Samhain (pronounced 'sow'inn'), Halloween, All Hallows Eve or All Souls Night. No matter what you call it, October 31st is the most celebrated and important holiday of the Witches year. It marks the end of the old year and beginning of the new one, much like New Years Eve and is also known as the Festival of the Dead.
Samhain is a great time to perform rituals for banishing things in your life that you wish to be free of such as bad habits, anger, illness or negative behavior and/or hard feelings. Rituals surrounding Samhain include bonfires, healing, dancing, giving thanks, and remembering your ancestors or those who have already passed. On this night, it is said that, the veil between life and death is at its thinnest. An easy way of honoring those passed, would be to set a plate and food for them at your dinner table.
Most celebrations at our home revolve around food. Great food to have at this time of the year are those harvested late in the season such as apples, pomegranates and pumpkins or squashes. It is my tradition, on this night, to make a couple large pots of soup and to invite family and friends in for a bowl. I also love to dress up in costume and celebrate the more commercial aspect of Halloween; Trick or Treat.
No matter how you chose to celebrate or acknowledge Samhain, I suggest you have fun with it.