Samhain Symbols & Rituals for the Witches’ Sabbat

At the crossroads of the harvest and winter lies one of the most revered celebrations in Pagan and Wiccan traditions: Samhain. This ancient holiday signifies the end of the fruitful season and the onset of the darker half of the year. It’s believed that during this time, the veil between the living and the spirit world is at its most fragile, inviting moments of deep reflection, ancestor veneration, and spiritual connection.

In this article, we’ll uncover the profound history of Samhain, its timeless symbols, traditional rituals, and the myriad of ways—both ancient and modern—to honor this powerful Pagan festival.

What is Samhain?

Samhain, celebrated from October 31st to November 1st in the northern hemisphere, is one of the most sacred Pagan and Wiccan holidays. (Southern hemisphere dates: April 30 to May 1).

Samhain marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, a time when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Traditionally, it’s a period for reflecting on the past year and honoring ancestors.

• The Significance of Samhain
• Symbols of Samhain
• Rituals and Traditions of Samhain
• Pagan Symbolism of the Celebration
• Modern Samhain Celebrations
• Conclusion

The Significance of Samhain

Historically, Samhain has deep Celtic roots as one of four major fire festivals (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh). It signaled the end of the pastoral year and a time of transition and gathering. Ancient customs included feasting, storytelling, and consulting soothsayers for the future.

The name “Samhain”, pronounced ‘sow-in’, comes from Old Irish, symbolizing a reunion, particularly with spirits. A key tradition involves honoring ancestors through rituals like “dumb suppers,” meals served in silence to welcome the dead.

As Samhain marks the shift from the warm and bountiful summer to the cold and barren winter, it is symbolic of both endings and beginnings. This change in season reflects the larger cycles of life, death, and rebirth, making Samhain an ideal time for reflection and transformation.

Sometimes called the Witches’ New Year or the Season of the Witch, this is a powerful time to connect with the unknown, seek spiritual guidance, and prepare for the new year to come.

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Symbols of Samhain

Animals of Samhain

• Crow/Raven – representing wisdom, prophecy, and connection to the spirit world.
• Black Cat – believed to be guardians of the spirit realm.
• Owl – symbol of wisdom and guidance through darkness.
• Spider – weaving the threads between worlds.
• Tailless Black Sow – sacred in Celtic tradition, particularly associated with Cerridwen and the otherworld. In Scottish folklore, the Black Sow (Muc Dubh) was seen as a harbinger figure during Samhain, representing both the destructive and regenerative aspects of the dark season.

Colors of Samhain

The colors of Samhain—black, orange, and brown—are deeply symbolic:

• 🖤 Black: Represents death, the underworld, and the mysteries of the afterlife.
• 🧡 Orange: Symbolizes the harvest and the warmth of the fire during this cold transition.
• 🤎 Brown and gold: Represent the earth’s final gifts before winter sets in.

Crafted Items

• Jack O’Lantern – originally carved from turnips/beets, later pumpkins, to ward off spirits.
• Bonfire – ceremonial fires for protection and cleansing.
• Potions – homebrewed potions in the witch’s cauldron of transformation and rebirth.
• Besom (ritual broom) – for cleansing sacred spaces.
• Candles – especially black and orange ones.

Plants

• Rosemary – for remembrance of ancestors.
• Mugwort – associated with prophetic dreams.
• Sage – for cleansing and protection.
• Oak leaves – representing strength and wisdom.
• Chrysanthemums – flowers of the dead and remembrance.

Tools & Objects

• Scythe – representing the final harvest
• Celtic Spiral – representing triplicities, the cycle of life, death, and rebirth
• Mirrors – for divination and seeing into the otherworld
• Ancestor Photos/Mementos – honoring those who’ve passed
• Hourglass – symbolizing the passage between worlds

Deities Associated with Samhain

• Cailleach – the ancient Celtic crone goddess who rules the dark half of the year, associated with winter, death, and transformation
• Manannan mac Lir – Celtic god of the sea and the Otherworld, guardian of the gates between worlds
• Morrigan – Celtic goddess of death, fate, and prophecy, often appearing in crow form
• Arawn – Welsh god of the underworld (Annwn), death, and terror, leader of the Wild Hunt
• Cerridwen – Welsh goddess of death and rebirth, keeper of the cauldron of wisdom and transformation
• Persephone – Greek goddess who descends to the underworld during the dark months, representing the death and rebirth cycle
• Hecate – Greek goddess of crossroads, magic, and necromancy, guide of souls
• Odin – Norse god who leads the Wild Hunt during this time, associated with wisdom and death

Full Moon of Samhain 🌕

Samhain falls between two significant full moons—the Harvest Moon and the Hunter’s Moon—both of which hold deep symbolic connections to the cycles of harvest and preparation for winter.

• Hunter’s Moon: The first full moon after the Harvest Moon, typically in October, is known as the Hunter’s Moon. It provided light for hunters tracking game, preparing food stores for the winter.
• Blood Moon: While the term Blood Moon is often associated with lunar eclipses, in ancient times it referred to the late autumn moon, symbolizing the culling of livestock and the necessary preparation for winter.

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Rituals and Traditions of Samhain

Historically, Samhain was not merely a festival but a communal obligation among the Celts, involving rituals to honor the dead and welcome the onset of winter. This included lighting bonfires and feasting, which served both spiritual and practical purposes.

The introduction of All Saints’ Day by Pope Boniface IV in 609 CE and its subsequent alignment with the timing of Samhain further integrated these ancient customs into Christian celebrations.

Guisers and Mummers

During Samhain, guisers—individuals in costumes—played a significant role, wandering from house to house, imitating or warding off spirits thought to roam freely on this night. In regions like Ireland and Scotland, these figures often wore masks or painted their faces, asking for food or rewards in exchange for reciting rhymes.

One traditional Scottish guiser rhyme went:

“Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marchin’
We are the guisers at the door,
If ye dinna let us in
We will bash yer windies in
An ye’ll never see the guisers any more.”

This playful yet mischievous chant exemplifies the spirit of guising, a practice still reflected in modern Halloween traditions like trick-or-treating.

Traditional Chants and Songs

Music and chants are important in setting the tone for Samhain rituals. Chanting helps raise energy within ritual circles, invoking spirits and ancestors. A common chant might be:

“The veil grows thin, the dark draws near, we honor our kin, without fear.”

In Wales, the fearsome figure of the Tail-less Black Sow, or yr Hwrch Ddu Gwta, was a central part of Samhain folklore. Children, particularly in Denbighshire, would run home from the bonfires chanting, “the tail-less black sow take the hindermost,” as a way to hurry each other along. This ominous figure was believed to stalk the night, waiting to snatch the last straggler.

A rhyme from Anglesey captures the eerie presence of this spirit:

“A Tail-less Black Sow
And a White Lady
Without a head
May the Tail-less Black Sow
Snatch the hindmost.
A Tail-less Black Sow
On Winter’s Eve,
Thieves coming along
Knitting stockings.”

Men would sometimes imitate the sow by grunting in the darkness, spurring the children to race home in fear. This chilling imagery of the black sow waiting on stiles across northern Wales persisted well into the 19th century, embodying the spirit of Samhain’s darker, supernatural elements​.

Samhain Storytelling

Samhain’s communal traditions, including feasting, storytelling, and ancestor veneration, fostered a sense of belonging and continuity. Families gathered to share seasonal meals and reflect on life’s cycles, blending supernatural beliefs with cultural values.

One of the most famous stories linked to Samhain is “The Second Battle of Mag Tuired,” an epic myth from Irish mythology. It tells the tale of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of gods, who fought the monstrous Fomorians during Samhain. In this legendary battle, the Tuatha Dé were led by the god Lugh, who faced Balor, the one-eyed leader of the Fomorians. Balor’s evil eye could kill anyone it gazed upon, but Lugh, using his skills and weapons, managed to defeat him, turning the tide of the battle.

The themes of life, death, and rebirth, which are central to Samhain, are reflected in this myth. The battle marked a transition, much like Samhain itself marks the shift from the harvest season to the darker winter months.

See also: How to Celebrate Samhain: Rituals & Ideas! 🎃

Pagan Symbolism of the Celebration

Practices can vary widely, but they often encompass rituals dedicated to deities associated with death, wisdom, and the underworld, such as the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess, Aradia, Hecate, Hades, and Persephone.

Feasting on traditional foods like apples, nuts, and grains reflects the final harvest and honors the earth’s abundance, while livestock culling ensured food for the winter. Costumes, originally worn to confuse or protect against spirits, have evolved into modern Halloween traditions but retain their protective origins.

Central to the celebration are bonfires, which served both as protection from malevolent forces and as a way to offer sacrifices to gods and spirits. Lanterns, candles, and carved pumpkins, now iconic to Halloween, were once used to ward off evil spirits.

Keep exploring in the Coven!: Samhain in the Spells8 Forum 💀

Witchy Music for Samhain

Personal Celebrations

For those who prefer solitary practices, creating a solitary Samhain ritual can be just as meaningful. This might include setting up an altar at home with some spellcasting music, making Moon Water or even Ghost Water, and lighting a candle in remembrance of loved ones. Samhain encourages deep personal reflection and connection to the natural world.

Divination and Magic

Samhain is a time for heightened magic, particularly for divination. Many people use tarot cards, scrying mirrors, or runes to seek guidance about the year to come. The thinning of the veil makes it easier to connect with spiritual energies, do shadow work and other introspective practices.

Conclusion

Samhain continues to hold deep meaning, particularly in Pagan and Wiccan communities. Its themes of life, death, and rebirth reflect the changing seasons and remind us of the interconnectedness of all things.

The holiday provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year, honor those who have passed, and prepare spiritually for the new year ahead.

May this Samhain bring you clarity, peace, and connection as you honor the cycle of life and death and embrace the mystery of the dark half of the year.