Samhain marks one of the most significant festivals on the Wheel of the Year, and is often regarded as the witch’s New Year. Celebrated on 31st October, this Sabbat honours the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year. As the veil between the worlds thins, we can more easily connect with our ancestors and the spirit realm, making this a powerful time for reflection, release and renewal.

A Brief History of Samhain

The origins of Samhain trace back to ancient Celtic traditions. For the Celts, Samhain was the final harvest, a time to prepare for the coming winter months. It was a communal celebration, marked by bonfires, feasting and rituals to honour the dead. People would leave offerings of food and drink to appease wandering spirits, and it was believed that during this time, the boundary between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. This made it easier to connect with those who had passed on, seek their guidance, or honour their memories.

Over time, many of Samhain’s traditions blended with other celebrations, eventually evolving into what is now widely known as Halloween. Yet, for witches, Samhain remains a sacred time to connect with the cycles of nature, acknowledge endings and prepare for new beginnings.

Ways to Celebrate Samhain

There are many ways to celebrate Samhain, whether you wish to perform a solitary ritual, work your rituals in a town or city or find ways to honour the Sabbat discreetly. Here are some ideas:

For Solitary Witches

Witches often attend coven meetings at Halloween, but many witches work alone. Even if I am spending part of Samhain with others, I still like to do a personal ritual alone at this time of year. Samhain is well suited to inner work as well as connecting with ancestors so I may also do some shadow work and create a ritual to honour my ancestors. Here are some ideas for solitary work.

Ancestral Altar

Create a small altar dedicated to your ancestors. You might include photos, keepsakes, or items they cherished. Light a candle in their honour and spend time in quiet reflection, recalling their stories or asking for guidance.

Divination Ritual

Use this time to connect with your intuition. Whether you prefer tarot, runes, or scrying, Samhain offers a powerful opportunity to seek insight. Consider asking questions about what you need to release or how to navigate the coming months.

Samhain Feast

Prepare a simple meal using seasonal ingredients like apples, squash, or root vegetables. As you eat, reflect on the harvests in your life, both literal and metaphorical and consider what you wish to carry forward into the new year.

For Broom Closet Witches

If you aren’t able to be loud and proud about your identity as a witch, you can still celebrate this special Sabbat. Here are a few ideas for discreet rituals.

Discreet Offerings

If creating a visible altar isn’t an option, make subtle offerings instead. Place a small dish of nuts or fruit, on a windowsill or set out a vase of fresh flowers as an offering. Dedicate these to your ancestors or the spirits of the season.

Alternatively, create a secret altar in an old biscuit tin or shoe box. You can set this up when no one is around and do a small Samhain ritual. If you struggle to find privacy, you could combine this with a cleansing bath ritual and lock yourself safely in the bathroom to do your magic.

Candle Magic

Lighting a candle can be a simple yet profound way to mark the sabbat. Choose a candle in a colour that resonates with Samhain’s themes (black, orange, or deep purple) and focus on your intention as it burns. A brief moment of reflection can be enough to connect with the spirit of the festival and those around you will just think you are getting into the Halloween spirit. If you can’t burn candles, then LED candles will work just as well.

Ancestral Letter

Write a letter to your ancestors, expressing your thoughts, gratitude, or questions. Fold it and tuck it away somewhere safe. This quiet act can serve as a personal ritual, allowing you to honour your connections without needing a visible display.

Samhain Walk

If you prefer to celebrate outside, consider a quiet walk. Pay attention to the changes in nature, such as the crisp air, falling leaves, or fading light. Let this walk be a time of reflection, release and renewal. Gather small items like stones or leaves to bring back as tokens of your experience. I love to take a walk as part of my Sabbat celebrations.

Ideas for City Witches

Living in a city doesn’t mean you have to miss out on celebrating Samhain. Urban settings offer unique ways to connect with the energy of the sabbat, even if natural spaces are limited.

Exploring Green Spaces

Seek out parks, community gardens, or any small patches of greenery. A quiet bench under a tree can serve as a temporary sacred space. Take a few moments to meditate, set intentions, or connect with the changing season.

Collect small natural items like acorns, leaves, or stones during your walk. Use these as subtle additions to your altar or to carry as charms.

Window Altars

If it is difficult for you to get outside in nature, create a nature altar at home. Use seasonal elements like small pumpkins, seasonal flowers such as chrysanthemums, dried herbs, or a candle.

Balcony or Garden Rituals

For those with a balcony or garden, consider holding a brief ritual outdoors. Light a candle, offer a small libation, or perform a short meditation under the night sky.

Urban Ancestral Walk

Take an evening walk through your neighbourhood, reflecting on the history of the area. Consider the generations who lived there before you, acknowledging their presence and stories. This can be a quiet, mindful way to honour ancestors, even if you don’t know their names.

Visit a local cemetery if possible. Walking respectfully through such spaces can provide a moment of connection to those who have passed on.

Subtle Rituals for Shared Spaces

Use candles, LED candles or fairyights to create a sense of ritual without drawing much attention. Focus on your intention as you light them, letting the simple act be your spell.

If you don’t have space for a traditional altar you can create one on a shelf or windowsill. A few items such as a plant, LED candle and a crystal will create a beautiful sacred space. Alternatively, keep items in a box or drawer so you can easily set up a temporary altar.

Urban environments bring their own kind of magic, offering opportunities to find connection in unexpected places. How will you make space for Samhain in your city?

Conclusion

Samhain invites us to pause, reflect and honour the cycles of life and death. Whether through an elaborate ritual or a few discreet acts, there are many ways to connect with this powerful Sabbat. How do you plan to mark this turn of the year? What does Samhain mean to your practice? Reflecting on these questions can help deepen your connection to this sacred time.

Whatever you choose to do to celebrate, I wish you all a wonderful Samhain.

Blessed be

Eva x