What is Samhain?

Samhain (pronounced “saah-win” or “saah-ween”) is an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. First observed by Celtic Pagans, the tradition spans from sunset on October 31st to sunset on November 1st. Known as the precursor to Halloween, Samhain signifies the “Summer’s End,” a time when the Celts believed the veil between the living and the dead thinned, allowing spirits to visit.

How to celebrate Samhain

In the northern hemisphere, Samhain is celebrated on the night of October 31st through November 1st, often by preparing a dinner to celebrate the harvest and remembrance rituals. It’s a meaningful day, not morbid or frightening, but a chance to realign with nature’s rhythms, reflect on life’s cycles, and honor the deceased. For those who have experienced recent losses, Samhain rituals can offer closure, and for everyone, it’s a time to celebrate the beauty of life’s transitions and appreciate life. And can’t we all use more of that?

There are many rituals you can partake in to celebrate Samhain. Below is a guide to crafting your own meaningful Samhain observance with some of the CosmicRx team’s favorite rituals.

7 Simple Ritual Ideas to Honor Samhain

1. Take a Samhain Nature Walk: Go for a meditative walk, observing nature’s changes. What sounds do you hear, what colors do you see, what aromas do you smell? Let yourself reflect on death and rebirth. Collect natural items like leaves or acorns to use on an altar.
2. Set Up a Samhain Altar: Use symbols of late fall—skulls, gourds, dried leaves, spices and herbs – like cinnamon, nutmeg, mugwort, allspice- mulled cider, or candles—to create a sacred space for the occasion. You can set up a table to leave in place for 3 days before and after Samhain.
3. Reflect and Review: Use this time to journal or meditate on the past year’s growth, adventures, and challenges. Look through old photos or moon journals and take time to honor your journey.
4. Bonfire Magic: If possible, gather around a fire or kindle flames in a fireplace or small cauldron, and write down something you’d like to release, then cast it into the Samhain flames as you imagine release. Visualize yourself renewed and rising like a phoenix, letting go of the old, and embodying a new, healthier way of being as you move around.
5. Divination Station: Use tarot cards, runes, or scrying for guidance on the year to come, asking your ancestors for wisdom. See more on how to work with oracle cards for guidance here.
6. Community Connection: Organize a Samhain potluck, attend a virtual celebration, or share family stories with friends. Exchange ideas, information and celebration experiences with others. Reflect on being part of a larger spiritual community.
7. Light a Way Home: Place a white pillar candle in a window, burning it from October 31st for up to seven days to guide recently departed loved ones on their passage to the Spirit World. Pray over their journey that it may be done with grace and ease.

Samhain is a time to reconnect with the cycles of life, honor the dead, and celebrate the living. Whether through a ritual meal, a solitary walk in nature, or a gathering of friends, it’s a beautiful way to embrace both life’s fleeting beauty and its enduring legacy.

Celebrating Samhain this year? Tag us on Instagram @cosmicrx and show us your rituals.