I don't have time to write a new post so this is a repeat from 2009:)
Sunset today will mark the beginning of Samhain, the last of the three Celtic harvest festivals. The word Samhain means 'summer's end' and from this point we are in the dark time of the year and the days get shorter and the nights get longer as we move towards the Winter Solstice. The Celtic people measured the days from one sunset to the next so Samhain will end at sunset tomorrow.
This is also the time when we remember our ancestors who have passed on to the Summerlands. I haven't yet set out the candles that I will light this evening but this is one from a previous year. It is surrounded with the herb rosemary for remembrance and tonight there will be individual candles for my parents and grandparents and a single large one for all the many past generations stretching back into the mists of time. I wish both them and you a Happy and Blessed Samhain.
12 comments:
Happy and Blessed Samhain to you Rowan xx
It is not Samhain, this the 31st Oct is the Christian Festival of Halloween.
Samhain is not until November 5/6th a time when the Sun light strikes the back wall of The Mound of the Hostages on The Hill of Tara.
A Heron's View - I find this comment both interesting and thought provoking. This is the first time that I have heard of Samhain being around Nov 5th/6th although I realise that in ancient times it wouldn't have fallen on a particular date but when 'the time was right'. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, I shall investigate further.
Happy Samhain Rowan.
~Clara
Rowan, I shall wish you a Happy Halloween, and tonight as I light the candle in the Jack-o-latern I shall think of you, my blogging friend from across the pond! Best regards, Julie.
Happy Samhain, I shall eat some Halloween candy and ;light a candle.
Such a lovely post Rowan.
I do the same as you.
I light candles for my family gone. my parents and others close to my heart.
I am catholic and all sould and all saints is a special time ..for friends and family gone.
thank you.
Wishing you a marvelous Halloween, dear Rowan! I'm sorry to hear that the weather has been crumby on your end lately, too. Love your upbeat (and rather tasty!) outlook on what to do with the excess candy that may be left over tonight though :)
♥ Jessica
Hope you had a Happy Halloween Rowan! I celebrated mine more than normally since I had the Halloween high tea party. It was fun. I like to celebrate Halloween to remember my sister as this was her favorite holiday of all.
Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi
Oiche Samhain certainly marked the beginning of winter here in Ireland, dispersing the beautiful autumn weather we had enjoyed in October.
A lovely post - and a reminder of things past. I'm a little behind in my blog reading - but enjoyed catching up with you.
How lovely to see you back again Rowan. So glad your son is making good progress and hope he continues to do so. I'm furiously trying to catch up with reading everyone's posts as I've been a bit lax lately, other things on my mind etc. Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my recent posts. Have missed posting regularly but hopefully I'm back on track now. Your post is great by the way.
Patricia x
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