15 Ways to Celebrate the Pagan Holiday Samhain

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Spiritualist Elianne El-Amyouni explains the customs and fascinating history of Samhain

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA Reviewed by Elianne El-Amyouni

Last Updated: November 14, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Celebrating Samhain
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• What is Samhain?
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• Samhain Symbols
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Happy Samhain! (That's pronounced Sow-en!) Samhain is an ancient pagan holiday that celebrates the end of the harvest and the beginning of a new year. It’s also a time to honor the dead, as it’s believed spirits can visit the world of the living at this time (October 31-November 1). In this article, we’ll teach you all the best ways to celebrate Samhain and honor your ancestors, with tips from a spiritual director, a tarot reader, magic and manifestation expert, a spiritualist, and a meditation coach. We’ll also explain what Samhain is and where it comes from, and list some of the most common symbols associated with the holiday.

How do you celebrate Samhain?

According to spiritualist Elianne El-Amyouni, there’s no “right” way to celebrate Samhain, but people often celebrate in ways that honor the cyclical death of the year and their connection to the unseen. Here are a few ideas for you:

• Write down the things you want to leave behind in the new year, and burn them in a bonfire.
• Host a dumb supper, in which you and your guests are silent for the entire meal.
• Carve Jack-o’-lanterns and wear a costume to celebrate the origins of Halloween.
• Create an altar to honor your ancestors.
• Make traditional foods, like soul cakes, apple cider, and beef stew.

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Section 1 of 3:

Ways to Celebrate Samhain

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1. 
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   Build a bonfire. According to El-Amyouni, holding a bonfire is a popular way to celebrate. The fire symbolizes the welcoming of a new season—winter—and reminds us that the sun will return in the spring. You can also use a bonfire in fire magic: spiritual director Jennifer McVey, Cht, recommends writing down all the things you want to let go of and burning them. Invite your friends and family to join you and sing, dance, or hold hands around the fire.

   • Lighting a bonfire is one of the most honored Samhain traditions.
   • Feel free to invite the spirits of your ancestors to join your celebration.
   • Build your bonfire away from buildings and trees, and make sure the area is free from debris and is sheltered from gusts of wind. Check with local authorities to make sure it’s legal to build a fire.
   • If you can’t build a bonfire in your area, use a fireplace or candles instead. “In early Ireland, great fires were lit at Tara and other sacred sites to mark renewal of communal hearths,” El-Amyouni says. “Today, many [people] light candles to symbolize carrying the inner flame through the dark season.”
   • The ancient Celts lit bonfires to fend off the cold weather and to spiritually cleanse and protect their homes.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Elianne El-Amyouni is a spiritualist, writer, speaker, content creator, and doctor of philosophy based in Canada. She has expertise in tarot, historical literature, object symbolism, spirituality, alchemy, and more.

   Jennifer McVey, Cht, is a spiritualist, seer, and the spiritual director of Spiritual Answers and Solutions. She has over 22 years of experience specializing in manifesting, channeling, and spiritually-based life coaching.

   Paige Ferris is a tarot reader, astrologer, and intuitive psychic based in Jackson County, MI. She has over 6 years of experience and specializes in practical occultism and psychological astrology.

   Leza Labrador, also known as the Social Sorceress, is a magic and manifestation expert based in Santa Clarita, CA. She helps people step into their magic and power to fulfill great transformation.
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   Host a dumb supper. According to El-Amyouni, a dumb supper (from “dumb,” meaning silent) is a ritual meal held in honor of the dead. The meal is enjoyed in complete silence. “Participants set a place for departed loved ones and eat in silence, listening rather than speaking. Sometimes, letters to the dead are placed beneath plates or offerings of food and wine are left overnight,” El-Amyouni continues. “Silence allows the boundary between the living and the dead to soften, so that memory, intuition, or dreamlike presence can arise.”

   • A dumb supper often consists of traditional Samhain foods. El-Amyouni says that seasonal feasts often include foods tied to the harvest—pumpkin, apples, grains, root vegetables, cider, and bread baked.
   • Make your dining area a sacred space. Remove any cell phones, televisions, or other electronics, and spiritually cleanse the room however you prefer.
   • Many people choose to leave younger children out of this part of the celebration, as they typically have a hard time remaining silent for an entire meal.
   • El-Amyouni says this tradition likely emerged in Scotland and Appalachia, blending Celtic ancestor veneration with Christian and folk customs.[v165389_b01]. 3 Nov 2025.
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   Carve Jack-o’-lanterns. Ancient pagans carved faces into pumpkins or turnips to ward off evil spirits. This eventually morphed into the Halloween tradition of carving Jack-o’-lanterns. Carve your own to honor the ancient traditions of Samhain, for spiritual protection, and simply to have fun.

   • The practice may originate from the Irish tale of Stingy Jack. According to the story, Jack tricked the devil twice, leading to a curse that caused him to wander the earth with only a hollowed turnip and a burning coal to light his way.
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   Honor your ancestors. The main purpose of Samhain is to remember the departed and acknowledge that everyone will eventually face death. One of the most common ways to honor your ancestors is to create an altar. Set up a sacred space to arrange items dedicated to the deceased, like photographs or personal items of the person you’re honoring. Spend some time in front of the altar thinking of all your fond memories with the person.

   • El-Amyouni says ancestor offerings are popular ways to celebrate Samhain, including setting out food, drink, or a candle for the departed, often at the family altar or on the dining table.
   • You might also choose to offer apples or pomegranates. To Wiccans, apples are the fruit of death, while pomegranates are the fruit of life. This represents the balance between the two that Samhain celebrates.
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   Hold a divination ceremony. El-Amyouni suggests using divination techniques like tarot cards, runes, or scrying as ways of listening to your intuition. “This tradition appears in folklore throughout the British Isles,” she says. Many Wiccans and other pagans seek divine guidance through divination and Samhain, with its inherent spirituality, is the perfect time to practice your favorite. Tarot reader, astrologer, and intuitive psychic Paige Ferris says you can also practice divination with pendulums.

   • Make note of any messages or inspirations you receive during your ceremony, and take some time during the evening to reflect on the guidance you received.
   • Carry the spirit of Samhain with you. Choose something from the divination ceremony and act on it. For example, if you felt divine guidance to strengthen your personal relationships, spend some extra time with your friends and family.
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   Go on a nature walk. Samhain is a celebration of the changing of seasons, so it is appropriate to honor nature on this holiday. Try taking a meditative nature walk during the day. Use the time to reflect on those who have passed and your relationship with the physical world.

   • Gather some objects on your walk, such as leaves or vegetables. Use these to decorate your home for your Samhain celebration.
   • Gourds, apples, and acorns are excellent items to incorporate into your natural decorations.
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   Share stories with your friends and family. Samhain is all about honoring the dead, so it’s a great time to share stories about your loved ones who have passed on. Gather your friends and family around a fire and take turns sharing tales from your family’s past. If you can’t think of any good stories, make up a spooky ghost story instead!
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   Bake traditional foods. Samhain’s traditional foods reflect the season’s themes of remembrance and renewal, and many hold historical significance for the ancient Celts. Prepare some traditional food on the day of and the days leading up to Samhain to connect with the celebration’s roots. Here are a few to try out:

   • Colcannon: A hearty Irish dish made of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage. The dish traditionally contains hidden charms believed to predict the eater’s fortune.
   • Barmbrack: A fruit-laden Irish bread where each slice may hold a charm that predicts the finder’s future.
   • Apple cider: Apples symbolize immortality, while cider celebrates the final harvest.
   • Soul cakes: Small cakes made to honor the dead. They’re often left out as offerings or exchanged for prayers in a practice called “souling.”
   • Pumpkin: Pumpkins and pumpkin seeds are used in a variety of Samhain dishes, as they’re harvested in autumn.
   • Beef stew: This hearty and robust dish is perfect for the cool, autumn weather and utilizes the late harvest vegetables and the meat from cattle, traditionally culled before winter.
   • Turnips: In addition to carving turnips, people also cooked and ate them, often mashed or roasted, as part of Samhain traditions.
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   Cleanse your home. Samhain marks the beginning of a new season, so it’s a great time to start fresh by spiritually cleansing your space. Clear out old energy by smoke cleansing, lighting incense, playing music, or removing clutter. Set intentions for a fresh and peaceful space, and welcome in new energy.

   • There is no one “right” way to spiritually cleanse a space. Magic and manifestation expert Leza Labrador says, “Everything goes back to intention. And adding crystals or calling in the four quarters or using smoke to cleanse… is almost an enhancement.”
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    Mediate on the year past and the year to come. Find a quiet, peaceful space and clear your mind. As you meditate, reflect on the past year and what you’d like to change. Think about the upcoming year and how you can welcome personal transformation.

    • According to meditation coach Masha Kouzmenko, “Meditation is really all about seeing your mind...and observing your thoughts…. Don’t be afraid to try it because you don’t know what’s on the other side.”
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    Decorate with autumn foliage. A great way to celebrate the end of the harvest is to decorate your home with autumn decor. Arrange pumpkins and gourds on your porch, hang up a gorgeous fall wreath, or even set up a cornucopia on your dining room table. Don’t forget to break out the Halloween decorations, too!

    • Display colors associated with Samhain, too, like orange and black. Black represents death and the fading of light, while Orange represents the dawning of light. Dress in orange and black, or light a black candle.
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    Make an offering to a deity associated with Samhain. Samhain began as a Gaelic festival, but today, pagans who celebrate it often worship deities from many different religions. While you can make an offering to any deity you like, consider honoring one associated with the harvest or death, as these are important elements to the festival.

    • If you work with your chosen deity regularly, you likely already know what kinds of offerings they prefer. If you aren’t sure, many pagans make offerings by lighting candles and setting food or objects associated with the deity on an altar.
    • Some deities you may choose to honor include the Morrigan, the Horned God, Persephone, Loki, and Osiris.
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    Wear a costume. Costumes have been part of the Samhain celebration since the beginning. Traditionally, they involved animal parts, such as skin, fur, or horns. While that is no longer common, many who celebrate the day still have fun creating costumes—this is where the modern idea of Halloween costumes comes from, after all!

    • Ancient pagans believed costumes and masks would disguise you if you were participating in mischief and confuse any malevolent spirits. Other belief systems thought that if you dressed up as who or what you wanted to be, it was more likely to come true.
    • Your Samhain costume can be anything you like. Make your own or buy a pre-made Halloween costume.
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    Host or attend a dance. Dancing has long been a part of Samhain celebrations, and it is one of the most joyful. Many cities with large Wiccan communities, such as New York, hold annual Samhain galas. People dance, feast, and make merry into the wee hours of the morning. If there are no balls in your area, host your own and have fun dancing with friends and family!

    • Check to see if your city has a Wiccan organization and find out how they celebrate Samhain.
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    Connect with your community. Samhain is a time for making connections with others, both living and dead. Invite people to your home for a potluck Samhain celebration. Or find out if there is a local Wiccan ritual that you can join. No matter what you do, focus on how important it is to build lasting relationships.

    • Today's modern celebrations often include giving back to others. One popular idea is to have a Samhain coat drive. Since the day signals the coming of winter, it makes sense to think about those who might not be able to keep warm in the coming months.
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Section 2 of 3:

What is Samhain?

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1. 
   Samhain is an ancient festival celebrating the end of the harvest. El-Amyouni says, “Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sah-win) is an ancient Celtic festival marking the transition between the harvest season and winter. It falls around October 31st to November 1st, halfway between the autumn equinox and winter solstice. Historically, it was both a seasonal threshold and a spiritual liminal space, the time when the veil between worlds was believed to be thinnest.”

   • “In pre-Christian Ireland and Scotland, Samhain was not about evil spirits, but about kinship with the dead and renewal through darkness,” El-Amyouni continues. “The Celts saw the year as circular, not linear, and Samhain marked the death of the old year and the seed of the new. Later, as Christianity spread, the church overlaid Samhain with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, but people continued to practice folk traditions like lighting candles for ancestors, divination games, and communal feasts to honor both the living and the dead.”
   • Samhain is the origin of modern-day Halloween, but Samhain is still celebrated by many modern-day pagans and witches. It’s also one of the 8 major Wiccan holidays known as Sabbats. Today, it is recognized as the Witches’ New Year, offering a chance to reflect on the past and prepare for the future. Many also take it as an opportunity to honor the dead.
   • “Celebrating Samhain is, in essence, about befriending impermanence,” El-Amyouni says. “It’s a yearly meditation on mortality, continuity, and the unseen threads between generations.”

Section 3 of 3:

Samhain Symbols

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1. 
   Include common Samhain symbols in your celebration. El-Amyouni says common Samhain symbols include the cauldron (a symbol of death and rebirth), the veil (represents the boundary between worlds), bonfires (for purification, protection, and renewal of communal warmth), apples and pomegranates (fruits of the underworld, symbolizing the cyclical return of life), the wheel (which acts as a spiritual gate), and the colors black and orange, which represent the interplay of death (black, void, soil) and life (orange, flame, harvest). Finding ways to incorporate these symbols into your celebration is a great way to get into the festive spirit.

   • Colors: black, brown, yellow, orange, purple, gold, silver, red
   • Foods: apples, pumpkins, roasted game birds, cider, dark wine, pears, root vegetables
   • Stones/Crystals: smoky quartz, amber, obsidian, pyrite, onyx, carnelian, turquoise, amethyst
   • Symbols: bats, cats, blackbirds, cauldrons, Jack-o’-lanterns
   • Flowers/Herbs: calendula, sunflowers, wild ginseng, wormwood, rosemary, mugwort
   • Scents: patchouli, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, frankincense, myrrh
   • Deities: According to El-Amyouni, deities associated with Samhain include:
     • The Morrígan: the shapeshifting goddess of battle, fate, and prophecy; she represents the necessary chaos before renewal.
     • Cernunnos: the horned god, often linked to nature’s cycles and the descent of vitality into the underworld.
     • Ceridwen: keeper of the cauldron of rebirth; her story is one of transformation through wisdom and shadow.
     • Dagda: the “good god” of abundance and fatherhood, who mates with the Morrígan at Samhain, symbolizing union of death and life.
     • “Many modern pagans and Wiccans also honor deities of other pantheons like Hades, Persephone, Hecate, Osiris, or Inanna as mythic echoes of the same descent-and-return archetype,” El-Amyouni notes. “In Gaulish regions, Anann or the triple goddess was invoked as guardian of the dead and mother of the living.”
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  Of course you can! You can try mirror scrying instead. Mirror scrying is very popular, as is water scrying.

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• El-Amyouni recommends the following resources on Samhain: The Stations of the Sun by Ronald Hutton (1996) and Gods and Heroes of the Celts by Marie-Louise Sjoestedt (1940).
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