"The Summers End": The Eve of the New Celtic Year, "The Feast of Apples", Samhain, the third and last of the Harvest festivals. Final preparations for the winter to come are made. The Goddess descends into the Underworld to rest. She moves into her Crone aspect. The God has waned and aged, he has died and is now the Lord of Death. The cycle of life, death and rebirth has encompassed its revolution.
Samhain means, "The End of Summer", the weather is cold and the crops have been reaped. The reserve for the winter is virtually fulfilled. The animals in the herds that would not make it through the winter are slaughtered along with what is needed to maintain life into the spring. It is important to be precise, for if too many were taken from the herd, there would not be enough to propagate in the spring; if too few were taken the storage of the grains might run out. It's a matter of balance.
Samhain is the beginning of the New Year, the continual cycles of life allocate that with each end, there is a beginning and with each beginning there is an ending. Providing a cycle that will keep life renewed and continual. Stopping life from becoming stagnant. Death in the religion of Wicca is part of the natural process of life. It is not to be feared or forced. Animals live and die, plants live and die, we live and die, but there is also rebirth. Animals reproduce themselves, plants generate seeds that create new plants, and Wicca believes in Reincarnation.
The End of Summer is at sundown on October 31st. The Celtic New Year begins on the November 1st at sunrise. From sundown to sunrise, it is theorized that "time" does not exist. During this period, the Veil between the worlds of Spiritual and Physical is thin. The thin veil allows the spirits of our loved ones to return as a last greeting before they move on their way to the next reincarnation. A plate of food and drink might be set out to give the loved ones a bit to eat on their journey, old clothing of the deceased or ancestors might be worn to be closer to them on this night. Lanterns or candles could also be placed outside to help guide the way of the spirits. The cauldron is a tool used in Wicca. It is not only a cooking pot of the past, making wonderful soups and stews, but a symbol of the womb, birth, return and wisdom. The cauldron may also be used at this time in rituals and in decoration.
Today, many of these customs have been adapted to the Hallowe'en, All Hollows Eve. It is popular to dress up on the 31st of October, many children go out "Trick or Treating" to have goodies given to them. Pumpkins are carved out into Jack-O-Lanterns and set out at Night. There are several similarities.
This is an exceptionally sacred night for Wicca, and considered to be a "High Holy" day along with Beltane in May. It is one to pay homage to ones we love and respect. It is a night of Horror or Evil pranks within the religion. As part of Samhain, the Great Rite is performed. This is the act of Life that even in death, life continues. As at Beltane, the reverence of life is evident.
