This holiday is celebrated on October 31st-November 1st is also known as Halloween, All Hallows Eve, November Eve, or Hallowmas. It marks the third and final harvest and signifies the midpoint between Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice.

SAMHAIN (pronounced “Sow-in”) means “End of Summer” and is the (third) final Harvest. At Samhain, witches say farewell to the sun god as he dies and readies to be reborn at Yule. This grand Sabbat, also known as Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples, All Hallows, and of course Halloween, once marked the time of Sacrifice. This was the time when animals were slaughtered to ensure food throughout the winter. This is a time where symbolically even the god sacrificed himself to ensure our continuing existence. This is a time of deep reflection and coming to terms with the one thing in life which we have no control – Death. On this night, the separation between the Physical and Spiritual realities is it’s least guarded and it’s veil the thinnest. It is a time for dimensional openings and workings, and the celebration of the “death” of the year.

Many modern witches and Pagans use Samhain season as a time to remember the dead, especially those who have passed over the last twelve months. Samhain eventually evolved into All Hallows Eve (a catholic holiday of remembering the dead) and then eventually the modern celebration of Halloween.