Halloween

The origin of the todays Halloween-festival is the celtic Samhain.

Celebrated on the 31st october, Samhain means "end of summer". It is the celtic New Year celebration. Like Beltane it is one of the spirit nights, a magical night. The spirits of our ancestors, gone loved ones are coming back and we can communicate with them. It is custom to light a candle in the window that the spirits can find their way home.

Food and other offerings are left on altars and doorsteps for the wandering dead. Extra chairs were set on the table to invite the beloved spirits. Turnips are hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits.

Samhain is the feast of death and rebirth, the feast of end and new begining. It is the day when we are confronted with the dark side of live, with the dark side of the Great Goddess and the Great God.

Wiccans still celebrate Samhain today with a great ritual.

But for most people Halloween is a thrilling party time. Disguised as ghosts and other creatures of the night children are going from house to house and collect candy from the inhabitants "trick or treat".

In Germany one of the best Halloween-events is the festival on Burg Frankenstein.

Halloween is our night. Among all these costumed people we must not hide our true self any longer. We can show our fangs and the people wonder how perfect they are made. We can show our eyes and the people wonder how perfect our contact-lenses are. For us Vampires, Halloween is the highlight of the year.