5 Simple Samhain Traditions

More commonly referred to as Halloween, Samhain is the name of the holiday that many pagans celebrate as the end of summer and harvest season. It signifies the coming of winter and the end of life in nature.

For this reason, the veil between our realm and the spiritual realm is thin this time of year. As a result, it's easier for spirits to enter our space or for us to contact them.

That is part of the reason the tradition of dressing up started. Initially, the costumes were designed to be scary, so those dressed up could fit in with the ghosts and demons that came through.

Jack O' Lanterns also started in a similar way. An Irish myth of Stingy Jack, who pulled a fast one on the devil for monetary gain, started the tradition. Jack was refused entrance to Heaven, and people began carving demonic faces on turnips, pumpkins, or other gourds to scare Jack's spirit away.

Within the many pagan religions, several different traditions are used for celebrating or worshipping on Samhain. Here are some simple traditions that can be put together on the fly.

Dinner with your ancestors

In some households, there is a feast held on Samhain. The entire family is invited to dinner, even Dear Grandma, who passed away three years ago.

The table is set with a dinner spot for Grandma and other deceased relatives to honor and remember them. It's also common to cook some of their favorite dishes to go with the meal.

Lighting a candle in a west-facing window helps to guide your loved ones back home.

This is a time when families can share stories about their loved ones and enjoy the company of family members who are still here.

Cleaning a graveyard or cemetery

While it might seem creepy to spend time in a graveyard on Halloween, it is an easy way to show respect for the dead.

While many graveyards and cemeteries have people who look after the maintenance, it's always nice to have someone come in and help out. Trimming grass and weeds around grave sites or cleaning headstones is a way to honor those who have come before.

For some deities, such as the Greek God Hades, this is also considered a favored way to worship.

Bringing out flowers for the graves of loved ones or those who no longer have family around is a great way to pay your respects.

Break out the tarot cards

As this is the time of year when the veil is thinnest, Samhain is a great time to do some divination.

There are many ways to practice divination. Some of the more well known methods are tarot cards, crystal scrying, palm reading, and using a pendulum. However, there are many other ways to do some fortune telling.

One example is fire scrying. If you have a fireplace or fire pit, build a fire there. If those aren't available, you can light a candle instead. Then, watch the flames as you would with a magic mirror or crystal ball, and note any symbols you see.

This can be a fun activity for the kids as well. Bring them to look into the fire and write down their interpretations of the flames!

Hold a seance

Samhain is a great time to reach out to ancestors. One way to do this is by holding a seance and inviting someone to come talk to you.

The only limitation for seances is that it is a group activity. It's also important to take the proper safety precautions when you invite spirits into your home.

It will also help if you know a medium and can invite them to join in. If you can't find a medium, you'll have to appoint someone to be the medium. That person will need to prepare themselves for the role as well.

Create a simmer pot

If you have children who go trick-or-treating, you may not have time to do much. Especially if you have to hand out candy in a busy neighborhood.

One way to get in the mood for the season is to create a traditional simmer pot for the evening. These are easy to build, requiring only a pot of boiling water and a few ingredients. You can find some great recipes here.

Adding a little magick to the pot is easy. You can write intentions on some of the ingredients and add them in, or you can focus on your intentions as you stir the contents.