The wheel of the year turns again as we prepare for Samhain and the shift in my own internal energy is definitely reflecting the external changes.

Many refer to Samhain as “witch’s new year.” It represents the end of one year/cycle and the beginning of another, much like menstruation does in our own cycles.

Outside, the earth is drawing her energy inwards to prepare for winter and we may feel ourselves doing the same. The veil is said to be thinnest at this point in the year, making it a potent time for connecting with our intuition. It’s a time for reflection and introspection, looking back on the past few seasons, allowing us to process all we’ve been through and hopefully move forward with insights and gratitude that will serve us in the next cycle.

Samhain is also a time for honouring our ancestors and loved ones who have died, celebrating, remembering, and honouring the place they still hold in their lives.

While many of our children may be celebrating with Halloween costumes and trick or treating (which I’ll admit, I love these traditions as well!) I also wanted to offer some ideas for coming together as a family and honouring the deeper meanings of this season.

Here are simple rituals and activities you could incorporate to celebrate Samhain as a family…

Add items to your family altar or nature table. Acorns, candles (especially dark coloured ones), a cauldron, photos of your ancestors and loved ones, apples, seeds, bones, pumpkins, and dark coloured crystals are all traditional.

At your dinner table, light candles for loved ones that have passed away. You might also want to display their photos, set a place for them, and leave a portion of the meal as an offering. I think this is a really beautiful chance to share memories and stories about family members who our children may not have gotten to know and have had a big impact on our lives. For P, this means the two men who he got his name from.

A pie depicting the moon's phases sits between a pile of books and candles.

Cook a simple seasonal feast using produce that is in season where you live right now. This pumpkin soup and some homemade bread would be perfect.

Around the dinner table, invite everyone to reflect on their year. What are some favourite memories? What has been challenging? How have you each grown and evolved? What would you like to change moving forward? What are you grateful for? Do you have any hopes or wishes for the months ahead?

Plant a tree. You might want to dedicate to the memory of a loved one. If you have space, you could plant a circle of trees. They would be perfect for children to play in and for your own meditation or rituals.

Have a fire. Traditionally, Samhain is celebrated with large outdoor bonfires where the fire is used for warmth and to focus magical intentions. We don’t have space for a bonfire so we use it as a chance for our first indoor fire of the season. This fire bowl is also a really beautiful way to safely contain a fire when celebrating with children.

Make a simple besom (broom). Use it together to sweep out your home and the perimeter of your house. It is traditionally used to sweep away the autumn leaves, as well as old or stuck energy to make space for the new.

A child runs through a field of pumpkins with his arms in the air. His back is to the viwer.

Go for a walk. I think this is always the ultimate seasonal ritual and it can be really beautiful to walk in the same place at each of the sabbats. What is changing outside? What are the animals doing? Are there any plants in bloom? What are the trees doing? What can you smell? How does the air feel on your skin? What does the sky look like? Are any of these changes reflected in your inner landscape? Perhaps you’ll want to responsibly collect a few nature treasures to bring home.

Introduce your child to a divination practice, like a pendulum or tarot cards. This deck is really beautiful for children.

My recipe for a simple, meaningful seasonal celebration...

✨ Spend time outside
✨ Make a nature garland or bring a few small nature treasures in to adorn the house
✨ Plan a meal or bake something using seasonal ingredients
✨ Share a seasonal verse or blessing
✨ Read seasonal books
✨ Intentional conversation and/or journaling around the blessings of the season

There is so much inspiration on here for intricate seasonal crafts and handwork, and while those are beautiful, they can certainly be intimidating, overwhelming, and not necessarily accessible.

When I'm thinking about celebrating a seasonal festival as a family, I try to strip it back to these basics. Weave in any of these ideas if they feel good for you but please don’t put any pressure on yourself.

I’d love to know, do you have any traditions or rituals for celebrating Samhain? Leave a comment and let me know!