Celebrate Samhain!
Join us for our 2026 Samhain Festival
October 30, 31 & November 1
In Person at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve near Barneveld, Wisconsin USA
Learn more & register by Wednesday, October 28
Festival includes Samhain & Halloween Workshop with Selena Fox
Saturday, October 31 at 1:30pm which will also be livestreamed via zoom
To take part in the live zoom, Register by Wednesday, October 28
Join us for our Witchy Ways Samhain Full Moon Circle
Sunday, October 25 at 7pm central
via livestream to Circle Sanctuary YouTube channel
Guide to Celebrating Samhain
Part of Celebrating Seasons with Selena Fox
Article by Selena Fox
Samhain, popularly known as Halloween, occurs in late October and early November. For most Wiccan practitioners, this is the New Year, and a time for letting go of the old and looking ahead to the new. It marks the end of the harvest season. Since ancient times, Pagans have paid their respects to departed loved ones, ancestors, and guides in the Spirit World at Samhain. The Goddess manifests as the Crone and the God as the Horned Hunter and Lord of Death. Sacred colors are Black and Orange. It is the festival of endings and transformation.
Set up an altar in your home to honor departed loved ones and ancestors, or, if you already have such an altar, place offerings and light a candle there. As done in ancient times, set a place at your table for your spirit friends and relatives, and serve them some of the food and drink you share at your Samhain feast. Throw a Come as You Were Party and have everyone dress up as they were in another life. Set lighted carved pumpkins around your home to bless it. Magically make a resolution to break out of a negative habit pattern and begin a healthier way of being. Do divination on the year ahead.
Articles:
As America Celebrates Halloween, I Celebrate Samhain
beliefnet.com article by Selena Fox
Celebrating Samhain article by Selena Fox
Traditions and Rituals for the Pagan New Year - Huffington Post article
How Modern Pagans are Reclaiming the Halloween Witch Costume as an Act of Power - Huffington Post article
Rituals (transcript):
Honoring the Dead Samhain Rite
Rituals (podcast):
Honoring the Dead Samhain Ritual
Celebrating Samhain UU Sunday Service
Samhain Cremains Release Ritual
Circle Craft Samhain Ritual
Samhain Full Moon Ritual
Samhain Dark Moon Rite
Samhain Transformation Ritual
FULL MOON CIRCLE RITUALS – Circle Sanctuary Community:
Ancestral Spirits (2021)
Magic Cauldron (2022)
Beloved Dead (2023)
Sacred Circle (2024)
Brooms and Cauldrons (2025)
RITUAL CHANTS – Selena Fox:
WORKSHOPS & PODCASTS:
Celebrating Samhain & Halloween (2021, 2012)
Samhain & Halloween Lore & Décor (2021)
Samhain Magic (2025, 2021)
Making Magic at Samhain & Halloween (2021, 2012)
Samhain Traditions
Spirits of the Dead (2021, 2020)
Honoring Ancestors (2021, 2020)
Ancestors Altars (2022)
Ancestors Pathways (2022)
Ancestors Places (2022)
Ancestor Rituals (2022)
Ancestors Stories (2022)
Cemetery Rituals (2020)
Spirits of the Dead Workshop & Podcast (2021)
Witchy Herbcraft for Samhain & Halloween (2024)
SAMHAIN SONGS & CHANTS – recording artists of many paths & places:
All Souls Night by Loreena McKennitt
Samhain Eve by Damh The Bard with Lyrics
Samhain Song by Lisa Thiel
Souling Song, Samhain Version by Kristen Lawrence
Samhain Night by Jenna Green
Between Times, Part 2 by Blackwillow Starling
Season of the Witch by Donovan
Samhain Night by Loreena McKennitt
Veil is Thin at Samhain by Flora Ware with Heidi McCurdy
Spirits of Fire by Aelwyn Daeira
Cauldron of Changes by Bunny Lo
Lyke-Wake Dirge by Starhawk & Reclaiming & Friends
No End to the Circle by Starhawk & Reclaiming & Friends
Samhain by Nami Kaze
Whispers of Samhain by Spirit Tavern
Tir na nog ft. Oonagh by Celtic Woman