Samhain vs Halloween: Before the Decorations, There Was the Season
ahhtherapy ~newsletter ~october 2026Living Better. Living well. It begins with the exhale ~"Ahh"
“A time for both reflection and revelation, Samhain delineates a moment as thickly fleeting as fog and as subtle as the edge of a knife.” ~ Asia Suler
Part 1: Replacing Fear with WonderHey there friend.... I've always had a love-hate relationship with Halloween. As a child, it was definitely not my favorite holiday. And if you grew up in the '80s like me, you might understand why. The big kids picked on the little kids, you had to watch out for flying eggs and hope your house didn't get toilet-papered, and there was always a costume competition that made everything feel uncomfortable. Even the candy became a competition: who could collect the most, hoard the most, and then eat it all. I didn't understand the health side of it back then; I just knew it made me feel sick for days. And then there were the horror movies all about ghosts, demons, and evil spirits. For me, it was all a bit… ewwww. Give me Christmas or Thanksgiving any day…. It also starts earlier every year. This year, I saw Halloween decorations in the beginning of August, when I was still in a bathing suit and flip-flops. I mean, please. Learning about Samhain and my Celtic roots changed how I experience Halloween. I could finally see past the commercialism to something older and more meaningful. So what makes Samhain feel so different from Halloween—the American version many of us grew up with? Let’s start with what Samhain actually is, where it comes from, and how its traditions invite us to experience this time of year differently. Samhain vs Halloween: Before the Decorations, There Was the SeasonSolstice, Samhain (SOW-in) is an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, the darker half of the year. One of the most significant cross-quarter festivals in Celtic tradition, it takes its name from an early Irish word for "summer's end." It is recognized as the time when the final harvest is in and the descent into darkness begins. For the ancient communities whose lives depended on the land, Samhain was a time to take stock. Crops were harvested, livestock returned from summer grazing, and households prepared for the cold months, knowing their survival depended on what they had gathered. What would sustain the household? What needed protecting? Was there enough? In today’s world, these questions still matter, even if they aren’t as dire as they were for our ancestors, with our grocery stores and central heating. Perhaps now our harvest is our energy, attention, and capacity for caring, and these have their limits. Many of us arrive at the darker months already depleted, with calendars that expect even more from us during the holiday season. What would change if you treated these like a harvest? Something precious, something worth tending, something you couldn’t endlessly spend without replenishing. Remembrance, Feasting, and a Little Fortune-TellingThe traditions of Samhain held more than solemn reflection. There were shared meals, games, disguises, and questions about the future. Communities gathered around bonfires, sharing warmth and seeking symbolic protection as the darker season began. In later guising traditions, people wore homemade disguises to keep neighbors from recognizing them, then visited homes, trading songs or jokes for treats and playing pranks. Apples and nuts were enjoyed as festive foods and used in marriage divination games meant to reveal clues about a future partner. People expected the souls of the dead to return to the family home, so they welcomed them in and set places for them at their tables while also taking precautions against spirits they feared. Doesn't that feel very human? Remembering someone you love. Wondering what comes next. Sharing a meal and laughing with the people beside you, while acknowledging that life contains things you cannot explain or control. How Samhain and Halloween Became EntangledAs Christianity spread through Celtic communities, older seasonal customs blended with All Saints' Day on November 1. The evening before was known as All Hallows' Eve, and in 1700s Scotland, the name was shortened to Halloween- a celebration combining old and new beliefs. Death was a recurring theme at Samhain, woven into the final harvest, the dying plants and trees, and the culling of livestock that would sustain families through winter. This was also the season when the veil between the living and the spirit world was believed to grow thin, drawing our ancestors and departed loved ones near. The spirit world was met with reverence and respect. There was some apprehension, yes, but also a chance to feel close to those who had passed. Death was understood as part of life’s natural rhythm, a mystery that doesn’t have to be frightening. Alongside this was the understanding that acknowledging and honoring death could be quite cathartic. In fact, exploring death, the circle of life, and the spirit world with an open mind allows fear to soften into wonder and reminds us that we don’t have to fully understand something to find meaning in it. Irish and Scottish immigrants later carried their customs across the ocean to America, where the traditions continued to change. Even the jack-o'-lantern has a history beyond the pumpkin patch: in Ireland, the original lanterns were hand-carved turnips meant to keep wandering spirits at bay. Only in America, where pumpkins were plentiful, was the humble turnip traded for the bigger, brighter gourd. And so we've arrived at the Halloween we know today, with its aisles of decorations, mountains of candy, and horror movies that make even the bravest of us sleep with the lights on, a long way from where this ancient festival began. Why the Older Meaning Matters NowWhat draws me to Samhain is the chance to give this season some depth again. We live with so much pressure to keep moving, keep going, in our hustle culture. Even our endings are supposed to happen quickly. Wakes and funerals may be over within a few days, while some ancestral traditions made room for weeks of mourning a loved one’s passing. We’re also expected to turn loss into something useful quickly: a lesson, a fresh start, a story about how much stronger we are now. But sometimes an ending just needs to be felt, and felt deeply, before we can know what it means. Sometimes we need to remember someone without putting on a happy face, or acknowledge that a familiar role, relationship, or way of living has changed. We need room to miss what was, to feel the sadness or uncertainty, and to find our way forward without being rushed. And when the wheel turns and the final harvest is here, we’re offered a chance to pause and reflectWe can step into this dormant season with open hearts and curious minds. It’s a time to honor the abundance we’ve received and to notice what needs to shift, or even come to an end, so there’s room for what we’ll grow in spring. Take a moment to consider:
For me, reclaiming Samhain means making deliberate room for gratitude, complicated memories, and the people who shaped us. It means honoring our ancestors and keeping their memory alive. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and everything we are is built on their strength, their stories, and their sacrifices. It means trusting the cycles we move through, small and vast, and letting go of what has finished its work so we can grow again. It invites us to meet the dark and the unseen without fear, knowing we too will one day dwell in the liminal. With that said, reading about and understanding Samhain is one thing, but sitting with it around a candlelit table is another. On October 29th, I'm gathering a small circle of women to do exactly that. October 29th: Samhain Sacred CircleA Witchy Ouija Circle of Mystery, Magic & Celebration In the spirit of remembrance, shared meals, and a little fortune-telling, join us to honor those who came before us, make room for what is ending, and appreciate what continues to nourish us. Join our women's circle of ceremony, remembrance, and witchy curiosity, with meditation, oracle cards, and Ouija exploration. The evening includes a cozy seasonal dinner, sweet treats, and a glass of mulled wine or cider, with room for connection, magic, and laughter. 🍂🔮 With space for just 13 guests, this is a cozy circle where you can show up just as you are. Whether you celebrate every autumn, are simply curious, or are looking for a magical night with good company, you’re welcome here. 💞 📅 October 29, 2026 Only four spots left! I hope to see you around the fire.
The dark is not the end of the story. It is the soil where the next one quietly takes root. Honor what has fallen, hold close what remains, and trust that even now, something within you is preparing to grow. With gratitude as the wheel turns, P.S. I'm always here for questions. Email me here. |