| Traditionally, Samhain (All Hallows Eve, Halloween, | | | | Hunter's Moon (of the the 13 lunar esbats). Samhain |
| Hallowmas, Samhuin, etc.) actually occurs on or | | | | marked the end of the Wheel of the Year and the |
| around November 5th of each year in the northern | | | | start of the Celtic New Year. The Celtic word, |
| hemisphere; this is due to the precession of the | | | | Samhain, literally means "Summer's end". This is a time |
| equinoxes or the slow westward motion of the | | | | to gather all of the harvests of corn, apples, barley, |
| equinoxes along the Sun's plane (ecliptic); depending | | | | oats, pumpkins, pomegranates, wheat, turnips, nuts, |
| on one's geographic location, this harvest festival | | | | berries, etc. There is still cogent debate within the |
| may be celebrated between October 31st and 5th. | | | | Pagan Community whether the Vernal (Spring) |
| Samhain begins the winter quarter which ends with | | | | Equinox (and the occasion of Ostara) is truly the |
| Imbolc (Imbolg); is the third and final harvest festival | | | | beginning of the New Year since this marks a natural |
| representing the end of the cycle with rebirth coming | | | | mystic time of rebirth, regeneration, and new growth. |
| during Yule; and is a point in time for divination and | | | | Samhain is one of the most magical times during the |
| honoring the dead (ancestors). | | | | harvest cycle because the Gods and Goddesses |
| In addition, Samhain begins at sundown on October | | | | drew themselves very close to the Earth with their |
| 31st and ends at sundown on November 1st (All | | | | blessings for a prosperous New Year. Bonfire rituals |
| Hallows Day) and thus the commencement of the | | | | abound during Samhain and magick is most powerful |
| Celtic winter and the new year. Samhain, to the | | | | because there is a very close association with the |
| Celts, was called the Feast of the Dead and the | | | | physical world and the spirit world. And do not forget |
| Night of the Wild Hunt. Samhain aptly follows the | | | | to fire-up your cauldron too. |