Witchcraft played a significant role in ancient Halloween rituals. This ancient festival, also known as Samhain, marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was believed that during this time, the boundary between the physical world and the spirit realm was blurred, allowing spirits, including witches, to freely roam the earth. In ancient Celtic traditions, the practice of witchcraft was deeply intertwined with the celebration of Halloween. It was believed that witches possessed magical powers and could communicate with the dead. It was also thought that witches had the ability to invoke spirits, cast spells, and perform divination rituals.
I hope you’ll enjoy the blend of spells and rituals you’ll find in the following pages. It was with a lot of heart, a touch of apprehension, and several gallons of tea that I crafted these spells and rituals specifically for you, the readers! I hope they meet—nay, exceed!—your expectations. It is with great gratitude and humility that I thank you— for your e-mails, your comments, your enthusiasm, and especially for your purchase, which helps keep PennilessPagan.com alive and brimming with free content. Without you, my writing would merely be an amassing collection of Word documents hidden away on a hard drive. So, thank you for your support!
As autumn deepens and nature wans into winter, we see the Goddess herself taking on the role of the Crone aging, no longer in her fruitful peak, yet rich with wisdom, insight, and reflection. Despite societal views on aging, the Crone is a cycle worthy of deep respect, as those in this stage of life have a wealth of experience and insight to share with younger generations.
It was also thought that witches had the ability to invoke spirits, cast spells, and perform divination rituals. During Samhain, witches would gather around bonfires and partake in rituals to honor their ancestors and seek guidance for the coming year. These rituals often involved the use of various herbs, potions, and incantations.
How to Celebrate Samhain, aka the Witches’ New Year
You probably celebrate Halloween by dressing up in a costume or binge-watching scary movies, but do you know the holiday’s origins? The roots of Halloween can be traced back to Samhain (pronounced SOW-win). Haven’t heard of it? Samhain is an annual celebration that originated with the ancient Celts, who roamed across Britain and France before their occupation by the Roman Empire (which tolled the death bell for a lot of pagan traditions) more than 2,000 years ago.
The Celts celebrated eight “sabbats” throughout the year—festivals that marked turning points in nature’s annual cycle, kind of like cheering in each new season while saying goodbye to the old one. Samhain was held October 31 to November 1, and it represented the start of winter and the end of the harvest year. It was seen as a beginning of darker days, longer nights, and reaping whatever resources had been grown in the year just gone (crops and livestock).
Of course, that wasn’t all. If you’ve seen The Wicker Man, then that’s all I need to say here. There were some pretty dark and disturbing traditions going on related to fire and sacrifice, but we’ll leave that to Ryan Murphy, Jordan Peele, or Ari Aster to cover.
Related Story
- 75 Witch Books That Belong on Your Bookshelf
On a SLIGHTLY less terrifying note, the Celts believed that every Samhain, a deity known as the Lord of the Dead would gather the souls of everyone who had died in the previous year (and had since been living inside various animals…don’t ask) to begin their journey to the Celtic underworld, Tír na nÓg. They thought that an invisible veil separated the worlds of the living and the dead and that at sundown on Samhain, the last day of the year, that veil was it its thinnest. This was a time to make contact with the dead, which they did by lighting bonfires and lanterns to lead lonely or heartsick spirits home to visit with their family and preparing offerings of food and vegetables, which they called a “dumb supper.”
Also known as Autumn Cross-Quarter, Halloween, All Souls’ Night, Dark Moon, and Feast of the Dead, Samhain was also seen as the ending and beginning of the Celtic New Year (which is why some people call it Witches’ New Year!). On this day, especially at dawn and dusk, the veil between the seen world and the unseen world of spirit is particularly thin. And over the past several decades, Samhain has seen a resurgence in popularity as it has been embraced by Wiccans and others who draw from pagan traditions.
Samhain is a time that humans have, for centuries, honored their dead, told fortunes, planned for the year ahead, and celebrated what they have achieved or reaped in the previous year.
Let’s acknowledge the vibe of this old tradition (minus the fire sacrifices…just google it, if you have to), in a modern way, and celebrate Samhain.
Related Story
- 9 Things You Never Knew About IRL Witches
Witches would also wear masks and costumes to disguise themselves and blend in with the spirits that were believed to be present during Samhain. The association of witches with Halloween can be traced back to ancient Celtic traditions, but it was further perpetuated during the Middle Ages when the Catholic Church labeled witchcraft as evil and associated it with devil worship. This led to the persecution of individuals accused of practicing witchcraft, particularly during the infamous witch-hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, the association between witchcraft and Halloween continues to be prevalent in popular culture and modern celebrations. Witches, in their iconic pointy hats and flowing black robes, remain a common symbol of Halloween, appearing in decorations, costumes, and media representations of the holiday. In conclusion, witchcraft has deep historical roots in ancient Halloween rituals. It was believed that witches possessed supernatural abilities and could communicate with the spirit realm. These ancient traditions and beliefs continue to shape our modern understanding and portrayal of witches in Halloween celebrations..
Reviews for "The Witch's Sabbat: A Look at Ancient Halloween Witchcraft Gatherings"
- John - 1 star
I found "Witchcraft in ancient Halloween rituals" to be completely misleading. The title suggests a historical and educational exploration of witchcraft in ancient Halloween rituals, but instead, all I got was a superficial and sensationalized account. The author barely scratched the surface of the topic and failed to provide any substantial evidence or historical context. It felt more like a cheap attempt to cash in on Halloween rather than a genuine effort to educate the readers.
- Sarah - 2 stars
I was disappointed with "Witchcraft in ancient Halloween rituals" as it lacked depth and critical analysis. The author presented various aspects of witchcraft without properly explaining their significance or historical relevance. The book seemed to rely on stereotypes and misconceptions rather than providing a factual and informative account. Additionally, the writing style was quite simplistic, making it difficult to engage with the subject matter. Overall, I was expecting a more scholarly approach, and this book fell short of my expectations.
- Michael - 1 star
"Witchcraft in ancient Halloween rituals" was a complete waste of time. The author seemed more interested in promoting their personal beliefs and agenda rather than providing a comprehensive understanding of witchcraft in ancient Halloween rituals. The book was filled with unsubstantiated claims and biased viewpoints, lacking any solid evidence or academic rigor. I found it to be nothing more than an unfortunate attempt to spread misinformation and misconceptions about witchcraft. I would strongly advise against wasting your time and money on this book.