During October, people across the world celebrate a variety of Fall traditions. Germany celebrates the famed Oktoberfest, while Americans celebrate Halloween. Normal Halloween festivities commence on October 31st for children across the country, dying for the chance to dress up as their favorite monster or fictional character, and going door to door to collect an immense number of sugary confections.

While most recognize Halloween as a time for trick-or-treating, parties, and a time to fear the dead rising from the grave, Wiccans and Pagans know this holiday as Samhain.  Meaning “summers end” in Scots Gaelic, Samhain was traditionally a Gaelic harvest festival that started on October 31st and ended on November 2nd.  With the rise of Christianity, Samhain was changed to Hallowmas, or All Saints’ Day. Today we know it by many names such as Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, or Hollantide. October 31st was known as the most magically potent time for November Eve, which was a time for frolic and magickal fun during the harvest. The Christian church changed their holiday to November 2nd, which is known as All Saint’s Day to remove any Paganistic connection to Samhain.

Samhain consists not of trick-or-treating as we know it today, but of decorating the sacred altars with black cloth, pumpkins, and other fall decor.  Witches tend to steer away from the stereotypes of Halloween such as evil spells and death, but on a full moon the night of Samhain, magick is at it’s highest peak during the witching hour (midnight). At this time, many witches will perform a spell or ritual in honor of the sacred holiday. Most perform a peaceful ritual of communicating with the dead, in order to talk to a loved one. If you’re a very powerful witch, one might call on the spirit of an older or famous person such as my two favorites MJ or Frank Sinatra. It takes much more magick to call on someone from the Roman Empire than it would be to call the recently deceased. 

Witches are not the scary, evil people most society make them out to believe. Stereotypes from Halloween associate witches as green-skinned, wart-infested, potion-brewing hags. As we see today that comical witch that crashes into a tree or window decoration. Witches are really everyday people who do the same everyday routines as any other person.  Most witches stay clear of any black magick spells or rituals, but practice white magick. Black magick involves death and destruction, while white magick is based on hope and healing others including yourself. There are other witches, like myself, who practice both sides, which is called a Gray Witchcraft. Other types of magick are Green witchcraft, and Kitchen witchery. Green witchcraft mostly deal with only herbs and worshiping the Goddess and Mother Earth. Kitchen witchery is exactly how it sounds, making potions and food for positive energy.

When you meet a witch, don’t be afraid of them, but be careful you don’t insult them. You never know if you might wake up on All Hallow’s Eve and be cursed with the “Evil Eye”.

Here is a simple ritual for the Wiccans and Pagans (over 21) for some powerful love divination on Samhain:

“Sometime before midnight,place before a mirror an offering of wine and three hairs from your head. Now turn your back to the mirror and as the clock strikes twelve, listen for a movement. When you hear  one, turn and look in the mirror. A vision of your future husband will greet you.”- Sarah Lyddon Morrison The Modern Witch’s Spellbook Book 1

Or if you prefer to have something less spooky and are a beginner at witchcraft, here is another spell for you:

“Take as many hazelnuts as you have prospective partners. Name each nut accordingly before placing them evenly on the front of the fire. The nut that pops the loudest and burns most brightly says it all.”- Jillian Kemp The Good Spell Book