Y'konw, I've watched Halloween when I was kid, but it wasn't until I was older that I could look past the evil intentions it was made for and actually watch and listen. Such is so with Halloween 2. In it, Mike Myers' doc speaks of something called Samhain. I'm a Spiritualist, which means I do not subscribe to religion. In my quest to understand the spiritual world, I lone to have many questions answered. So, I guess my question, naturally, would be: What is the true meaning of Samhain? Where did it come from? And is it truly something evil, as Christians would have us believe? Is it an entity or god, or simply a blessed day of some sort of ancient festivity? My Spiritualists, please help me understand, because my American country is too bastardized, by the mixing of cultures to create it's own culture, to explain any kind of truth to us. Cheers, mates.
2007-10-27 16:46:16 · 9 answers · asked by arcangelus272 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Samhain is the word for November in the Gaelic languages. The Scottish Gaelic spelling is Samhainn or Samhuinn (for the feast), or an t-Samhain (for the month). The Festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is generally regarded as 'The Celtic New Year'
The same word was used for a month in the ancient Celtic calendar, in particular the first three nights of this month, with the festival marking the end of the summer season and the end of the harvest. A modernized version of this festival continues today in some of the traditions of the Catholic All Souls' Day, the secular Halloween, and in folk practices of Samhain itself in the Celtic Nations and the Irish and Scottish diasporas. It is also observed by various types of Neopagans.
According to Celtic lore, Samhain is a time when the boundaries between the world of the living and the world of the dead become thinner, at times even fading away completely, allowing spirits and other supernatural entities to pass between the worlds to socialize with humans. It is the time of the year when ancestors and other departed souls are especially honored. Though Celtic Reconstructionists make offerings to the spirits at all times of the year, Samhain in particular is a time when more elaborate offerings are made to specific ancestors. Often a meal will be prepared of favorite foods of the family's and community's beloved dead, a place set for them at the table, and traditional songs, poetry and dances performed to entertain them. A door or window may be opened to the west and the beloved dead specifically invited to attend. Many leave a candle or other light burning in a western window to guide the dead home. Divination for the coming year is often done, whether in all solemnity or as games for the children. The more mystically inclined may also see this as a time for deeply communing with the deities, especially those whom the lore mentions as being particularly connected with this festival.
2007-10-27 16:56:53 · answer #1 · answered by mental1018 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Some of my fellow pagan answerers can answer this a lot better than I can (maybe with a lovely big specific copy and paste message on the subject) but here's the basic thing:
Samhain is, for many pagans, our dia de los muertos and new year. There's nothing evil about it. Pretty sure Samhain was not some sort of god despite what some people have been lead to believe. There are several pagan traditions that can be seen in modern day Halloween- trick or treating, bobbing for apples, dressing up, etc.
2007-10-27 16:52:38 · answer #2 · answered by xx. 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Samhain is *not* evil, it marks the end of the harvest season & preparation for winter. Some ppl, including many Wiccans, hold Samhain as the Celtic New Year & it is both a festive & solemn occasion as we remember those who have passed.
Earlier this evening I saw a post (in the Holiday section, I think) where someone said that ppl used to worship a demon named Sam Hain-- I don't know if the guy was making it up as he typed or if someone's been yanking his chain, but this is *wrong*! Funny, but wrong.
I haven't seen the Halloween films but I suppose the reference to Samhain as evil is perpetuating sterotypes in an attempt to make the film "scarier." According to horror films, witches are scary, black cats are scary, rats are scary & anything out of the white-bread-middle-America-Judeo-Christian box is scary. I'm curious as to how Samhain was pronounced in the film-- most ppl I know say it, Sow'un.
2007-10-27 17:05:25 · answer #3 · answered by Catkin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Currently I can't do anything for Samhain in a group, seeing as I've moved away from all my wiccan friends. :( I suppose I'l just try and appreciate the holiday. Tag along with a few of my 'new' friends and go to the spooky places of the town. The Graveyard most likely, pshah! I'll make sure they don't disrespect the dead when I'm with them. (Is it just me, or does anyone here avoid standing in front of tombstones? It's like your standing on the corpse itself. o_o!) Although I will light a few candles and cast some spells that work best only on Samhain, and go on a walk some night just to appreciate the night. =D..
2016-04-10 22:24:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was originally celebrated by a feast until the Christians got a hold of it. The Festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture.
2007-10-27 16:52:17 · answer #5 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Samhain was a celebration of the harvest and the celtic new year. Its also a time to remember those we have lost and welcome the new. To some its also the time when the veil between the world of the living and the dead thin and you can communicate with those you have lost. The meaning of the word is simply "November".
There's nothing evil about it.
2007-10-27 16:58:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Samhain is a pre-Christian ("pagan", if you will) holiday which celebrates Autumn. Wiccans usually celebrate it. Halloween was a Christian adaption of it (via All Saint's Day celebrated on November 1).
2007-10-27 16:50:07 · answer #7 · answered by The Doctor 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well, I think everyone else pretty much explained it, I just wanted to add that is is not evil, it has nothing to do with evil or demons or the devil...which Wiccans do not actually believe in.
2007-10-28 11:10:38 · answer #8 · answered by .:Tina ♥ marie:. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2007-10-27 16:53:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋