🍂 The Witch’s New Year: Celebrating Samhain 2025
Published: October 7, 2025
Samhain (pronounced Sow-in or Sah-win) is arguably the most sacred and magically potent of the eight Sabbats on the Wheel of the Year. It marks the final harvest, the death of the Summer God, and the transition into the dark half of the year. For many witches and pagans, it is considered the Witch’s New Year.​
This is a time for deep reflection, honoring our ancestors, and embracing the mysteries of the Veil.
When to Celebrate Samhain 2025
Samhain is traditionally celebrated starting on the evening of October 31st and concluding on November 1st
​In the Northern Hemisphere, your celebration will officially begin on Friday evening, October 31, 2025.
The History and Significance of Samhain
Samhain is an ancient Celtic fire festival with roots in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Its name is believed to come from the Old Irish word for “summer’s end.”
The Thinning Veil
The central theme of Samhain is that the veil between the physical world and the spirit world (or Otherworld) is at its absolute thinnest. This makes it a powerful time for communication with the dead and for deep divination.
​A Festival of the Dead
​For the ancient Celts, Samhain was a time to revere the dead. They would light great bonfires, wear costumes to ward off or disguise themselves from harmful spirits, and leave food and drink offerings for both the benevolent spirits of their ancestors and other otherworldly beings. Many of the traditions we see in modern Halloween—like costumes, bonfires, and carved gourds—have direct roots in Samhain practices.
The Celtic New Year
As it marked the end of the harvest and the agricultural year, Samhain was also considered the Celtic New Year. This transition from the light half of the year to the dark half symbolizes a fresh start, a time to shed the old and prepare for a period of inward growth.
Samhain Correspondence
Working with the right magical correspondences can help you attune to the energy of the Sabbat.
Themes ~ death, rebirth, the ancestors, divination, reflection, releasing the old, the final harvest, the Shadow Self
Colors ~ black (absorption, protection), orange (harvest, fire), purple (psychic ability), red (life force)
Foods ~ apples, gourds (pumpkins, squash), root vegetables, dark breads, nuts, mulled cider, wine
Herbs and Scents ~ sage, mugwort, rosemary (for remembrane), cinnamon, nutmeg, patchoulii, pine
Symbols ~ skulls, bones, bats, spiders, cauldrons, carved pumpkins, turnips, candles, falling leaves,
Deities ~ Gsds and Goddesses of the Dead (Hecate, Hades, the Morrigan, Anubis), Crone aspects, Underworld deities
Gemstones ~ Obsidian, Black Tourmaline, Jet, Amethyst, Smokey Quartz
🕯️ Samhain Activities for the Witch
Embrace the energy of Samhain with these traditional and modern activities:
- ​Create an Ancestor Altar: Dedicate a space to your beloved dead. Place photos, mementos, and offerings (like their favorite food or drink) on the altar. Light a candle to welcome their presence.
- ​Host a Dumb Supper: A Dumb Supper is a meal eaten in complete silence, with an extra place set for the honored dead. The dead’s plate is offered first, allowing for quiet reflection and communion with your ancestors.
- ​Practice Divination: With the veil thinned, your intuition is heightened. This is the perfect time for a deep Tarot or Rune reading, scrying, or attempting communication with the other side.
- ​Perform a Release Ritual: Samhain is the New Year, so it’s time for a deep cleansing. Write down the negative habits, thoughts, emotions, or relationships you wish to release from your life. Safely burn the paper in a cauldron or fireproof bowl, visualizing the energy transforming into smoke and releasing into the universe.
- ​Take a Nature Walk: Observe the natural death and decay of the season. Collect fallen leaves, acorns, and seed pods to decorate your home or altar, honoring the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
​✨ Simple Samhain Ancestor Honoring Ritual
This ritual is perfect for beginners and focuses on gratitude, remembrance, and release.
​You Will Need:
​ * A quiet, undisturbed space.​
- A photo or memento of a loved one who has passed.​
- A Black Candle (for release, protection, and the dark half of the year).​
- A White Candle (for honoring ancestors and guiding spirits).​
- A piece of paper and a pen.​
- A fireproof bowl or cauldron.
The Ritual:
​1. Set the Space: Cleanse your space using smoke (like Sage or Mugwort) or sound (like a bell). Place your candles, memento, paper, and bowl on an altar or table. Take three deep, grounding breaths.​
2. Light the Black Candle (Release): Light the black candle. On the piece of paper, write down anything you wish to let go of from the past year—fear, regret, unhealthy habits, etc. Hold the paper and say:​
“As the Wheel of the Year turns, I release what no longer serves me. I let go of the old to welcome the new.”
Safely light the paper from the flame of the black candle and drop it into the fireproof bowl to burn completely. Observe the smoke carrying your burdens away.
​3. Light the White Candle (Welcome and Honor): Light the white candle. Pick up the memento of your loved one. Take a moment to remember them, speaking their name aloud and sharing a favorite memory or two. You may ask for their guidance in the coming year.​
“On this night when the veil is thin, I light this flame to honor you, my ancestors. May your wisdom guide my path and your memory be a blessing.”
Place the memento beside the white candle.​
4. Quiet Reflection: Sit in quiet meditation between the two candles. Reflect on the death of the old year and the birth of the new. Allow any thoughts or messages to come through without judgment.​
5. Closing: When you are ready, express gratitude to your ancestors and to the universe for the lessons of the past year.​
“The ritual is done. I am safe and blessed. The season of darkness has begun, and I welcome its wisdom.”
Allow the candles to burn down safely, or extinguish them with a snuffer. Leave the Ancestor Altar in place for at least a few days to honor the season.
💀Blessed Samhain, and Happy New Year! May your reflections be deep and your ancestors’ blessings be abundant.
#Sabbat #Samhain #SamhainCorrespondence #WitchSNewYears
