestone on a very long road that stretches in a straight line from birth to death. Thus, the New Year's festival is a part of time. The ancient Celtic view of time, however, is cyclical. And in this framework, New Year's Eve represents a point outside of time, when the the natural order of the universe disolves back into primordial chaos, preparatory to re-establishing itself in a new order. Thus, Samhain is a night that exists outside of time and hence it may be used to view any other point in time. At no other holiday is a tarot card reading, crystal reading, or tea-leaf reading so likely to succeed.

The Christian religion, with its emphasis on the 'historical' Christ and his act of redemption 2000 years ago, is forced into a linear view of time, where 'seeing the future' is an illogical proposition. In fact, from the Christian perspective, any attempt to do so is seen as inherently evil. This did not keep the medieval Church from co-opting Samhain's other motif, commemoration of the dead. To the Church, however, it could never be a feast for all the dead, but only the blessed dead, all those hallowed (made holy) by obedience to God - thus, All Hallow's, or Hallowmas, later All Saints and All Souls.

There are so many types of divination that are traditional to Hallowstide, it is possible to mention only a few. Girls were told to place hazel nuts along the front of the firegrate, each one to symbolize one of her suiters. She could then divine her future husband by chanting, 'If you love me, pop and fly; if you hate me, burn and die.' Several methods used the apple, that most popular of Halloween fruits. You should slice an apple through the equator (to reveal the five-pointed star within) and then eat it by candlelight before a mirror.

Your future spouse will then appear over your shoulder. Or, peel an apple, making sure the peeling comes off in one long strand, reciting, 'I pare this apple round and round again; / My sweetheart's name to flourish on the plain: / I fling the unbroken paring o'er my head, / My sweetheart's letter on the ground to read.' Or, you might set a snail to crawl through the ashes of your hearth. The considerate little creature will then spell out the initial letter as it moves.

Perhaps the most famous icon of the holiday is the jack-o-lantern. Various authorities attribute it to either Scottish or Irish origin. However, it seems clear that it was used as a lantern by people who traveled the road this night, the scary face to frighten away spirits or faeries who might otherwise lead one astray. Set on porches and in windows, they cast the same spell of protection over the household. (The American pumpkin seems to have forever superseded the European gourd as the jack-o-lantern of choice.) Bobbing for apples may well represent the remnants of a Pagan 'baptism' rite called a 'seining', according to some writers. The water-filled tub is a latter-day Cauldron of Regeneration, into which the novice's head is immersed. The fact that the participant in this folk game was usually blindfolded with hands tied behind the back also puts one in mind of a traditional Craft initiation ceremony.

The custom of dressing in costume and 'trick-or-treating' is of Celtic origin with survivals particularly strong in Scotland. However, there are some important differences from the modern version. In the first place, the custom was not relegated to children, but was actively indulged in by adults as well. Also, the 'treat' which was required was often one of spirits (the liquid variety). This has recently been revived by college students who go 'trick-or-drinking'. And in ancient times, the roving bands would sing seasonal carols from house to house, making the tradition very similar to Yuletide wassailing. In fact, the custom known as 'caroling', now connected exclusively with mid-winter, was once practiced at all the major holidays. Finally, in Scotland at least, the tradition of dressing in costume consisted almost exclusively of cross-dressing (i.e., men dressing as women, and women as men). It seems as though ancient societies provided an oportunity for people to 'try on' the role of the opposite gender for one night of the year. (Although in Scotland, this is admittedly less dramatic - but more confusing - since men were in the habit of wearing skirt-like kilts anyway. Oh well...)

To Witches, Halloween is one of the four High Holidays, or Greater Sabbats, or cross-quarter days. Because it is the most important holiday of the year, it is sometimes called 'THE Great Sabbat.' It is an ironic fact that the newer, self-created Covens tend to use the older name of the holiday, Samhain, which they have discovered through modern research. While the older hereditary and traditional Covens often use the newer name, Halloween, which has been handed down through oral tradition within their Coven. (This is often holds true for the names of the other holidays, as well. One may often get an indication of a Coven's antiquity by noting what names it uses for the holidays.)

With such an important holiday, Witches often hold two distinct celebrations. First, a large Halloween party for non-Craft friends, often held on the previous weekend. And second, a Coven ritual held on Halloween night itself, late enough so as not to be interrupted by trick-or- treaters. If the rituals are performed properly, there is often the feeling of invisible friends taking part in the rites. Another date which may be utilized in planning celebrations is the actual cross-quarter day, or Old Halloween, or Halloween O.S. (Old Style). This occurs when the sun has reached 15 degrees Scorpio, an astrological 'power point' symbolized by the Eagle. The celebration would begin at sunset. Interestingly, this date (Old Halloween) was also appropriated by the Church as the holiday of Martinmas.

Of all the Witchcraft holidays, Halloween is the only one that still boasts anything near to popular celebration. Even though it is typically relegated to children (and the young-at-heart) and observed as an evening affair only, many of its traditions are firmly rooted in Paganism. Incidentally, some schools have recently attempted to abolish Halloween parties on the grounds that it violates the separation of state and religion. Speaking as a Pagan, I would be saddened by the success of this move, but as a supporter of the concept of religion-free public education, I fear I must concede the point. Nonetheless, it seems only right that there should be one night of the year when our minds are turned toward thoughts of the supernatural. A night when both Pagans and non-Pagans may ponder the mysteries of the Otherworld and its inhabitants. And if you are one of them, may all your jack-o'lanterns burn bright on this All Hallow's Eve.

Document Copyright © 1986, 1998 by Mike Nichols
This document can be re-published only as long as no information is lost or changed, credit is given to the author, and it is provided or used without cost to others.

Samhain
By Baboo Kyra Finch

In my family we called the Sabbats by Christian or Jewish names, but they never had to do with anything remotely Judeo-Christian. It was part of our endless attempts to "fit in". The result for me was the best of all the holidays without any of the dogma. We had Christmas trees and Easter Eggs.

April Fool's Day was a high holiday (and dangerous), and Hallowe'en was a costume party blow-out. we celebrated harvests, May Day, and the 4th of July. Most members of my family have their birthdays on one Sabbat or other. My grandmother was born on Beltane, my aunt and me on Lammas, my sister on Candlemas. What a good excuse for a celebration.

SAMHAIN

I love this holiday. It's the one day I don't have to wear a costume. You can finally dig those pointy hats out of the broom closet!

We usually have a small, gathering, with close friends and family. The ritual consists of a Dumb Supper and a Banishing.

It's a time for a child to lose fear of the Dark Goddess, and to begin to understand the Wheel of Death and Rebirth. You can explain to the younglings that this is a time to communicate with beings on the other side, that they still love us and won't hurt us, but would love to hear from us. If you have dear ones, of any species, that have crossed over, this is the time to tell them you love them, and bring them up on all the gossip of the year past.

The child/ren should have a picture or drawing and/or token of the loved one(s), and a bit of their favorite food(s). We always have a tin of cat foot, peanut butter on cheese crackers, and a good meaty bone for the other species. Brine shrimp, a picture of a mouse (a real dead mouse would be gross), sunflower seeds, etc., are also appropriate.

We all set up an altar outside. The altar consists of a large tray with bits of all the favorite foods, the pictures and tokens, and a large metal cauldron in the center. I have a few self- lighting charcoal cubes and dried herbs already placed in the cauldron. I use rosemary for drawing ghosts, wormwood for clarity of vision, and mugwort for protection. You can also add a bit of cinquefoil to potentiate the other herbs.

If you can't hold the ritual outside because of inclement weather and/or neighbors, be sparing with the herbs. The enthusiastic burning of herbs indoors has resulted in rituals being held outdoors due to a lack of oxygen inside the house. A good alternative is to core apples and push a tea candle into the hole. These apple candles will float and they look wonderful in a cauldron of water.

We hold the ritual at 11:30 p.m., and finish about 12:15 at the latest. Napping is a very good idea. The kids should take a nap too.

I like to let a child be in charge of the doorway to the east in case someone has to exit or enter the Circle. They love this role.

The ritual consists of Casting the Circle (kids taking part by holding a censor, calling a quadrant, sweeping the Circle or any of the other chores involved). Then each person invites Hecate to bring the guests they name specifically, excluding any uninvited spirits. ("We invite these and none other." You don't want Uncle Bill the pedophile to turn up!) The chant we use is:

"Hecate, Cerridwin, Dark Mother bring them in;
"Hecate, Cerridwin, bring the Unreborn."

We then take turns talking to those we invited, telling them anything we wanted them to know. This is a time of intense emotion, so hugging is appropriate; just ask permission to hug first.

Next we write that which we want Hecate to take away with Her on a piece of paper, such as poor health, fear, poverty, etc. Throw the paper into the cauldron in the center of the circle and light the charcoal and herbs. I like rosemary, sage and lavender. We then do a pre-selected chant (when in doubt, MAA is always appropriate), raise energy, release it and ground.

Bid the spirits farewell, thank Hecate, release the quadrants and open the Circle.

Feast on the spirits' leftovers. I always think it's nice that some being or other loved chocolate cake. Spirits require so little that there is always plenty of food left over for feasting, although the combinations can be pretty weird (peanut butter sandwiches, pickled herring, rare steak, English toffee). We don't have alcoholic beverages, because we don't want guests to drive home both tired and drunk. Mulled cider and cocoa are wonderful on a cold All Hallows' Eve.

DIVINATION

Scrying

Kids scry like they breathe. The trick is to get them to look at something other than the TV or computer screen. Once you get them to look, they can gaze for a lot longer than adults, and see more stuff. They don't censor what they see, so they accept the images into their conscious minds.

The concept of scrying is to look through a window into a place where linear time does not exist. This allows you to see things past, present and future. The tool is not terribly important except as the window itself. It's what lies beyond that is the goal.

The most famous scryers are the prophets, such as Nostradamus (who used a mirror), Edgar Casey (in a trance state), and Jules Verne. Most female scryers were either killed or institutionalized. The most well known of these is Cassandra.

Personally, scrying scares me. I never do it. I have enough trouble coping with NOW.

Possible tools for scrying:
Water in a silvery or blue bowl
Mirror
Candle flame
Fireplace fire
Smoke
Steam
Crystal, ball or otherwise
Prism
Palm of hand
Water with a few drops of colored oil
Lava lamp

First set up a protective circle. This is to prevent uninvited guests of ectoplasmic origin, i.e., ghosties and ghoulies and long legged beasties and things that go bump in the night. To do this, you will need:

a smudging herb such as white sage, the artemesias, lavender rue or patchouli. If the smoke bothers you, then you can drop the herb into a spray bottle filled with water, and spritz instead.
four white candles, preferably small ones in glass
comfortable place to sit, either a mat, stool or chair and table, that will be within the circle
scrying tool

Cast your circle, smudge or spritz and light a white candle at each direction. Invoke deities, such as Hecate, Morgana, Grandmother Spider, or any other of the Crones that control destiny and ask that they act as "gatekeepers" for protection..

Sit within the circle with your child and get comfortable. Your child can sit on your lap, on a chair, stool or on the floor.

Look together into the scrying tool. You don't need to be quiet. You can discuss what you see. Talking helps to keep the concentration focused. If you find you have exhausted the child's patience, banish the circle and try it again another time. After children have seen something for the first time, you will find their attention span will increase considerably.

Scrying is not a game. Tell the kids not to do this without adult supervision. They will do it without your supervision anyway. They will either scare themselves out of scrying altogether, or become very powerful seers.

Tarot

Tarot is more like reading a book than looking through a window. Again, the deck simply a vehicle through which intuition can act. There are some wonderful children's decks such as:

· The Wonderland Tarot, based on the illustrations by Sir John Tenniel for Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass.' Designed by Christopher and Morgana Abbey
· Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson,
· The Motherpeace Round Tarot by Vicki Nobel and Karen Vogel;
· The Herbal Tarot by Michael Tierra, which doubles as an herbal reference;
· Tarot of the Cat People, by Karen Kuykendall
· The Pet Owners' Tarot Deck by Elizabeth McIvor (absolutely adorable)
· The Unicorn Tarot Deck created by Suzanne Star with oil paintings by Liz Hilton.

It is a very good idea to examine a deck before handing it over to your child. There are some really scary Tarots, and some that seem downright malevolent.

I feel the best way to teach Tarot is to allow the free flow of imagination. Give children a deck. Take a couple of cards a day, and let them tell you what the symbols on the cards mean. Write this down in their Book of Shadows if they aren't old enough to write yet. Continue doing this until the deck you have examined all the cards. Then start from the beginning again, and compare the current interpretation with the original one. Let the kids make corrections and amendments in their interpretations.

After doing this several times, the decks' owners will have a firm grasp of the meaning of that deck, to them. This is a lot more useful than learning someone else's opinions of the cards.

The best spread to start with is the three card spread, past, present and future. Past is "what happened," present is "what is happening," future is what may happen.

The concept of reversed is simply opposite. Discourage value judgments such as "good", "bad", etc.
You never really know how something is going to affect you until you walk around the next curve of the spiral.
Runes

A good way to introduce Runes is to get a good book and some clay. Tell the child what a shape represents and the sound it makes. Then ask the child's opinion on the shape. This information goes into a Book of Shadows. Give children the clay and let them make a Rune, either by the shape itself, or by inscribing the shape onto a lump of clay. Let it dry and then decorate it with acrylic paints. I would encourage making rather large symbols so that there is room for some elaborate decorating.

You can also use dough, cardboard, paper mache and stones. Draw the Runes with laundry markers, acrylic, and food coloring, or carved with toothpicks.

A truly fun activity is to make sets of cookie runes for Yule gifts and ornaments. Just use your standard cookie recipe and paint or pipe the Rune on with thin royal icing. Collect interesting tins at garage sales and swap meets. You can make decorative bags out of hems cut off skirts. It's a good thing. (I have to stop watching Martha Stewart!)

One result of this activity is that your child will have a second alphabet that can come in very handy for secret messages.

I think that a personally made set of Runes has much more meaning and magick than anything you can buy commercially.

I Ching

I loved the I Ching when I was in my teens and twenties. I understood it perfectly. I understood a lot of stuff then that baffles me now.

As is traditional with oracles, the I Ching tends to be very obscure. Additionally, the cultural references are a real stretch. Some of the readings are actually pretty scary. (See "Bowl of Worms, No Hope"). With the single exception of the Kwan Yin I Ching, it is totally sexist. I get bored with most of the interpretive books, and figuring out just which side of the coin is ying and which is yang gives me a headache. Yarrow sticks are altogether impossible to read.

I wouldn't recommend this form of divination for children. If your kid is really interested in I Ching, get a good children's book on the topic. There are several available. When they figure it out, explain it to me.

Ouiji Boards

Trash it! The thing is dangerous and nasty. Using a Ouiji Board is like leaving your front door open with a big sign outside: "VICTIM'S RESIDENCE -- INQUIRE WITHIN"! You invite just any old spirit in without any safeguards. Requesting a specific person just does not always work. And they lie!

Divination doesn't really require any devices at all, especially expensive ones. It's a talent, and like any ability, it improves with practice. A good way to start training this "muscle" is to play the "what happens next" game. When the phone rings, guess who it is before answering. While driving, guess the color of the next truck.

Take four different seeds. Mix them up and plant them in four pots. Scramble the pots, and then put the label for each plant on a pot. See how many are correct when the plants grow.

Get a packet of seeds for a plant that comes in different colors, like nasturtiums, cosmos or zinnias. Put a seed each in several starter pots. Label the pot with the color you think the flower will be. Another version of this is to try to influence the color of the flowers by concentrating on them each day. See if the flowers are predominately the color you chose to impress on the plants.

Play the telepathy game, "Guess what color, number, animal, etc., that I'm thinking of".

Everyone has different degrees of talent in everything. Like any talent, it's useless unless cultivated, nurtured and exercised. Work on all talents to develop them to their greatest capabilities. Keep track of successes in the Book of Shadows. If you set up a graph, you will not only be able to really see the progress, but you will teach your child how to set up graphs.

I am weak in divination, because I rarely do it. I'm a wow at telepathy. It is a wonderful way to keep track of and intimidate your children.

The Origins of Halloween
by Rowan Moonstone

In recent years, there have been a number of pamphlets put out by various Christian organizations dealing with the origins of modern day Halloween customs. Being a Witch myself, and a student of the ancient Celts, from whom we get this holiday, I have found these pamphlets woefully inaccurate and poorly researched. In an effort to correct some of this erroneous information, I have spent several months researching the religious life of the ancient Celtic peoples and the survivals of that religious life in modern day times. Listed below are some of the most commonly asked questions concerning the origins and customs of Halloween. Following the questions is a lengthy bibliography where the curious reader can go to learn more about this holiday than space in this small pamphlet permits.

1. Where does Halloween come from

Our modern celebration of Halloween is a descendent of the ancient Celtic fire festival called "Samhain". The word is pronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with cow.

2. What does "Samhain" mean?

The Irish English dictionary published by the Irish Texts Society defines the word as follows: "Samhain, All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times, signalizing the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season, lasting till May, during which troops (esp. the Fiann) were quartered. Faeries were imagined as particularly active at this season. From it the half year is reckoned. also called Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess).(1) The Scottish Gaelis Dictionary defines it as "Hallowtide. The Feast of All Soula. Sam + Fuin = end of summer." (2) Contrary to the information published by many organizations, there is no archaeological or literary evidence to indicate that Samhain was a deity. The Celtic Gods of the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd for the British, and Arawn for the Welsh. The Irish did not have a "lord of death" as such.

3. Why was the end of summer of significance to the Celts?

The Celts were a pastoral people as opposed to an agricultural people. The end of summer was significant to them because it meant the time of year when the structure of their lives changed radically. The cattle were brought down from the summer pastures in the hills and the people were gathered into the houses for the long winter nights of story- telling and handicrafts.

4. What does it have to do with a festival of the dead?

The Celts believed that when people died, they went to a land of eternal youth and happiness called Tir nan Og. They did not have the concept of heaven and hell that the Christian church later brought into the land. The dead were sometimes believed to be dwelling with the Fairy Folk, who lived in the numerous mounds or sidhe (pron. "shee") that dotted the Irish and Scottish countryside. Samhain was the new year to the Celts. In the Celtic belief system, turning points, such as the time between one day and the next, the meeting of sea and shore, or the turning of one year into the next were seen as magickal times. The turning of the year was the most potent of these times. This was the time when the "veil between the worlds" was at its thinnest, and the living could communicate with their beloved dead in Tir nan Og.

5. What about the aspects of "evil" that we associate with the night today?

The Celts did not have demons and devils in their belief system. The fairies, however, were often considered hostile and dangerous to humans because they were seen as being resentful of men taking over their lands. On this night, they would sometimes trick humans into becoming lost in the fairy mounds, where they would be trapped forever. After the coming of the Christians to the Celtic lands, certain of the folk saw the fairies as those angels who had sided neither with Gor or with Lucifer in their dispute, and thus, were condemned to walk the earth until judgment day. (3) In addition to the fairies, many humans were abroad on this night, causing mischief. since this night belonged neither to one year or the other, Celtic folk believed that chaos reigned and the people would engage in "horseplay and practical jokes".(4) This served also as a final outlet for high spirits 
before the gloom of winter set in.

6. What about "trick or treat"?

During the course of these hijinks, many of the people would imitate the fairies and go from house to house begging for treats. Failure to supply the treats would usually result in practical jokes being visited on the owner of the house. Since the fairies were abroad on this night, an offering of food or milk was frequently left for them on the steps of the house, so the homeowner could gain the blessings of the "good folk" for the coming year. Many of the households would also leave out a "dumb supper" for the spirits of the departed.(5) The folks who were abroad in the night imitating the fairies would some- times carry turnips carved to represent faces. This is the origin of our modern Jack-o-lantern.

7. Was this also a religious festival?

Yes. Celtic religion was very closely tied to the Earth. Their great legends are concerned with momentous happenings which took place around the time of Samhain. many of the great battles and legends of kings and heroes center on this night. Many of the legends concern the promotion of fertility of the earth and the insurance of the continuance of the lives of the people through the dark winter season.

8. How was the religious festival observed?

Unfortunately, we know very little about that. W.G. Wood-Martin, in his book, "Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland" states, "There is paritively little trace of the religion of the Druids now discoverable, save in the folklore of the peasantry, and the references relative to it that occur in ancient and authentic Irish manuscripts are, as far as present appearances go, meagre and insufficient to support anything like a sound theory for full development of the ancient religion. "(6) The Druids were the priests of the Celtic peoples. They passed on their teachings by oral tradition instead of committing them to writing, so when they perished, most of their religious teachings were lost. We DO know that this festival was characterized as one of the four great "Fire Festivals" of the Celts. Legends tell us that on this night, all the hearth fires in Ireland were extinguished, and then re-lit from the central fire of the Druids at Tlachtga, 12 miles from the royal hill of Tara. This fire was kindled from "need fire" which had been generated by the friction of rubbing two sticks together as opposed to more conventional methods common in those days.(7) The extinguishing of the fires symbolized the "dark half" of the year, and the re-kindling from the Druidic fires was symbolic of the returning life hoped for, and brought about through the ministrations of the priesthood.

9. What about sacrifices?

Animals were certainly killed at this time of year. This was the time to "cull" from the herds those animals which were not desired for breeding purposes for the next year. Most certainly, some of these would have been done in a ritualistic manner for the use of the priesthood.

10. Were humans sacrificed?

Scholars are sharply divided on this account, with about half believing that it took place and half doubting its veracity. Caesar and Tacitus certainly tell tales of the human sacrifices of the Celts, but Nora Chadwick points out in her book "The Celts" that "it is not without interest that the Romans themselves had abolished human sacrifices not long before Caesar's time, and references to the practice among various barbarian peoples have certain overtones of self- righteousness. There is little direct archaeological evidence relevant to Celtic sacrifice." (8) Indeed, there is little reference to this practice in Celtic literature either. The only surviving story echoes the story of the Minotaur in Greek legend. The Fomorians, a race of evil giants said to inhabit portions of Ireland before the coming of the Tuatha de Danaan, or "people of the Goddess Danu",demanded the sacrifice of 2/3 of the corn, milk, and first born children of the Fir Bolg, or human inhabitants of Ireland. The De Danaan ended this practice in the second battle of Moy Tura, which incidentally took place on Samhain.

11. What other practices were associated with this season?

Folk tradition tells us of many divination practices associated with Samhain. Among the most common were divinations dealing with marriage, weather, and the coming fortunes for the year. These were performed via such methods as ducking for apples, and apple peeling. Ducking for apples was a marriage divination. The first person to bite an apple would be the first to marry in the coming year. Apple peeling was a divination tosee how long your life would be. The longer the unbroken apple peel, the longer your life was destined to be.(9) In Scotland, people would place stones in the ashes of the hearth before retiring for the night. Anyone whose stone had been disturbed during the night was said to be destined to die during the coming year.

12. How did these ancient Celtic practices come to America?

When the potato crop in Ireland failed, many of the Irish people, modern day descendents of the Celts, immigrated to America, bringing with them their folk practices, which are the remnants of the Celtic festival observances.

13. We in America view this as a harvest festival. Did the Celts also view it as such?

Yes. The Celts had 3 harvests: Aug 1, or Lammas, was the first harvest, when the first fruits were offered to the Gods in thanks. The Fall Equinox was the "true harvest". This was when the bulk of the crops would be brought in. Samhain was the final harvest of the year. Anything left on the vines or in the fields after this date was considered blasted by the fairies, or "pu'ka", and unfit for human consumption.

14. Does anyone today celebrate Samhain as a religious observance?

Yes. many followers of various pagan religions, such as Druids and Wiccans observe this day as a religious festival. They view it as a memorial day for their dead friends, similar to the national holiday of Memorial Day in May. It is still a night to practice various forms of divination concerning future events. Also, it is considered a time to wrap up old projects, take stock of ones life, and initiate new projects for the coming year. As the winter season is approaching, it is a good time to do studying on research projects and also a goot time to begin hand work such as sewing, leather working, woodworking, etc. for Yule gifts later in the year.

15. Does this involve human or animal sacrifice?

Absolutely NOT! Hollywood to the contrary, blood sacrifice is not practiced by modern day followers of Wicca or Druidism. There may be some people who THINK they are practicing Wicca by performing blood sacrifices, but this is NOT condoned by reputable practitioners of the modern day NeoPagan religions.

FOOTNOTES:
(1) Rev. Patrick Dineen, "An Irish English Dictionary" (Dublin, 1927), p. 937
(2) Malcolm MacLennan, "A Pronouncing and Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language" (Aberdeen, 1979), p. 279
(3) W.G. Wood-Martin,"Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland" (Port Washington, 1902), p. 5.
(4) Kevin Danaher,"The Year in Ireland", (Cork,1972), p. 214
(5) Alwyn & Brinley Rees,"Celtic Heritage" (New York,1961), p. 90
(6) Wood-Martin, p. 249
(7) Rees & Rees, p. 90
(8) Nora Chadwick, "The Celts" (Harmondsworth,1982), p. 151
(9) Madeleine Pelner Cosman, "Medieval Holidays and Festivals," (New York, 1981), p. 81

Note: I have deleted the majority of the works cited to save space. If you wish to see a complete copy of them, Send me e-mail and ask for them. I also have several longer articles about Samhain, if you are interested.--Moonhorse

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