Samhain (11/1/26)

Friday, November 1, 2026
6pm
Williamstown Historical Museum
32 New Ashford Rd, Williamstown, MA 01267

Join us for our annual Samhain (pronounced Sow-an) ritual. This liminal space between summer and winter - lightness and darkness, it is a time that we use to honor our ancestors.

Not appropriate for children with no experience of traditional and ritual wailing and keening for our ancestors.

In the "dumb supper" tradition, we will have a space for you to bring a photo or small item to honor any of your ancestors that you want to bring to our circle.

We honor this time as a non-dogmatic earth-based practice. Anyone is welcome.

While Samhain and Halloween are at the same time, this ritual is not a time to be goofy or seek candy. That said, dressing a bit differently is encouraged. It was expected that ancestors might cross over during this time as well, and Celts would dress as animals and monsters so that fairies were not tempted to kidnap them. (history.com) Do with that as you choose.

First observed by Celtic Pagans, Samhain marked the Celtic New Year, the end of summer, and the end of the harvest season. 

This is the festival celebrating the time of year when “the summer goes to rest”. It was an agricultural festival and a time for “stock-taking” before the winter (Rogers 2002). Samhain was also, like we would expect in an origin of Halloween, a time of “supernatural intensity” where the force of darkness and decay were said to be abroad, spilling out from sidh, the ancient mounds or barrows of the countryside” (Rogers 2002). At this time of year the Celtic people would build a large bonfire in the hope that it would please the gods and help the regenerative agricultural process. This foundation in an agricultural based festival is still visible today where in many agricultural based communities “the intervention of masks may help ensure that the crops grow well” (Mack 1994). (brown.edu)

What to expect:

• Smoke and bell cleanse
• Creating a community altar with plants/twigs/rocks and anything you bring that signifies your ancestors.
• Singing
• Drumming
• Keening

Bring a chair, drum, or noise maker if you have one, and a small food offering to share for a potluck-style nosh-nosh (not dinner).

PRICE:
To make it more accessible and to cover our small costs, this circle is offered at three different price levels. Please consider what you are able to give at this time and choose the one that is right for you. This helps cover cost of firewood, tea, candles and making sure we have enough drums and such to share.