Samhain, Halloween, All Saints’ Day and Diwali
Oct 30, 2024
This is my favorite time of year for so many reasons, but the big one is because seems like so many of us are celebrating the light and acknowledging that the veils between worlds are thin
This season begins with Halloween and ends on the last day of Diwali.
Halloween’s Origins
Halloween’s origins stem from an ancient Celtic celebration called Samhain, marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter’s darker days. Pronounced “sah-win,” Samhain was believed to be when the boundary between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. This custom of acknowledging the spirit world has influenced not only Halloween but also celebrations like All Saints’ Day, Día de los Muertos, and even Diwali.
Samhain’s Influence on Halloween and All Saints’ Day
As Christianity spread across Europe, the early Church aimed to incorporate existing pagan customs. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III declared November 1st as All Saints’ Day, a day to honor saints and martyrs, with the evening before becoming All Hallows' Eve, now Halloween. The word 'Hallow' means 'holy' in archaic English, the same way we use it in the phrase 'Hallowed be Thy Name' in the Our Father prayer. Despite these changes, Samhain’s themes of honoring the dead and embracing seasonal transitions remained.
Día de los Muertos
Celebrated on November 1st and 2nd in Mexico and parts of Latin America, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, shares deep cultural connections with Halloween and All Saints’ Day. It’s a time when families welcome back the spirits of deceased loved ones with offerings, special foods, and candles to light their way. Like Samhain, Día de los Muertos reflects a belief in the closeness of the living and the dead, with customs like altars and vibrant skull imagery symbolizing this connection.
Diwali:
Diwali, a 5 day, major Hindu festival celebrated on the New Moon around late October or early November, may not focus on spirits or the afterlife, but it shares Halloween’s theme of light over darkness. Diwali celebrates the goddess Lakshmi and preservation of abundance. During Diwali, families light oil lamps and set off fireworks to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Similar to Halloween’s focus on community gatherings and light-filled traditions, Diwali represents a time of renewal and inner reflection. During Diwali Krishna is honored and a super sweet tradition of Diwali is that on the last day the brothers give their sisters gifts.
These celebrations, from Samhain to Diwali, are more alike than they first appear. Here’s what they share:
Honoring Ancestors: Samhain, Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and Día de los Muertos all recognize the presence of those who have passed.
Symbolic Light and Darkness:
Diwali and Samhain both honor the cycle of light and dark. Diwali’s lamps dispel darkness and Samhain’s bonfires mark winter’s arrival.
Each festival encourages reflection—on life, seasonal shifts, and the spirit world. They symbolize endings and beginnings, reminding us of our connection to the past and each other.
As Halloween approaches, it carries with it the rich legacies of Samhain, All Saints’ Day, Día de los Muertos, and Diwali. Each celebration, in its own way, illuminates the importance of honoring life, embracing change, and finding light amid darkness.
No matter what or how you celebrate, may you remember that without the dark, there would be no light and the light always wins.
Light a candle and give yourself some time to reflect and renew
