27/04/2026
CELEBRATING SAMHAIN IN 2026
April 30 2026
Blessed Samhain, Tragics!
It's getting darker and colder, the nights are getting longer, it's our favourite time of year! Samhain is also known as Halloween, All Hallows' Eve, and the Day of the Dead, and is also regarded as the Witches' New Year. The veil between life & death is at its thinnest, and we begin our descent into the darkest part of the year.
Samhain is a time of celebration and remembrance, and provides the perfect opportunity to farewell the old and welcome in the new. learn more about this important Sabbat!
WHAT IS SAMHAIN?
The Wheel of the Year comes full circle on the arrival of Samhain! Marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter, Samhain traditions are associated with death and rebirth, and is a time where the veil between the spiritual and physical realm is at its thinnest, making this the perfect time to honour and communicate with our ancestors, give remembrance to those who have passed, and reflect on the cycles of life and death.
WHEN IS SAMHAIN IN 2025?
Here in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed, and the Sabbats on the Wheel of the Year occur at different dates than in the Northern Hemisphere. Samhain occurs on the 5th of May, 2025 and in the Northern Hemisphere it occurs on the 31st of October, 2025. We have a blog outlining all of the Sabbat dates in the Southern Hemisphere you can explore here.
OKAY, BUT HOW DO I PRONOUNCE SAMHAIN?
If you're anything like us, you'll have discovered the wrong way to pronounce Samhain by someone laughing at you attempting to say it out loud. If not, lucky you - there's still time to learn up before saying the S word!
Samhain is pronounced SAH-WIN.
HOW TO CELEBRATE SAMHAIN
Now that you know what it is and how to pronounce it - here are some ideas on how you can celebrate the Witches' New Year, harnessing the changing forces of nature to aid you in saying goodbye to the past, and making a commitment of renewal and growth in the coming year!
REMEMBER & GUIDE SPIRITS WITH CANDLES
Fire is an important part of Samhain celebrations, aiding with remembrance & reflection. Although we no longer have the communal fires like the Celts were blessed with, we can use other forms of lighting such as candles. The soft flicker of a candle is perfect for allowing your mind to unwind, bringing a sense of calm to you and your abode.
Traditionally, those who celebrated Samhain would take a burning branch from the communal fire to light their own home to help guide loved ones' spirits home. This act has evolved to suit our modern times by burning candles (or electric candles for those risk averse witches) at each window. Coloured candles have specific meanings - make sure to team with the seasonal Samhain theme by selecting candles in white, black, orange & yellow.
These spirits can be honoured through something as elaborate as a silent dinner (also known as a dumb supper) or as simple as displaying photos of family or loved ones who have passed for the night. You could also set up a Samhain altar like we have and honour the important people in your life on it. Love light and blessings Avymoon 💝🥰🔮🌙😊