10 Ways to Celebrate Samhain

Celebrate Halloween’s ancient roots with these magical Samhain rituals and activities.

Samhain ideas

Popularly celebrated as Halloween, October 31st is also the pagan festival of Samhain (pronounced SOW-un).

In addition to being a harvest festival, Samhain marks the time when the veil between worlds grows thin, and the Wheel of the Year turns toward its darker half. During this sacred season, we’re invited to bravely gaze beyond that veil — into our shadows, our fears, and our deepest truths.

We’re also called to honor our ancestors and beloved dead, nourishing our spirits by remembering where we come from and connecting with those who came before.

Celebrate the deeper, mystical side of Halloween with these Samhain rituals and magical celebration ideas.

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Samhain Celebration Idea #1: Create an Altar for Your Ancestors or Beloved Dead

Samhain ideas - ancestor altar

Across cultures, Samhain is a time to honor the ancestors and those who’ve crossed into the spirit realm.

Create a simple ancestor altar by placing a candle near a framed photo of someone you wish to honor, along with a few meaningful offerings — such as a favorite flower, food, or drink they enjoyed in life.

Here are 5 Altar Items for Samhain, Halloween, and the Day of the Dead.


Samhain Celebration Idea #2: Turn Off the Lights

Samhain ideas - candlelight

This simple yet powerful ritual invites you to embrace the darkness. Spend the evening without electric lights, illuminating your home only with candles or firelight.

There’s no better night for it than Samhain — a time to honor mystery, transformation, and the unseen.

You might also play atmospheric music like Anugama or Dead Can Dance. Or, simply listen to the wind, the rain, or the crackling of a fire.

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Samhain Celebration Idea #3: Pull Out Your Tarot Deck

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Because the veil between worlds is thin, divination is especially potent on Samhain night. Pull out your tarot deck and see what messages arise.

You can also explore other forms of divination, such as oracle cards, pendulums, or the I Ching.

(New to tarot? Here’s how to get started.)

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Samhain Celebration Idea #4: Gaze into a Crystal Ball

Samhain ideas - crystal ball

If you have a crystal ball, mirror, or even a dark-colored bowl of water, try scrying on Samhain night.

Ask a question, relax, and allow your gaze to soften. Notice what you see in your mind’s eye and in the reflective surface.

Always cast a circle or call in protection first to ensure your space feels spiritually safe.


Samhain Celebration Idea #5: Serve a Dumb Supper

Samhain ideas - dumb supper

In The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, Judika Illes describes a Dumb Supper as “a ritual meal enacted between the living and the dead,” conducted entirely in silence.

To host one, invite your beloved dead in spirit, set a place for them at the table, and prepare a meal just as you would for living guests. As you cook, serve, and eat in silence, allow your communication with the spirit realm to take place quietly and reverently.


Samhain Celebration Idea #6: Face Your Fears

Samhain Celebration Ideas

As the author Starhawk reminds us, “Where there’s fear, there’s power.”

At Samhain, we can harness that power by facing what frightens us. Write down 3–5 of your biggest fears in a journal. Spend time exploring each one. What’s the worst that could happen? Could you survive it? What strength might it reveal within you?

The more we face our fears with courage and humor, the less power they hold over us — and the more energy we reclaim.

(Here are some Samhain journal prompts to help you explore your shadow.)


Samhain Celebration Idea #7: Leave an Offering for Hecate

Samhain ideas - honey cake

Hecate, the Greek goddess of the crossroads, embodies the crone archetype and deep, transformative magic.

If you feel called, visit a crossroads between midnight and 3 a.m. to leave an offering — such as wine, honey, or honey cake — on the earth itself. This act is a way of honoring Hecate’s wisdom and calling in her guidance as we navigate our spiritual transitions.

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Samhain Celebration Idea #8: Communicate with Your Cat

Samhain ideas - cat communication

Cats have long been viewed as guardians of the spirit realm and psychopomps, helping souls travel between worlds.

Spend time communing with your feline friend and tuning in deeply to them on Samhain. You may also want to offer them a new toy, treat, or extra affection as a way of honoring their intuitive connection to the unseen.


Samhain Celebration Idea #9: Burn Sweetgrass or Copal Incense

Protection Incense Protection Spell Judika Illes

Burning sweetgrass or copal incense during Samhain helps cleanse your space, lift energy, and open a doorway of light between realms. These sacred scents attract benevolent spirits and protect your home with their gentle yet powerful vibration.

(Try this Samhain house blessing ritual using sweetgrass and copal.)

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Samhain Celebration Idea #10: Decorate with Marigolds

Samhain ideas - marigolds

Remember the marigold bridge in Coco? The vibrant energy of marigolds opens the door between worlds and strengthens the bond between the living and the dead.

Marigolds are associated with death and rebirth in many cultures — from India to South America — and are a traditional flower for Día de los Muertos altars. Adorn your home or altar with fresh or dried marigolds to honor your ancestors and celebrate the beauty of life’s eternal cycle.


Whatever Samhain rituals and activities you choose, take time to honor the magic of this sacred night. Let it remind you that life, death, and rebirth are all part of one great mystery — and that by facing the darkness with reverence, you invite in more light.

Are you planning to try one of these Samhain celebration ideas? Or do you have others to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please chime in below!


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