Do have any personal Samhain traditions?

Answer 1

I still don't feel right going anywhere but to my home coven in Orlando, even though I've lived in NYC for two years. (And I'm not the only one; my best friend also lives here and will be on my flight, and two others are flying in, too!)

I make cupcakes, with either orange or very dark chocolate icing. The kids know that the ones with the names of departed loved ones written on them in purple icing are *not* for them--those are offerings!

We burn pieces of paper with things we want to leave behind in the old year and take turns stating things we want for the new.

We put the kids to bed, drink, talk, and dance to music by dead artists.

It's really an awesome thing!

Answer 2

I hesitate to call them Samhain traditions because I follow my own spiritual path and my "traditions" are only 10-15 years old. It is one of my personal "holy days of excess". I go out and drink too much, eat too much, stay up too late, do many unwise things. I do this several times a year at Samhain, New Years, Mardi Gras or St Patrick's Day, Beltane and a random night in mid-summer, not always on the specific day of the festivals but as close as my schedule allows. I also light many candles the nights immediately before and after Samhain and eat a meal consisting entirely of autumn vegetables and fruits. If I have like-minded friends nearby, we'll have a bonfire but I don't bother if it's just me.

Answer 3

Most of my practices have varied from year to year a little. But things that I always do include scrying, honoring my ancestors on my altar and burning candles for them, and drinking and offering apple cider. Other rites seem to change a little every year but those stay the same.

Answer 4

Besides the usual trick or treating? We visit the cemetary. We decorate the altar for the ancestors and have a big feast. We're having a retreat this year in the metro Detroit area. (More info about this at http://www.motorcitypagans.net)

Answer 5

I have a Dumb Supper. I use family dishes, since my family is Italian, I use favorite italian foods for my loved ones who have died. After dinner is over, I leave it outside under a favorite tree. I also throw in Mead for an offering, and I leave out Scotch and roses for my Matron Goddess that night, and Honey for the Fae.

Answer 6

Personally, I love to dance to "Dead can dance' drink red wine, and raise a little toast to Alister Crowly, even though he was a mad scam artist, chaos breeder and had dubious morals he was the BEST hell-raiser of all, gotta give it up to a bit of well placed chaos to shake up the old fogies once in a while! After all, who EVER takes this world *too* seriously ought to have a LONG talk with Eris....

Answer 7

N/A Don't know a thing about this. But I will look it up.

Answer 8

Yes, I'm fond of saying "If it's not Scottish...it's CRAP!"