A Sacred and Reflective Time
You may not know that the celebrations of Halloween, Día de los Muertos and All Saints' Day are all expressions of an ancient Celtic celebration, Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow-win”), that marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of “the dark half of the year.”
In the Northern Hemisphere, it coincides with the end of the growing season, and as vegetation dies off there is death in the air. Celebrants believed that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world break down during this time, making it possible to commune with the dead.
Depiction of a Samhain bonfire during The Celtic Festival of Samhain.
Many of the traditions of today reflect the original celebration of Samhain in some way, from dressing up in scary costumes to scare away the spirits to honoring our deceased family members.
Whether or not you believe the veil between the living and the dead worlds is thin during this time, it is a great time to honor our ancestors, reflect on the past year and prepare for the coming new year.
In Mexican tradition, Día de los Muertos is celebrated on November 1 and 2 and has Aztec traditions blended in. Families gather during the night at cemeteries, light candles and place flowers on the burial sites of their loved ones. It is a time of celebration, not mourning. It is a reflective and lively event that honors the deceased and draws them back to celebrate life and enjoy all the human things again.
For a delightful introduction of Día de los Muertos, I recommend the Disney animated movie, Coco!
All Saints' Day is a predominantly Catholic holy day focused on honoring ALL saints who have made it to heaven. In many countries, it extends to celebrating ancestors and also includes decorating tombstones with candles and flowers.
Regardless of your beliefs and rituals, this is a time of year to reflect. I will be taking time today to look back on my year so far and begin to plant seeds for the coming year. I will even think about my mom and dad and ask myself what advice they would have for me if they were here today.
Regardless of the tumult in the world today, we do have control over how we live our lives day-to-day. How we show up in the world. The energy we bring to every moment and every interaction.
I want to be the best I can be despite the swirl and chaos. I bet you do too!
Wishing you peace and calm in the coming days,
Barbara Fagan-Smith
P.S. My friend and soul sister, Christine Arylo, has just published her latest book, Overwhelmed & Over It: Embrace Your Power to Stay Centered & Sustained in a Chaotic World. It couldn’t have come at a better time, and I highly recommend it.