Halloween and witches have long been connected in popular culture. The association between witches and Halloween dates back to ancient Celtic traditions and religious beliefs. The Celts celebrated Samhain, a festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was believed that during this time, the boundaries between the living and the dead were blurred, and spirits and fairies could easily cross over into the human world. In order to ward off these spirits and protect themselves, the Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes made from animal skins. They believed that the costumes would disguise them from roaming evil spirits.
Finally, connect with the living. Samhain is of course not only about death, but about life too. Work on relationships that seem to be failing, check up on old friends and spend time celebrating Samhain with others. Learn about your roots as well. Connect with your family tree, perhaps look over old family photographs or watch home movies.
Much of what the western world thinks of as Witches comes from a Christianized society, which has painted them as evil beings for thousands of years, and the European perspective on magic. Whether you are in the broom closet or an out-and-about Witch, Samhain is an easy Sabbat to celebrate as it co-exists with Halloween and many of the traditions cross over.
They believed that the costumes would disguise them from roaming evil spirits. The bonfires were also thought to provide warmth and light during the onset of winter. As Christianity began to spread throughout Europe, the traditions of Samhain were merged with the Christian holiday of All Hallows' Eve, which honors the dead.
The connection between witches and Halloween
Top image: still, ‘The Love Witch’ (2016) dir Anna Biller
October 31st – you know it as Halloween but to us Witches, it is Samhain Eve. Samhain, literally translating to ‘End of Summer’, is one of the biggest festivals in the Wiccan calendar, a time of remembrance of those we’ve lost and a celebration of summer’s death and winter’s birth. The Sun god and Earth fall into a slumber, the nights lengthen, the air becomes crisp and winter begins.
Background:
October 31st is known as one of two ‘spirit nights’, the other being Beltane. A magical interval when the laws of time and space are suspended, Samhein Eve sees the veil between worlds at its thinnest, facilitating communication between ancestors and departed loved ones. Originally, Samhain known as the ‘Feast of the Dead’ is a sabbat (holiday) celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving offerings on altars and doorsteps for the dead who have returned to their previous homes, and this practice is still carried out in certain places. Extra chairs were left out for loved ones to sit around the family table, apples were buried along roadsides for lost spirits without descendants to lead them and turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits. Pranks were also a common practice which is where the phrase, ‘trick or treat’ originates from, alongside the tradition of dressing up in costume.
Symbols:
Apples, black cats, Jack-o’-lanterns, besoms.
Herbs:
Mugwort, allspice, catnip, oak leaves, sage, broom and deadly nightshade.
Foods:
Turnips, apples, nuts, mulled wine, beef, pork and poultry.
Colours:
Black, orange, white, silver and gold.
How to celebrate Samhain:
The first easy way to celebrate Samhain is to build a bonfire. This practice is one of the most honoured Samhain traditions, the fire symbolizes the welcoming of winter. You can begin your evening by communing with your departed loved ones through the fire. Invite friends and family to join you to create a welcoming space for the deceased, hold hands around the fire and embrace its warmth. You may also sing and dance, inviting the spirits to celebrate too. Telling stories around the fire is also common, either special memories you have of your loved ones or spooky stories of the dead or supernatural. If you’re not able to build a bonfire, use candlelight instead to welcome the new season.
Having a silent supper to honour the dead is a more sombre and respective Samhain tradition. Leave a chair out for spirits to sit with you whilst you feast and perhaps even make a spare meal for them. Firstly, make your dining space sacred, use sage to cleanse the area and remove all distractions such as phones or TVs. You may wish to remove young family members or animals from this celebration as they may find it difficult to remain silent throughout – which is key.
During the silent supper, some choose to honour the dead through photographs. An Altar is a sacred space that Witches use to carry out rituals and decorate for the Sabbats, for Samhain you may place photographs of your loved ones or personal items of the person you are honouring on your altar. Adding fruit such as apples or pomegranates is also a way to celebrate the deceased; apples are the fruit of death, while pomegranates are the fruit of life, place both on your altar to represent the thin line between both on Samhain.
Orange and black are the two key colours of Samhain, black representing death and orange representing the dawning of light that shall return. Wearing these colours is an accessible and relatively simple way to celebrate Samhain – also workplace friendly. You may wish to decorate your house or altar with said colours, candles are an easy way of decorating your altar.
Luckily, wearing a costume on October 31st is acceptable in society because of Halloween meaning it is easy to celebrate the prank element of Samhain in public. Traditionally, costumes involved animal parts however, that is no longer common. Masks are key for Samhain, to use them as a disguise to perform mischief but they’re also used to confuse malevolent spirits and keep you safe. Creating your own costume from scratch would be the best way to celebrate Samhain, use household objects, second-hand materials or animal products to create your costume.
A more respectful tradition is the divination ceremony, in which you seek knowledge by contacting your deceased loved ones. The best way to carry out a divination is by using Tarot cards or runes. Use your cards or stones to ask questions to the dead, note down what they tell you and reflect on this by choosing something that has arisen from your ceremony to improve, for example, if the divine guided you to focus more on yourself, spend some time prioritising your mental health and working on your self-worth, perhaps take a weekend away.
Finally, connect with the living. Samhain is of course not only about death, but about life too. Work on relationships that seem to be failing, check up on old friends and spend time celebrating Samhain with others. Learn about your roots as well. Connect with your family tree, perhaps look over old family photographs or watch home movies.
Whether you are in the broom closet or an out-and-about Witch, Samhain is an easy Sabbat to celebrate as it co-exists with Halloween and many of the traditions cross over. Celebrate your loved ones, dead and alive, play pranks on one another, indulge in great food and take some time to speak to the divine for guidance throughout the winter season.
Happy Samhain, Blessed Be.
Have a Happy Halloween!
It is believed that this merging of traditions further solidified the connection between witches and Halloween. The notion of witches practicing black magic and communicating with the dead became associated with the supernatural elements of Halloween. During the Middle Ages, when fear of witchcraft was at its peak, Halloween became a time when people were especially wary of witches and witchcraft. It was believed that on Halloween night, witches would gather to perform dark rituals and cast spells. This fear and fascination with witches continued into the modern era, with the portrayal of witches in literature, theater, and film further cementing their association with Halloween. Today, witches are a common sight during Halloween festivities. From witch-themed decorations and costumes to the depiction of witches in popular media, they have become symbolic of the holiday. However, it is important to note that the connection between witches and Halloween is largely based on folklore, mythology, and popular culture. Real-life witchcraft and its practices are often misunderstood and misrepresented. In conclusion, the connection between witches and Halloween dates back centuries and is rooted in ancient Celtic traditions and beliefs. While the association between witches and Halloween has evolved over time, it has become an integral part of the holiday's folklore and symbolism..
Reviews for "Witchcraft and Halloween Movies: A Spellbinding Cinematic Connection"
1. John - 1/5 Stars
I found "The connection between witches and Halloween" to be extremely disappointing. As someone who has always enjoyed Halloween, I was expecting a deep dive into the historical origins of witches and their association with this holiday. Instead, the book barely scratched the surface and failed to provide any meaningful insights. The author seemed more interested in presenting shallow anecdotes and sensationalized stories rather than providing any substantive information. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a thorough exploration of the topic.
2. Sarah - 2/5 Stars
"The connection between witches and Halloween" left me underwhelmed. While it touched on some interesting aspects of the history of witches and their association with Halloween, I felt like the book lacked depth and thorough research. The information presented was basic and superficial, and I was hoping for a more comprehensive analysis. Additionally, the writing style was tedious and repetitive, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I was left wanting more substance and would not recommend this book to those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
3. Robert - 2/5 Stars
I was really hoping for a more scholarly approach to the topic of witches and Halloween in this book. Unfortunately, "The connection between witches and Halloween" failed to meet my expectations. The author's writing style was overly informal and at times even condescending, which detracted from the overall credibility of the content. The book seemed to rely heavily on popular misconceptions and stereotypes rather than offering a nuanced exploration of the topic. I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing that the author had taken a more rigorous and analytical approach.
4. Emily - 1/5 Stars
I can't say that I enjoyed "The connection between witches and Halloween" at all. The book felt more like a collection of fictional stories and urban legends rather than a serious exploration of the topic. The author seemed more interested in entertaining readers with fantastical tales rather than presenting any factual information. If you're looking for a well-researched and evidence-based analysis of the connection between witches and Halloween, I would suggest looking elsewhere. This book did not meet my expectations in the slightest.
5. Michael - 2/5 Stars
"The connection between witches and Halloween" was a disappointing read for me. While I appreciate the effort to shed light on the historical association between witches and Halloween, the book fell short in providing a comprehensive and nuanced analysis. The author's writing style was overly simplistic, making it difficult to fully grasp the complexity of the subject. Additionally, the book lacked depth and failed to offer any fresh perspectives or insights that haven't been covered elsewhere. Overall, I was left feeling unimpressed and would not recommend this book to those seeking a thorough exploration of the topic.