The Traditions of Samhain and Beltane, and the Relationship Between the Two

In the Wiccan calendar,known as the Wheel of the Year, there are eight rituals. These rituals include Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain. The time for the sacred Samhain ritual for Pagans is approaching. Samhain is the opposite of Beltane, which takes place at the start of summer. Samhain represents the death while Beltane represents life.

Samhain falls on October 31st. This is in no way an adaptation of the Christian tradition of Halloween, as this ritual was performed well before Christianity existed. Samhain is believed by Pagans to be the day when the veil between the physical and the metaphysical thins and communcation with ancestors and deceased loved ones is more possible. According to Wiccan lore, Samhain is the day when the God of the Sun dies, only to be reborn on Yule. This type of symbolism is in congruity with the cycle of nature. Around the time of Samhain, plants and trees die, it gets darker earlier, and the amount of sunny days decreases.

Fruits that are associated with the celebration of Samhain include pomegranates, pumpkins, and squashes. These are placed on the altar and eaten during the portion of ritual called the simple feast. Flowers that are usually present during this ritual include marigolds and chrysanthemums. Some practitioners of the craft decorate their altars with autumn leaves, and other seasonal beauties.

It is a Samhain tradition to write down an aspect of one’s life that the practitioner wishes to be free of. One may write down smoking addiction or anger. During the ritual, the paper is to be dropped into a couldron of fire and burned, symbolizing its departure from the Pagan’s life. It is also customary to honor dead relatives and loved ones during the Samhain ritual. Many practitioners do not actually try to summon these people, however, because they believe that it is best to leave them in peace, but others still do — people celebrate these rituals in their own different ways. After the paper is burned, the ancestors are honored, and the simple feast has been eaten, some Wiccans choose to perform other sorts of divination, suchs as tarot cars readings or anything else that the practitioner feels is appropriate.

The relationship between Samhain and Beltane is complicated, because the lore behind Beltane needs to occur in order for Samhain to happen. In order for a better understanding of these two rituals, one must know the Wiccan story of the Goddess and God. According to Wiccan tradition, The Goddess of the Moon and the God of the Sun are not only lovers, but mother and son. This is not meant to be taken as incest, it is meant to symbolize the continual spiral in which we are all believed to be a part. On Yule, which takes place on or around December 21st, the God of the Sun is born. On Imbolc, two months later, Wiccans celebrate God’s maturity, as the number of sunny days slowly increases, and the coming of spring is in slow progress. By Beltane, in May, God is mature, and he and the Goddess are lovers. It is on Beltane that the Goddess becomes pregnant of and by the God. On Samhain, he dies and is reborn again from the Goddess on Yule. This goes on forever, creating the Wiccan Wheel of the Year.

Since Beltane is the opposite of Samhain, it represents life. This is also parallel to the cycle of nature, because in May, fertility is in full swing and flowers and food are growing. It is a Beltane tradition to tie a charm or token to tree, in celebration of the wedding between the Goddess and God. Practitioners also may make Maypoles before or after their ritual. They do this by tying ribbons to trees and having someone hold each one, while dancing in a circle around the tree, thus weaving the ribbons in a pattern around the tree. Custards, oatmeal, and ice cream are all foods associated with the Beltane simple feast.

Samhain is just around the corner, and many Pagans will be performing their rituals in secrecy. Keep in mind the Samhain lore and the story of the God and Goddes as you walk through the super markets that sell costumes, implying the character of the witch as an old, ugly, evil hag, with warts upon her face and hair in a disarray. Remember that all that the witches are doing on Samhain is honoring the deceased and ridding themselves of negative aspects of their life, mourning the death of the God of the Sun, not worshipping Satan, or putting a spell on you.

Sources:
“Wicca: A Guide to the Solitary Practitioner” by Scott Cunningham
“Living Wicca: A furhter Guide to the Solitary Practitioner” by Scott Cunningham


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