How do you celebrate Samhien (ritual, tradition, pagan, pray)

[MoonWater]

I hope I spelled that right. Anyway my boyfriend and I will be celebrating Samhien for the first time this year so I'm looking for some ideas on what we could do as well as more info on the history behind and the reason for celebrating Samhien. I know very little about the holiday and a quick search hasn't turned up anything so I'm hoping for some assistance here. If anyone here could tell me more about samhien and I'd also like to leave this thread open to discussion of different celebration ideas.

[MaddLlama]

It's spelled "Samhain"
(and, if you were wondering, it's pronounced "Sow-en", and does not rhyme with "frame").

Personally, I prefer Oíche Shamhna, but I'm not a Wiccan so...

[Shadow Wolf]

Actually, it is the only day I celebrate.
It's a day when the veil between the physical and spiritual world is at is thinnest, and it is also a day to honor the dead.
The carving of pumpkins was a tradition dating back to at least the Druids, who would use them to ward off evil spirits, particularly during a ritual.

[Draka]

Well, I suppose the easiest thing for me to start out with is my BOS entry. This can give you, at least what I find to be, the basics of what Samhain is. This is a short entry and I have not expanded on it yet as I am slowly doing for all the Sabbats in my BOS, so I apologize if I leave some things uncovered in it. You are more than welcome to ask me anything you want to know though and I will answer to the best of my knowledge and ability.

Samhain

Samhain falls on October 31st and is also considered the Celtic New Year. It is the basis for our modern Halloween.

Samhain is noted in Celtic cultures as the day of the year when the God passes into the Otherrealm. It is because of this passage that this day is considered to be the one day of the year when the veil between the two worlds is at its thinnest. Because of this belief, it is held that the dead may walk amongst the living and visit loved ones. It is customary to give honor to our loved ones on this day and set out plates of food and light candles in our windows and home to feed and light the way of wandering spirits.

The cauldron is a staple symbol of Samhain. It is symbolic of the Goddess’ womb, from which all life begins and returns to. She is seen at this time as the Crone. Old, wise, and mourning the loss of her consort. Stirring her cauldron to encourage the rebirth of the God, which will happen at Yule.
Jack-O-Lanterns are used to deter any malevolent spirits from your home. While it is believed by many that the God withholds malevolent spirits from passing through the veil during his passage, precautions are still taken to ensure safety.

Samhain is considered to be the third and final feast day of the year. Usually these feasts are centered around pork. In Ireland potatoes are well incorporated into the feast as well. The most widely used food, in almost every culture, is the apple. There are many traditions that hold good connotations to the apple. Considered by many to be the fruit of the Goddess, partaking of this fruit and the incorporation of it into your ritual is though to bring much luck and good will into your life.

This day of the year is also considered best for divination. All forms can be used, from scrying to tarot, from pendulum to Ouija board. Just be sure you know what you are doing.

Most of all, Have fun. Throw a party, dress up, and start a few traditions of your own.

[MoonWater]

Thanks for all the info guys. Now that I actually know how it's spelled I've been able to look up some more info online and now have a better understanding of the holiday. My boyfriend and I plan on doing a meditation/prayer to the Gods but we're both a bit stumped as to what else we could do so I would greatly welcome any suggestions you can offer. Like I said it's our first time celebrating this holiday and it's also my first time celebrating any Pagan holiday So I want to make this day both fun and memorable.

[Draka]

I would suggest a nice dinner. Homemade dinner for two with enough to put some on an offering plate for lost loved ones (the food can always be given to pets later or saved as leftovers - it's the offer that counts).

If either of you would like to recognize or talk to a lost loved one or family member then now is the time to do it.

Decorate. To get yourself in the spirit of things. Dress up. Carve a Jack-O-lantern together. Do whatever form of divination you feel most comfortable with. This is the night which is supposed to be best for that.

[BFD_Zayl]

well, I don't exactly call it Samhain... to me, it is simply the day of the dead, it is a day of intense ritual, fasting (for practical reasons) prayer, reflection, communing, etc. etc. and is very important for me, i am generally not online during that day and night.

[Isabella Lecour]

Am I the only one who calls it Halloween and celebrate it the Old Fashioned way with scary decorations and handing out candy? My holliday trunk for Halloween is far larger than my Yule trunk, and it threatens to grow bigger every year.

My personal religious observaces are tied to the full moon. From this month's Full moon to the next is a very spiritual time, I tend to spend deep in thought remembering loved ones gone and thanking the Divine for another living year.

This year I've got in mind to call upon my ansesters to anounce the surivial of my daughter. I've got some ritual planning to do.
I may go this year to see my mothers grave; to clean it and bring her flowers and gifts and to show her my daughter, her granddaughter. Otherwise I'll be doing my anually rite of protection, which happens to expire at midnight Oct 31, every single year.

[MaddLlama]

I don't think I would call celebrating Halloween with candy and scary decorations "Old Fashioned". Most Pagans I know celebrate Haloween both as a "fun" holiday and a religious one. Then again most Pagans I know aren't at all interested in the historical and cultural origins of the holiday anyhow: It's much easier to just "do whatever you feel."

To me, they're not the same thing. I don't find anything spiritual in dressing up like a hoochie Rainbow Brite, eating hoards of candy and going to haunted houses. But, I do find it fun. So, I choose to celebrate Halloween like every other American, and celebrate Samhain as a separate spiritual event.