The celebration of Halloween is often marked by a spooky atmosphere, dominated by haunted houses and creepy costumes.
However, its origins are rooted deeply in the pagan festival of Samhain, a dark and enigmatic time when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to be at its thinnest.
Samhain was an integral part of the pagan calendar (click here to learn more about the pagan calendar, also known as The Wheel Of The Year) signalling the end of the harvest season and the onset of the doomed winter months. The ancient Celts viewed this time as mystically witchy, steeped in wiccan traditions aimed at warding off evil spirits and ensuring the protection of their communities.
🔥HOW TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN A MORE TRADITIONAL WAY
Nowadays, enthusiasts who wish to celebrate Samhain can engage in various rites that honour its ancient heritage while adding a modern twist to these ghastly traditions.
A typically sinister Samhain evening begins with the lighting of the hearth’s fire, a ritual meant to mimic the ancient bonfires, believed to aid spirits in their journey and welcome departed souls back into the warmth of the living world.
Creating an altar adorned with autumnal symbols such as pumpkins, apples, and acorns can summon the ghostly presence of nature itself, offering a spine-chilling nod to the connection between life and death.
Engaging in devilish games, such as apple bobbing, serves as a reminder of traditional customs designed to predict the future—a concept that intrigued our ancestors.
They believed that offerings left at your doorstep could appease the house's resident spirits, preventing any petrifying nocturnal visitations.
On Samhain, people wore costumes to disguise themselves from wandering spirits, now reflected in the modern eerie tradition of donning shivering disguises that add to the evening's excitement.
For those seeking a more spiritual experience, the night can become a time for introspection and connection with the divine. Practising wicked yet profound meditative sessions or tarot readings can deepen one’s understanding of personal cycles and the inevitability of change.
The sound of the strange wind rustling through the trees only amplifies the feeling of being enveloped by the cursed energy of Samhain, providing the perfect backdrop for those wishing to delve into the mysteries of the universe.
Although the festival has evolved over time, incorporating Halloween frights alongside its more mystical traditions, the heart of Samhain remains intact.
Today’s celebrations offer a perfect blend of past and present, allowing revellers to explore the pagans' practices in a way that suits modern lifestyles.
🍁 DOWNLOAD YOUR ENGLISH HALLOWEEN ACTIVITY PACK
Celebrating Halloween in a traditional way is also a good practise to include English activities and vocabulary in your festivities and allow yourself and your family/friends to practise English in a more natural and meaningful way.
Whether through carving pumpkins, sharing spooky stories, singing, baking traditional food or participating in communal feasts, these activities maintain the eerie essence of a time when the haunted echoes of the past harmonise with the playful exuberance of the present.
Download my free 17-page (because numbers matter...) Halloween Fun Activities Pack to celebrate Halloween with English activities by yourself, with your family or even students.
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I created this pack to guide English learners and English teachers into the festivity of Halloween with activities that suit different ages, levels and learning styles.
You can print it, colour it, share it and even use as an journalling inspiration for your own English practice.
🐝 And if you want, feel free to message me on Instagram or tag me in your stories - I love seeing how you use my materials and learn English together!
By embracing the dark allure of Samhain, one not only enjoys the thrills inherent in the season but also pays homage to the ancient customs that sought to explain the inexplicable.
Thus, the spirit of Samhain endures, eerie and sinister, reminding us all that, behind the wicked masks and creepy shadows, the cycle of life and death continues its eternal dance.
Happy Halloween!
Sarah Catherine
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