Seasons Passing

Halloween falls on the 31st October every year and some of us like to spend the evening running around the streets in 'spooky' costumes scaring others for no other reason than it is what we are told is traditional. Others of us resolutely shut ourselves inside refusing to answer the door to all those pesky kids ringing our bell in the hope that we'll give them some kind of 'treat' - preferably one that involves cash. Some of us may have a bowl of sweets or fruit ready by the door to offer to our seasonal visitors. But why do we do any of this?

Ecomonkey wonders why we find ourselves 'celebrating' this festival year after year in unexplained rituals, often meaningless and seemingly unavoidably commercial ways. We are fairly sure that Halloween has absolutely nothing to do with the purchase of scary looking, luridly coloured, plastic toys and costumes. So what is it all about?

In traditional Pagan times, the turn of October into November was celebrated as Samhain which marked the end of Summer, harvest season and the transition from the old year into the beginning of a New Year and the start of Winter. Thus October 31st was New Year's Eve. Rather than being feared, ancestors and spirits were remembered and called upon for guidance throughout the coming year.

Before the Roman invasion of Britain the Celts believed that winter's long dark nights encouraged malevolent spirits out to play particularly on October 31st when the barrier between the world of the living and that of the spirits was thought to be weakest. The Celts danced and feasted around bonfires to protect themselves from dark spirits but also to warm and welcome friendly spirits and encourage the souls of those in purgatory on toward Heaven.

When Roman Catholicism turned the Pagan festival of Samhain into All Saints or All Hallows day, November 1st was designated as a day when the saints were remembered and honoured. The following day was All Souls day when prayers for the dead would be offered. At this time, All Hallows Eve simply marked the preceding day when these joyous celebrations began.

Over time, as we have been trained to become more afraid of death and all things spiritual and non-scientific, the festival's celebratory, thanksgiving elements have been replaced with a more sinister element. Now, instead of being a time for contemplation and remembering, an acknowledgment of time passing, summer's end and winter's approach all we seem to have left is consumerism and spooky stories centred around evil spirits, scary ghosts, frightening witches and mischievous spirits.

It seems a shame that we have been conditioned to not only avoid that which is spiritual, natural and seasonal but also to be afraid of what our 'modern' time-poor minds no longer easily understand. Perhaps this year, we can mark the change of seasons by bringing back some of that traditional joy, celebrating all that has passed and all that is to come. A recognition of the circle of time in which we live and die and gratitude for those who have lived before us and those who will continue after us. A celebration of Life itself.

Rachelle Strauss from My Zero Waste offers a lovely explanation of this seasonal celebration in her article How to bring meaning and reverence to Samhain on Ooffoo.
"In our culture, Spirits, rather than the loving reminders of our dead, are portrayed as frightening beings. 'Tricks' are the price we pay if we do not 'treat' visiting ghosts and ghouls.
For me, nature is showing us true trick or treating with global warming. Climate change is the price we are paying for not treating the natural forces of life with respect and reverence. Maybe this would be a good time to think about our own actions and the impact they have on the environment...
...During Samhain, we can understand that death is followed by rebirth and reduce our fear of death and dying. Last week I was sitting in the garden watching the trees shed their leaves. I was touched by how the leaves simply 'let go'. They didn't struggle or try to hang on, they knew it was time for release and in the spring time new growth would appear..." Full article here

Meanwhile, over on NewAge.co.uk we are encouraged to use this time of year to shed layers of the past we no longer need and plant the seeds that will take us forward into a brighter future. We can't argue with that.
From: New Age - Celtic Festivals - Samhain
"Samhain or Samhuin stands between the worlds of the living and dead and outside of ordinary time. It's the day that past memories meet the hopes of the future. The veil between us and the spirit world is at its thinnest tonight and we remember our ancestors, recent and from the distant past. It is death that gives life its purpose and decay that fertilises new growth.
It is a time to plant the seeds of new projects, allowing them to germinate over the winter months. It is also considered the time to end old projects and to generally take stock of one's life.
Samhain allows you to come to terms with your past year and leave all mistakes and regrets behind you, in order to move on. Look forward to what the future holds. Use the magic of this time to say good-bye to a bad habit or addiction, an old relationship, or anything else negative in your life - Samhain is the night to leave it all behind."

Further Info:
Halloween on Ooffoo / BBC Food Halloween / New Age - Samhain