Beltane, Samhain and Hallowe’en:

Hallowe’en:

I will talk a  little about Hallowe’en first before getting into the serious study of two of the  major Sabbats.

In Australia the tradition of “Trick or Treat” is not as widespread as it is in the Northern Hemisphere. In the past I hadn’t had any eager little trick or treaters come to my door before last year. I made a Jack O’Lantern that year and placed it outside. As I had done in the past, I stocked up on packets of lollies. In the past I had to eat them afterwards when no-one came. There were many visitors to my door last year, all in amazing costumes. So obviously it is growing in support throughout the nation. I live in a small country town in the Riverland, so it is quite surprising to see it here.

A friend of mine had given  me one of the special Jack O’Lantern pumpkins she grew, which was extremely easy to carve, unlike normal pumpkins. She didn’t have as much luck this year growing them, but managed to give me a smaller one when we met up with her in the Murraylands for lunch a few weeks ago. As you can see from the photo above, one of my naughty cats has dug into it. Therefore I am not sure it will even last  until the 31st October 2018. I guess we just have to wait and see.

Jack O’Lantern originated from an old Irish myth about Stingy Jack. Stingy Jack loved to play tricks on everyone, including the Devil. One year he conned the Devil into climbing a tree to pick fruit. He then placed crosses around the tree so the Devil couldn’t climb down until he promised not to take Jack’s soul when he died.

Many years later, Jack died, but because he was such a mean, miserable old man, Saint Peter refused him entry to Heaven. Jack went down to Hell, but the Devil also would not let him in. Instead the Devil gave  him one of Hell’s fire embers to light his way. Jack placed it in a turnip and roamed the earth. He became known as Jack of the Lantern, later shortened to Jack O’Lantern.

Originally the Jack O’Lantern was made from swedes, turnips and potatoes, but when the Irish emigrated to America and took the fable with them, they found pumpkins made a better Jack O’Lantern and were easier to carve.

Despite people knowing the legend of Stingy Jack, many believed the Jack O’Lanterns described the strange flickering lights sometimes seen over bogs and swamps. These lights have many names such as ghost light, fairy light and will-o-the-wisp.

At Samhain, people went door to door demanding rewards in exchange for good luck which became the modern trick or treat custom.

The closest we ever came to Hallowe’en celebrations as children was the town providing a huge bonfire and burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes on November 5th.

Beltane and Samhain:

Beltane:

I am lumping these two together as they are interchangeable depending on whether you live in the Southern Hemisphere or the Northern Hemisphere.

Beltane is generally celebrated on the eve of April 30 in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere we celebrate on October 31st. Some people celebrate the date astrologically at the midpoint between the Spring/Autumn Equinox and the Summer/Winter Solstice.

There are many traditions surrounding Beltane. Oak, Hawthorn and Rowan trees are sacred to this time.  It is considered taboo to cut down or break off branches from Hawthorn trees except on May Eve.

It was customary for girls and women to bathe their faces in the morning dew on Mayday to beautify the skin. A bel-fire or bale-fire was extinguished before being re-lit to herald the coming of Summer. Usually a candle was used to extinguish then if possible a bonfire was lit. Participants jumped over small fires to protect from disease and evil fairies who are particularly prevalent at this time. Fairies are also active at Samhain as well as Beltane.

As Beltane is also a fertility celebration, maypole dancing is traditional, with the maypole being a phallic symbol.

April 30th is also known as Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgis Night), the eve of the canonisation of Saint Walpurga.

Saint Walpurga was born in Devon England in 710 AD and later became a Christian missionary to Germany. She was instrumental in battling witches. People celebrated Walpurgisnacht  by dancing and lit bonfires to ward off witches who were believed to gather on Hexennacht to worship Satan. Thus Walpurgisnacht is meant to counter witchcraft.

Dennis Wheatley made mention of Walpurgisnacht in several of his books on Black Magic.

Samhain:

Samhain like Beltane, is another fire festival. The 1st of November was the Celtic New Year, the time belonging to neither past nor present and neither this world nor the Other. The veil between the worlds is thin and the spirits of ancestors can come through. At this time we pay our respects to those who have gone before, ancestors, family members, friends and pets.

Scrying, divination and communing with the dead are all performed at Samhain.

When celebrating the Sabbats and Esbats it is better to do so after the date, if not at that time, because the energies are stronger than beforehand.

Beltane festival marks the beginning of Summer and the living, whilst Samhain symbolises the beginning of Winter, the darker half of the year, and the dead.

Because of the many similarities between the observances of Beltane and Samhain I always included a little of each in my rituals.

In ancient times people slaughtered their stock as crops died and they would have been unable to feed them through winter. Living in the southern states  of Australia, the dying time is not necessarily winter as our blistering summers and dry winters lead to drought. This year in Australia there is a major drought and stock are dying and feed is difficult to come by. Farmers are having to kill off sheep and cattle who are starving.

Another reason for  my combining Beltane and Samhain is the Celtic names of months. Celebrating Beltane in a month that is Samhain in Irish or Samhain in Bealtaine just seems wrong. This would be from the  influence from my Irish Grandmother I think.

January – Eanáir

February – Feabhra

March – Márta

April – Aibreán

May – Bealtaine

June – Meitheamh

July – Iúil

August – Lúnasa (Lughnasadh)

September – Meán Fómhair

October – Deireadh Fómhair

November – Samhain

December – Nollaig, also Mí na Nollag

Finally, we are taught “..an it harm none, do what thou wilt”. Therefore celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats however you choose. Witchcraft is very personal so make it your own.