Halloween and Samhain

Many people who are Pagan and many who are not view Halloween and Samhain as the same holiday. Because of this, some Pagans refuse to celebrate Halloween, saying it is an offense and a slander to Samhain. I for one do not see it as such a thing, because I view Halloween and Samhain as two separate holidays.

Samhain, or Samhain Eve (since Samhain is actually on November 1st) is the celebration of the Pagan New Year, the final harvest, and when the veil is at it's thinnest. It is a time to remember and honor our ancestors, and reflect on the year before. It was also the time that the God makes his descent into the underworld, before he is reborn again at Yule. This is also the best time to use divination such as tarot, divining by fire, scrying, etc. 

While Halloween on the other hand is a holiday based off of multiple holidays such as Samhain, Dia de los Muertos, and many others. It is a day to dress up, party, have fun, and enjoy the thrills and chills of things we believe to be scary and full of horror, and in a way, allow our true selves to show or who it is we wish we were. It allows us to explore a little of the darker elements, to explore the night, and the unknown. I will say I'm not too happy about it being so commercialized, but I still very much enjoy it.

I look at these two Holidays as separate, because of this, I can enjoy both very happily, not seeing one invade on the other. Just simply having similar elements that allow them to be melded by those who celebrate both. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the amazing autumn and the spooky decorations.

Blessings.