Ye Olde Witches Brew Magazine
Embracing the Vintage Witch

Samhain/Halloween....call it what you will.

I look forward to this night with much anticipation as it's the one night we get to dress up and escape for a few hours and enjoy the dark, crisp night of Halloween activities and the reflective rituals of Samhain. I love the caramel apples, and the baked goods I prepare, and the energy that surrounds this special evening. I enjoy seeing the children peering in the doors of our neighbors homes in anticipation of what goodies will be thrown their way. It is, indeed, a magical night watching the children running towards each house laughing and commenting on how much candy they have in their bag. As the cool autumn winds gently blow and the clouds float across the night sky, I just smile and absorb the jubilant energy that my children have surrounding them.

We leave our lights on well after trick-or-treating hours are over and food and water for the spirits who may pass by our door that night. We celebrate with a giant party my children and I, as my beloved honey is usually in bed early as he has to work the following morning. The kids and I play games and eat candy and stay up well past all of our bedtimes. It's a time for thanks and a time for reflection of the past year. It's also a time to remember those who have passed before us. When my children fall asleep, I turn off the lights in the house, light my candles and have my Samhain ritual of thanks and remembrance. This year, I may include the children in my Samhain ritual as they are now older and enjoyed the Yule ritual we did last year with much enthusiasm and some understanding. I may introduce them to a mute supper, even if it only lasts ten minutes, it will be a ritual that will allow them to remember those who have passed(including animals we have lost).

I had the fortunate experience to be involved on a forum that is filled with several Pagans and those who do not share in our beliefs. Some people can get just downright nasty, and 99 percent of the time I simply ignore them, I'd be lying if I said I didn't. However, those that were kind enough to answer a few questions for me are the reason I don't simply judge/hate someone because of their religious influences. They are good people, one bad apple shouldn't ruin the whole barrel of apples.

I figured as big as this holiday of Samhain is for us, I wanted to share the history behind the Jack-O-Lantern some of us love to carve, and how others celebrate this day of reflection and celebration.

The carving of the Jack-O-Lantern came from the Irish. The story of Stingy Jack is one that is quite interesting. Apparently, Stingy Jack played tricks on people and even went so far as to trick the Devil. He tricked him into climbing up a tree, and once he was up there, Stingy Jack then placed crosses around the bottom of the tree obviously thwarting the Devil's attempts to come down. Stingy Jack told him not to take his soul and the Devil agreed, so he took the crosses down.

When Stingy Jack died, he wasn't allowed into heaven. He wasn't allowed into hell either. So he was sent to wander in the darkness between heaven and hell. He told the devil he didn't want to live in darkness for all eternity so the devil sent him a flame from hell to help him light his way. Jack placed the flame in a hollowed out turnip and roamed the earth with his "Jack-O-Lantern".

On Halloween(Hallow's Eve as it was originally known) the Irish hollowed out turnips in order to ward off evil spirits.

In the 1800's Irish immigrants came to America and found that pumpkins were easier to carve out. So that is how the pumpkin became the traditional holiday decoration associated with Halloween.

I could understand to a point where some Christians would be frightened of this night, especially given the rumor mill of stories handed down through the years and especially the FEAR behind it. Truth to it??? None, I'm sure. However, it's amazing to hear what people's thoughts and beliefs are behind this holiday.

For some Christians they absolutely forbid their children to partake in Halloween activities. It's the "devil's night" according to them and they are responsible for their children's souls, and as such, will not allow them to do anything that involves the "devil's candy" or "the Devil's celebrations".

For Christian mothers, most were for trick or treating on this night. A majority of the mothers take their children to a pumpkin patch or to a church-sponsored fall festival. A few of the mother's denounced this practice, claiming it's the devil's day, and as such, they nor their children not allow them to do anything that involves the "devil's candy" or "the Devil's celebrations", including a fall festival. Some Christian moms allowed their children to only dress up on the more "innocent" side, preferably in Disney-themed attire, or spider man or batman, etc. One mother said that although they didn't like the message behind this holiday, she would allow her children to go with friends trick or treating, or to see Santa and discuss which parts of the holidays she doesn't agree with and why.

S.D is a Christian Mother of three. She told me in a personal conversation that "My friends all thought I was weird and always talked about trick-or-treating and I was kind of embarrassed that they wouldn't let us go out trick-or treating or even let us eat that candy my grandma had for the trick-or-treaters." On one occasion they had been allowed to eat Halloween candy and they were in an accident shortly after. Her parents thought God was punishing them for honoring this "evil" night. She simply sees this night as a night for her children to have fun.

One Pagan woman would not allow her children to partake in the trick-or- treating activity due to the fact that trick-or-treating is an "insult to the original practice of the holiday( of Samhain)". I'm sure she is not the only Pagan parent to believe this either.

However, most of the Pagan mothers allowed their children to participate in Halloween and Samhain activities which include family rituals such as making dinner with food they had harvested, pumpkin carving, Haunted Houses, and visiting family on this night as well as trick-or-treating.

Another celebration also occurs on this evening, is a Hispanic celebration known as Dia De Los Muertos(Day of the Dead). This is a joyous and somber celebration that lasts two days. celebrated by families who honor their deceased by lighting candles and eating bread called "pan de muerto". It is a time where they leave food for the deceased relatives on altars adorned with flowers, photos of the family members they are waiting to visit, and lit candles which are put in a tray of water to honor those who have passed. Sugar and chocolate coffins and skulls are part of the celebration as well. It usually lasts for two days; November 1st a day they believe is when the children visit and November 2nd the day Adults are expected to visit.

There is definitely a variety of celebration on this night. No matter what beliefs we may have, or what religion we call our own, the one thing that I noticed that remains vigilant in all these answers is family togetherness and enjoying this very sacred and festive night with our children.

~~~Blessed Samhain Dear Readers...May it be a safe night of love, light, laughter and memories made to last forever~~~

For more information:

http://www.history.com/content/halloween/the-jack-o-lantern
http://www.earthwitchery.com/mutesupper.html

By Dragonfly

Greetings Fellow Readers! My name is Dragonfly and I am a mother to seven wonderful children. I am a hoosier native but have lived in the hot, dry desert valley of Las Vegas for the past 8 Years. My children are 16, 13, 9,7, twins 4, all boys andmy little princess is 3. I enjoy writing poetry and short stories, gardening, baking and fumbling around with different sorts of dinner recipes to make life a little more interesting at the dinnertable.

I am an Eclectic Pagan. I teach my children and myself to abide by the Wiccan Rede. I always tell my children "Harm nobody with your words or your actions." My children love Mother Earth and all her living things that reside on the planet. They love to play with the bugs and enjoy seeing butterflies, birds and different parts of nature that the Goddess has blessed us with in all her glory. I hope you will enjoy reading the articles that I share with you. I have so many wonderful ideas, and would appreciate any suggestions you may have for further articles. I may be reached at

dragonflyhummingbird@gmail.com