Samhain Countdown Day 23

Samhain VS Halloween

If you are a brand new or newer witch you might be asking yourself, ‘Wait, how is Samhain different from the Halloween celebrations I have been observing up until now?’ (heck even I still get confused at times).

Here I have broken it down a little bit to give you an idea of the differences.

Samhain

• It is the third and final harvest festival of the Wheel of the Year

• Signifies the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice.

• Takes place on October 31st, starting at sunset and ending at sunset on the 1st of November

• Marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter

• On the old calendar it was considered an important time for giving offerings and communicating with the dead

Halloween

• Believed to have been derived from the pagan and Celtic celebration of Samhain

  • but was taken, changed, and celebrated by many different cultures over the years

• It was originally a day known as “All Hallow’s Day” and it was a Christian alternative to Samhain

• It originated in medieval England and celebrated the lives of faithful Christian saints

• Originally it was celebrated on May 13th however it was later switched it to November 1st, making October 31st known as “All Hallows Eve,”

  • This would eventually change and become known as Halloween.

• This tradition, however, has kept many of the same traditions of Samhain

  • Although it focused more on their saints than that of ancestors or evil spirits.