Samhain Arrives in New England

For most of us, October is the month of Halloween bringing costumes, candy and flying bats, along with TV reruns of every horror movie ever made. But for the followers of Wicca, October holds a much deeper meaning: It is the month of Samhain, one of the four greater Sabbats of the year. It symbolizes the final harvest and is celebrated by many as the beginning of a New Year.

Along the northeastern coast of America, festival fires will burn long into the night throughout October. Of the 52 Samhain events listed nationally in “The Witches’ Voice,” 10 are in New England. Salem, of course, is our town best known for its history of witchcraft and the occult. It is also, unfortunately, the setting for many a gruesome and gory book and film. In these stories, witches are invariably associated with the Evil Dead, black magic and broomsticks. It has given the entire genre an undeserved bad rap.

Can we please set the record straight? Witches do not worship the Devil or idolize Satan. Wiccans are, by and large, a green group, participating in Earth Day and concerned with balance and the cycles of nature. Witchcraft is a tradition with ancient roots, going back to a time when survival depended upon a successful hunt and fertility. The rituals that Wiccans perform are, by and large, designed to attune them to the cycles of nature. The main tenet of Witchcraft is: “An’ it harm none, do what thou wilt.” Wiccans are often healers and herbalists, more spiritual than scary.

In RI, don’t miss the slide show and discussion on October 14, “Don’t Fear The Reaper: Superstitions Surrounding Death & Darkness,” by Yssion, a practicing member of the New England Coven of Traditionalist Witches. The event starts at 7pm at Mother Mystic, 179 Dean Street, Providence. Audience members will have a chance to make and take home a protective charm.

As the witching hour approaches, you need not travel far to find Samhain celebrations that are open to the public. On October 23 – 24, The 5th Annual Witches’ Ball will be held at The Silver Willow, 54 Fall River Avenue, Rehoboth, Massachusetts. The Connecticut Wiccan and Pagan Network hosts their 2015 Witches’ Ball and Samhain Market on October 24 in Orange, Connecticut.

Salem, Massachusetts, has a plethora of events planned this month, beginning with The Annual Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo, from October 1 through November 1, at Museum Place Mall, 176 Essex Street in downtown Salem. Admission is free. The fair features the city’s most gifted psychics and witches, and events range from tarot and past life readings to live dragon ritual drums and magic charms.

A whirlwind of hauntings, portals to the spirit world and celebrations of the dead lead up to The Official Salem Witches’ Halloween Ball at Hawthorne Hotel on October 31. You can find full listings for all Salem events at festivalofthedead.com/witchesball/index.htm.

All local and national listings can be found at witchvox.com/vn/vn_evw/ev_samhain.html