samhain
samhain | 31.10 to 01.11
one of our main purposes at wyld clwb is to deepen the connections of our community with nature and traditional celebrations that we may have forgotten. our main vessel for doing this is through food as it allows us to taste what nature is providing in our local area at that very moment but also celebrate these as a feast or ritual.
you may have started to notice that sunset seems to be creeping ever earlier and the daylight hours are less. the increased darkness encourages us to turn inward and reflect, and to celebrate or undertake rituals. this time of year is when we celebrate samhain.
samhain is a cross-quarter, or fire, celebration and the halfway point between the autumn equinox (or mabon) and the winter solstice (or yule).
samhain is seen as the time of year when the veil between our world and the otherworld is the thinnest. when the spirits or fae could walk among the living. traditionally meals were prepared for departed friends and family, and lit candles were placed in windows to guide them home.
samhain is a fire celebration and traditionally large bonfires were lit to ward off evil spirits or bad luck for the coming year, with the ashes being spread out into farmers’ fields to assure a bountiful crop next year.
these traditions might seem strange, maybe a bit witchy, but undertaking a simple ritual is a great way to connect with your past and bring meaning to your every day, by making space for you to pause and reflect.
maybe you could light a candle and place it in the window and think of a departed family member you want to connect with. or you could have a bonfire and invite some loved ones over to talk about the past and make plans for the coming year.
whatever you do, use this time to pause and reflect, the period between now and christmas always rushes by, so make some space to look inward.
we have a few events before christmas, including our late autumn supper clwb and a festive feast. we hope you can join us for some seasonal celebrations so you can deepen your connection with nature and traditions.
images are of we are woven’s space at the gower heritage centre, full of magic and ritual. we will be collaborating on some free community walks over the winter and events in the spring.
