The Oracle

Samhain - Oct 31st

Known throughout much of our culture as Halloween this often misunderstood and yet colourful festival falls at nightfall of Oct 31st. It is seen by many as the last Sabbat of the turning wheel, and as such is also the first Sabbat, as it follows the turning of the wheel. This Sabbat is strongly associated with death and other types of spirits such as the wonderful and sometimes frightening images of ghosts and goblins. It was also a very important date in the farming communities, for any crops still in the fields were left for the spirits, and the old or weak animals were culled and cured for the long harsh winter.

Halloween, is not as it is seen today, a festival for dominated by children and games. It is the night before all hallows day, a time when spirits leave the world to continue their journey into the realms of the afterlife. As such Halloween is seen as a night in which the spirits of the ancestors can be with their descendants, which likely formed the connection to our ghostly images. The goblin connection comes from a similar theme within the wheel. As with Beltaine the veil between worlds is thin, and now six months later it is thin again, demonstrating the polarity that is present in Pagan beliefs. Once again the spirits enter the world for one night of merriment and unfortunately mischief. A very common phrase is that of 'trick or treat' which actually comes from the tradition of leaving cakes and ale outside your home in order to deter troublesome spirits. A far cry from the game now played by many children, if a spirit was unhappy with the offering if would often play some terrible trick upon the occupants of the house.

Samhain is the third of the three harvest festivals, but is definitely not the kind of harvest that ever gets celebrated in schools or indeed by children. It is the BLOOD HARVEST, an ominous sounding name that actually has a practical origin. In the farming communities there was often little to spare in regards to food. All that was harvested needed to sustain the community throughout the winter months. So with that, any old or weak animals would be culled and used to maintain the community. The meat would be a very useful food source and would give them a good source of protein. This is a far cry for any sinister meaning that may be conjured by this harvests name.

Copyright Richard J Blackburn 2008