Where Halloween Began: A Journey to Samhain

by Oct 25, 2024Smoke Signals0 comments

Where Halloween Began: A Journey to Samhain

by Oct 25, 2024Smoke Signals0 comments

Before Pumpkin Spice Lattes, There Was Fire and Fear

Picture this: It’s late October in ancient Celtic lands, and the air is thick with mystery. The harvest is in, the animals have been brought down from the hills, and now, the people gather around roaring bonfires under the dark, star-filled sky. This is Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), the most sacred night of the year, a time of endings and beginnings, when the boundary between our world and the spirit world dissolves like mist over a moor.

Samhain, which means “summer’s end,” wasn’t just about saying goodbye to the warm months. It was the Celts’ way of acknowledging the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Winter was coming, and with it, darkness, cold, and uncertainty. So, on this night, they would light massive bonfires, not just for warmth, but to symbolically burn away the old and invite in the new. These fires were also a beacon to ward off mischievous spirits that might cross over during this liminal time, when the veil between worlds was thinnest. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, though—Samhain was a celebration of life as much as it was a recognition of death.

 

People believed that on Samhain, the spirits of the dead could return to visit their families. They’d set places at the table for these ghostly guests, and offer food and drink to appease them. But not all spirits were friendly—some were seen as tricksters or even malevolent forces. To protect themselves, people would disguise their appearance by wearing costumes, hoping to confuse or blend in with any wandering spirits. It’s from these ancient customs that we get today’s Halloween tradition of dressing up, though we’ve swapped the spooky rags for superheroes and witches.

Samhain wasn’t just about the supernatural, though. It was a time to reflect on the year that had passed and prepare for the coming winter. Cattle were slaughtered to ensure food through the cold months, and people huddled together, sharing stories and prophecies, keeping the firelight alive as the dark days loomed ahead. Druids, the spiritual leaders of the Celtic tribes, would often lead rituals, using the fires as a way to divine the future and offer guidance for the community.

Over time, Samhain’s mystical nature began to blend with Christianity, evolving into All Hallows’ Eve, and later, Halloween. But beneath the costumes, candy, and party atmosphere, the essence of Samhain still lingers: a night where the living and the dead dance in the shadows, where fire keeps the darkness at bay, and where we’re reminded of the cyclical dance of life and death.

People believe that on Samhain, which means summer’s end, the spirits of the dead could return home to visit their families. 

Sugar Skulls and Saints: Día de los Muertos Unveiled

Across the Sea — A Feast for the Souls With a Twist of Tequila

In the vibrant world of Día de los Muertos, death isn’t a feared specter, but rather a welcome guest. And just like any guest, the dead are greeted with food, drink, and music, but this celebration comes with ancient roots that date back to the Aztecs and their belief in the cyclical nature of life and death. The Aztecs didn’t mourn their dead. They believed death was a continuation of the soul’s journey, one that needed to be celebrated.

The festival we know today blends these indigenous beliefs with Catholic influences from Spanish colonizers, creating a beautiful fusion of faith and folklore. November 1st is dedicated to Día de los Inocentes, honoring children who’ve passed, while November 2nd is for the adults. The marigold, called cempasúchil, plays a key role, believed to guide spirits back to the world of the living with its bright color and strong scent. Food offerings include pan de muerto, a sweet bread dusted with sugar, and the favorite meals of the departed.

What makes Día de los Muertos so special isn’t just the colorful face paint or decorative skulls—it’s the way it transforms death into an opportunity to connect. Families gather at cemeteries, sometimes spending the night next to the graves of their loved ones, sharing stories, laughs, and even jokes. It’s a reminder that death, while inevitable, doesn’t have to be grim. It’s something we can embrace, remembering that life itself is sweet, fleeting, and deserving of celebration.

For those spiritually open folks, Día de los Muertos is a beautiful example of death as a bridge between worlds, where the dead aren’t gone—they’ve simply stepped into a different room. The living keep them alive through love, memory, and festivity. So, why not raise a glass (or a sugar skull) and toast to those who’ve passed?

Ghosts Around the Globe: Indigenous Traditions and Ancestral Wisdom

From Mexico to the Mountains, Spirits Are Everywhere

 

Indigenous traditions worldwide carry a shared reverence for the ancestors, blending spirituality with nature in ways that resonate deeply with our modern craving for connection. While Día de los Muertos is the most famous celebration of the dead in Latin America, it’s by no means the only one. Across the Andes, the Aymara people celebrate Todos Santos, a festival that takes place on November 1st, when they believe the spirits of their ancestors come down from the mountains. To honor them, they prepare altars similar to ofrendas, and families visit cemeteries to welcome their dead, sharing food and chicha (a fermented corn drink) with both the living and the spirits.

In other parts of the world, from the Philippines to Japan, honoring the dead involves a delicate balance between fear and respect. In the Philippines, Undás is both solemn and festive, with families gathering for reunions at cemeteries. They clean and decorate graves, but they also spend the day laughing, eating, and even lighting firecrackers—keeping the spirits company and making sure they feel at home. Meanwhile, in Japan, the Buddhist festival of Obon involves floating lanterns to guide the souls of ancestors back to the afterlife, offering both spiritual light and literal beauty to the night.

For many indigenous cultures, the idea of life and death isn’t linear—it’s cyclical. The dead are always with us, watching over us, and guiding us. Whether it’s the Native American tribes who honor the ancestors with stories around the fire or the Maori people of New Zealand who regard their elders as spiritual guardians, the connection between the living and the dead is ever-present.

These ancient traditions remind us that death isn’t something to be feared, but rather an extension of the living world. It’s a cycle—one that doesn’t end but flows onward, like the turning of the seasons or the waxing and waning of the moon. To celebrate Halloween or Día de los Muertos is to tap into something ancient and universal, to stand at the crossroads of past and present, living and dead, and acknowledge that we’re all just passing through for a little while.

Twisting Timelines: How Halloween Merged With Modern Life

From Witches to Wizards, Parties to Parades, the Night Has Evolved

 

Flash forward to the early 20th century, and Halloween as we know it in the U.S. was morphing into a full-on festival of thrills and chills. Thanks to Irish immigrants, Samhain’s traditions made their way to America, blending with local customs and creating a holiday that was part spiritual, part social spectacle. Trick-or-treating didn’t become widespread until the 1920s and 30s, evolving from old European “mumming” and guising practices where people would dress up and offer performances in exchange for food.

The spooky carnival-like atmosphere took over in the mid-century, when parties and parades dominated the scene. Today, Halloween has become a reflection of whatever we want it to be—whether that’s a witchy gathering under the full moon, a night of mischief, or an opportunity to don our wildest costumes. It’s a mashup of Samhain’s mysticism, Día de los Muertos’ love for ancestors, and our modern flair for spectacle.

This Year, My Halloween: From Rituals to Raising Kids in Costumes

This year, as the autumn leaves fall and the nights grow longer, I’m blending all these rich, mystical traditions into my own Halloween celebration with my kids. We’ll start with carving pumpkins (maybe I’ll sneak in a carved turnip just for the Samhain vibes), then hit the streets for trick-or-treating. But once the candy has been collected, I’ll create a small ofrenda with my kids, honoring our loved ones with candles, photos, and a few of their favorite treats. It’s a way of showing them that Halloween isn’t just about scares and sweets—it’s about remembering the past, embracing the present, and maybe even opening our hearts to a little magic.

And once the kids are tucked in, who knows? Maybe I’ll light a bonfire in the backyard, invite over some friends, light up some Bear Blend and raise a glass to the spirits, both seen and unseen. After all, the night is still young, and the veil is thin.

So here’s to Halloween: a festival that’s more than just candy and costumes. It’s a chance to honor where we’ve come from, who we’ve lost, and where we’re headed—wrapped in a little mystery and a lot of fun.

Anthony Bear

Anthony Bear

Founder of Bear Blend

Anthony Bear was given the name Singing Bear by his mother in a coming of age ceremony.  Now everyone just calls him Bear. For most of his life, he has walked a spiritual path of natural living, music and health.  He started working with herbs on his family’s organic farm in 2001 in Southeastern Ohio and was heavily influenced by a thriving local community of herbalists.  Bear developed the blend for himself and used to share it with others while on tour with his band.  Inspired after being a part of an ayahuasca ceremony in Seattle in 2006, Anthony heard the calling to share these herbs with the world.
 
In his words, “These herbs are a gift from our Mother to all of humanity and they have a message for everyone. I am here to share their message with you.”

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