Yup, it's that time of year again. Just waiting for Glenn Danzig to...

Oh. Wait. Wrong Samhain.

*ahem*

You call it Halloween, we call it Samhain? Yeah, that's better.

Samhain is the term that most neopagans use to describe October 31, November 1, and/or the first full moon after those days. (I also refer to November 1 as my birthday, but that's beside the point.) Samhain is the holiday that Halloween originated from; the primary purposes are to honor one's ancestors and to celebrate the final harvest before winter settles in for the year. The name Samhain itself derives from the Gaelic word for "summer's end"; there is no deity named Samhain. And, like much of Gaelic, it doesn't sound the way it looks according to English phonetic rules. Instead of "Sam-hayne", pronounce it "Sow-when", "sow" as in the female pig, not what you do with wheat. (Of course, also as with many Gaelic words, the proper pronunciation is often debated.)

Obviously, since we aren't ancient Celts (though we may or may not be descended from them, not that it really matters) we don't celebrate Samhain in the exact same way they did. Much of neopaganism is a reconstruction of what we believe pre-Christian religions were like, based partly on anthropological and historical research, and partly on adaptations of old ideas to modern culture. So rather than go into great detail about how the holiday may or may not have once been celebrated, I'm instead focusing on today's celebrations.

Samhain is one of the most important sabbats of the year for many neopagans, and while most of us also participate in Halloween festivities, we have some specific traditions of our own. This holiday is most commonly practiced by Wiccans and witches, though other pagans often celebrate it as well.

The most common theme surrounding modern Samhain celebrations is death and ancestors. Many modern pagans continue in the tradition of honoring their ancestors formally at various points in the year, and this is the most popular time of year for it. (This is similar to Dia de los Muertos in Mexico.) The veils between our world and the world of the dead are thinnest at this time of year, and so communication is easiest.

There are numerous ways to honor the dead. Common ones include having a feast in their honor, to include putting out table settings for specific people who have passed on; lighting candles for them, sometimes in an altar with the pictures and other artifacts of lost relatives; holding ceremonies to contact the dead and wish recently deceased souls on their way safely. Neopagans may also attempt to communicate with the deceased through mediumship or divination. Animal (and human) sacrifice, however, is not on the menu, neopagans don't steal people's housepets or blond-haired, blue-eyed children to sacrifice to Satan any more than you would do the same on, say, Memorial Day. (We like our baby back ribs to come from cows, thanks.)

The final harvest is another common theme, though not as popular as ancestors. This is the third and final harvest sabbat (neopagan holiday); Lammas (August 1) and the Autumn equinox being the other two. Many pagans decorate their altars with apples, corn, wheat and other fruits and vegetables to represent this theme. While those who have their own gardens may use produce they've grown themselves, store-bought produce fits the bill as well, symbolically. The harvest may also be interpreted more abstractly, symbolizing gains and achievements in the past year.

Samhain is also considered to be the new year by many neopagans. The parties generally aren't as wild as on December 31 (though it depends on the pagans ;). This sort of new year is seen more as a time of reflection on the past year, and hope for the one ahead. Some pagans may do a divination to see what's going to happen, while others work magic for a good year. However, because winter is imminent, some pagans may consider this to be a bad time of year to start new projects, instead concentrating on preparing for action in the spring.

As with all sabbats, this one may be celebrated alone or as a group. While covens and other formal groups usually get together on Samhain anyway, many neopagan organizations and informal groups also create Samhain rituals open to the community. Neopagans may also do private, solitary observances, or work with smaller groups with family and friends.

So while we may be out trick-or-treating with our kids, or going to costume parties, this time of year has additional religious significance for us.