How important is Samhain to pagans?

Question

Is it just a ho hum minor holiday like president's day, or is it up at the top?

Answer 1

Samahin is a cross quarter celebration and a high holiday. This year it falls on November 7th.
Samhain means summers end. I will be giving thanks for the final harvest. I will pay honor to ancestors, not only those in my life that have crossed, but those who have made an impact on my life such as people that died for my religious freedoms and humanitarians that I have admired who have crossed. I will be banishing negativity from my life and asking for protection for me and mine as we enter the darkest part of the year.
In Celtic mythology this is the time the God returns to the womb/tomb and will be reborn at the Winter Solstice.
We have 4 high holidays, yet it seems as though Samhain and Beltaine tend to be favorites.

Answer 2

To my family and to our Coven and to me, it is quite important.

It is not only our "New Year" but also the time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, making it an excellent time for magick, divination, etc.

Blessed Samhain to all.

Answer 3

Hey! Just so you know, there is no "Pagan" religion, nor do Pagans all participate in any one religion. Maybe this will help you:

pa·gan

pa·gan [páygən]
n (plural pa·gans)
1. follower of a less popular religion: somebody who does not follow one of the world’s main religions, especially somebody who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, and whose religion is regarded as questionable (sometimes considered offensive)
2. polytheist or pantheist: a follower of an ancient polytheistic or pantheistic religion
3. heathen: somebody who has no religion (disapproving)


adj
1. of a less popular religion: believing in or relating to a religion that is not one of the world’s main religions and is regarded as questionable
2. following polytheistic or pantheistic religion: believing in or relating to an ancient polytheistic or pantheistic religion
3. nonreligious: having no religion (sometimes considered offensive)


[14th century. Via late Latin paganus from Latin , “villager, civilian,” from pagus “rural district” (source of English peasant).]


-pa·gan·ish, adj
-pa·gan·ism, n
-pa·gan·is·tic [pàygə nístik], adj

The Latin word pagus , from which pagan is derived, originally meant “something stuck in the ground as a landmark.” It was extended metaphorically to “rural district, village,” and the noun paganus was derived from it, denoting “country dweller, villager.” This shifted in meaning, first to “civilian,” and then (based on the early Christian notion that all members of the Church were “soldiers” of Christ) to “heathen.”


Perhaps if you could actually come up with a real religion, one that perahaps Samhain applies to, and then re-submit this question, you would have some better luck. In the future, try to educate yourself before asking others to educate you.

Answer 4

Seeing as how it's the beginning of the Pagan year, I'd say it's pretty important.

Answer 5

Absolutely the Top.

Answer 6

It is a major Sabbat - for most of us, its New Year :)

Answer 7

it's the only holiday I truly enjoy

Answer 8

I guess

Answer 9

Are you for real? )O(