Halloween. Sly does it. Tiptoe catspaw. 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'
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 AllHallow'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 pro-nounced (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 threshold, 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 (sidhe
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 excellence 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 natural order of the
universe dissolves 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 suitors. 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 opportunity 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.
This year (1988), the date is November 6th at 10:55 pm CST, with the celebration
beginning 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. Interestingly, 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.
