OFM Health: Celebrating Samhain

Samhain (pronounced saah-win) is a Celtic celebration happening at the end of October that observes the longer nights, the cooler weather that marks the change of seasons, and the end of the harvest. It is a time of rejoicing in the work of the long growing season that is now coming to an end, and gratitude, recognizing both the bounty and those who are less fortunate. But you don’t need to cultivate a harvest or be of Celtic origin to celebrate this time of year. As Samhain traveled throughout the world, people also began to mark this time of year as being one that weakens the veil between the living and the dead. Modern Samhain gatherings usually involve a rich array of harvest foods and a celebration honoring those who have passed away. 

Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways to celebrate Samhain. While some may hold harvest parties, others may assemble a decorative altar to honor the balance between life, death, and those who are no longer with us. Most organized events are communal in nature and include feasts and large bonfires to rejoice in the face of the challenges coming in the following months. There are specific foods brought into Samhain gatherings, meant to enrich the soul and connect us with our deeper selves, that we can prepare to get in the spirit of this occasion. 

Soul Cakes

Originally meant to appease evil spirits roaming the land, or later as an offering to honor a family’s departed, soul cakes are a relatively tough biscuit containing dried fruit, such as raisins or currants, and spices, such as saffron or nutmeg. Modern versions tend to be softer or more cake-like and may contain pumpkin pie spice, black pepper, ginger, or cinnamon. The primary ingredients are flour, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, and salt—The rest is up to its creator. 

Barmbrack

Another type of bread, barmbrack is a Celtic yeast bread containing dried fruit or citrus peel that became intertwined with many occasions, including Samhain. In the vein of Mardi Gras’ King Cake, a small trinket may be placed somewhere in the cake as a form of fortune telling. The trinket traditionally symbolizes a potential fortune for the finder, so long as they don’t swallow it first. 

The Typical Samhain Table

Because Samhain is a harvest celebration, the riches of the earth are prominently featured, such as turnips, apples, gourds, pumpkins, corn, and squash. Apples are specifically associated with magic and rituals. Apple rituals are meant to tap into the magic of the earth before winter winds roll through, and express gratitude for the bounty. In a similar spirit, dolls woven out of the dried sheaves of grain are often found decorated about the table. Mulled wine, nuts, meat, and apple cider are typical as well. 

However you celebrate, there is beauty behind the season we now know as Halloween. While most people are gobbling up candy in the trendiest costumes, you can choose to honor those who have passed and the end of the growing season with celebrations, gatherings, and your own customs. The joy of this time of year comes from gathering with loved ones, rejoicing in the natural beauty of the earth, and preparing for the cold wintery nights ahead.