Samhain means “Summer’s end”, and is known by many different names: November Eve, All Hallows Eve, Hallowmas, Feast of Apples, Night of Spirits, Halloween and the Feast of the Dead. In the Gaelic languages of Ireland, Samhain is also known as “Oíche Shamhna”, in Scotland “Oidhche Shamhna” and in Wales “Nos Calan Gaeaf”. Depending on where you come from, Samhain also has many pronunciations; like in Ireland it is pronounced “sow-in”, in Scotland “sav-en” and in Wales “sow-een” Samhain is one of the greater Sabbats and falls on the 31st October and is originally a Celtic festival. Samhain marked the end of the harvest, the end of the “lighter half” of the year and beginning of the “darker half”. For our ancestors winter was a time of famine and hardship, especially for the sick and elderly as many will fail to survive the following winter months. Samhain at the start of the winter season and the beginning of the Celtic New Year was therefore a emotional time to honour those who had died before them. To pagans and witches alike Samhain is a celebration in honour of our ancestors, much as they honoured us in the days before we were born. As the wheel of year and of our lives continues to turn so will they honour us again, for time will come when we too cross the divide and take up our own place beside them. Samhain is one of the most popular days in the pagan wheel of the year and is it
