pronounced "sow-ain"
This the harvest of root vegetables, the last of the corn, and the blood harvest: slaughtering the animals that won’t survive the Winter and those that are needed for food for our own survival.  The focus now is on endings, getting rid of what is no longer needed, and making preparations for harder times. Now is a time for magick aimed to release, to free, to cause lasting profound change within oneself. Now is a time for divination of all kinds: pierce the thin veil, seek out the truths you need.

Celebrating Samhain
Here are a few suggestions for your own Samhain celebrations. Some of these are traditions enjoyed by many Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches as part of their own observances.

• Bobbing for apples. Here’s a fun variation that turns this traditional game into a group divinatory act. In addition to the apples and a barrel of water, you’ll need a knife and 3 toothpicks to each apple. You’ll also want larger apples for this, such as Red Delicious. Take an apple, cut it in half. On the inside of one half, carve in a small symbol (such as a heart for love, dollar sign for wealth, etc.) or perhaps use Runes. Now stick three toothpicks into the apple around the symbol so that you can rejoin the halves (i.e. the toothpicks will be halfway into each half, holding the halves together. Make sure the toothpicks are near to the center of the apple: if they’re too close to the edge they could pop out through the skin of the apple or poke someone in the mouth when they bob for it.) Ask a question before you bob, the symbol in your apple reveals the answer.
  
• Have a feast including root vegetables such as Potatoes, Yams, Onions, Garlic, and vegetables like Corn and Squash. Include other "dark" themed fruits and wine, such as Blackberries and Elderberry. Leave an extra place set at your table for your beloved Dead.
• As this is a Sabbat of Sacrifice, consider what you can rid yourself of to further support your own survival. What habits are you cultivating that do you more harm than good, what relationships could use weeding for you both to be free, what changes to your personality do you need to initiate to better accomplish your goals?

Other Articles You May Like:
Samhain (published 2010)
Autumn: the Time of the Fall
Scrying

The second of the Harvest Festivals, this is a celebration of Thanksgiving! At this time, the Harvest season is in full swing and there is much to be grateful for. Vegetables are being brought in from the garden by the barrel full, the last of the grains are being harvested, and everywhere you look the Earth yields Her bounty, an offering to the life She created and now sustains in love. Now is the Harvest of fruit: of apples and grapes. As such, this is also a celebration of Wine as last year's wine is cured to perfection and now able to be drunk to celebrate the fresh harvest of grapes and newly vinted supply.

Common Mabon Traditions
Here are a few ideas for ways you can celebrate Mabon.

• As part of the Eleusian Mysteries, this is the day where Kore, daughter of Demeter, was abducted by Hades and taken to the Underworld to be His bride, and where She returns again each year to be with Him (when in the Underworld She is known as Persephone.) In response to the loss of Her daughter, Demeter allows nothing to grow until She is returned. As part of ritual theater, act out the abduction of Kore and Her descent into the Underworld.
• As the Autumnal Equinox is a time when Day and Night are equal, reflect upon the balance in this World. Consider areas within your own life where you could use more balance, and, thus, stability. As this is also a Day of Thanksgiving, think of the many blessings you have in your life, no matter how small they may seem, and consider how you can give back in appreciation and to keep the flow of blessings in your life continuous.
• Make a Mabon pentacle wreath from 5 cobs of multicolored corn. Pull the husks back from the cobs, leaving them attached. Arrange the cobs, points in and husks out, into a star -one cob to each point of the pentagram. Glue the points of the cobs together with a sturdy craft or wood glue. When dry, braid or twists the husks together to form the circle of the pentacle.

The Harvest surrounds us. The bounty of Summer, the fruit of our labor, is ripe and hanging heavy on the vine. The theme for this Holiday is abundance and thanksgiving, rightfully so, as Mabon is the second of the harvest holidays and the most productive, and labor intensive, of the three. In many places, this harvest marks the peak of the garden harvest and the beginning of the fruit harvest, especially of grapes and apples. Due to the grape harvest and the nature of wine making, this is also a wine celebration, as last year’s vintage is finally able to be enjoyed and a new batch is now being started.

This day is also the Autumnal Equinox, a day when day and night are equal, balanced. From here on out the days will be shorter, the nights longer, the Winter that much closer. A chill in the air, frost on the grass, these mark the entrance of the spiders into our homes, a desperate effort to escape the cold and perhaps survive a little longer.

Within these few characteristics of Mabon, there is an underlying theme: connection. Who is it that we worked so hard with to create the abundance we now enjoy and pull in, but our community, those with whom we are most intimately connected. Our family, our friends, they are our community and they are the ones who celebrate all of our joys with us, with whom we give thanks and of whom we are thankful for. Even the entrance of the spiders into our homes, taking up residence in the corners where they will happily take care of any biting insects, echoes this theme of connection, this time to the larger community. The spiders remind us that we are never fully removed from Nature, even when we hide ourselves away in our climate controlled homes, surrounded by technology and “proof” of our superiority over the natural world. 

The energy of the Autumnal Equinox spills over, and at this time when there is so much, we find ourselves pulled to share the abundance with those around us. At this time when Day and Night are equal, so, too, are all people equal; divisions and barriers are taken down, and we are reminded that we are all the same and we are all truly members of the same community.

It’s all cause and effect. When we start to acknowledge our connections, that we are not separate, it is then that we notice the Community to which we belong and notice just how far the breadth of that Community stretches. We notice our place in the scheme of things, and this leads to compassion, to the desire to share what we have with those around us. This sacred day reminds us of the need for community, the blessing of community, and the obligations we have as members of a community.

aka Lughnassadh
The first of the Harvest Holidays and marking the beginning of Autumn, this is the harvest of grains. The bounty of the Earth has ripened and now sacrifices itself so that other life may continue. The days are still warm, though the Sun weakens. Preparations are begun for the long Winter ahead. 

Common Lammas Traditions
These are just a few of the many traditions that many Witches, Wiccans, and Pagans enjoy in celebration of Lammas.

• In honor of the sacrifice of the Corn God, the last grains of the field are formed into an effigy of Him and burned as part of the ritual celebrations. Fashion yourself a doll from corn husks and give it an honored place to sit atop your altar.
• Enjoy a meal with whole grain breads and fresh local fruit and vegetables. Roasted vegetables are appropriate, as in many places, it is only now that the heat of the Sun is truly felt.
• In honor of the God Lugh, whose celebration Lughnassadh is this same day, carry out a mock-battle as part of your ritual drama. Or take up a new craft or skill, make something with your hands in honor of skillful Lugh.

aka Litha, Midsummer
The height of Summer! All of Nature is at its peak & celebrates the abundance of life and the strength of the Sun. This is the longest Day of the Year, from here after the Days will get shorter, the Nights longer. But today is bright, warm, and full of power and energy. 

Common Midsummer Traditions
These are just a few of the many traditions that many Witches, Wiccans, and Pagans enjoy on Summer Solstice.

• Today is a day of such strength and power that even the faeries come out to celebrate. Be leery of their tricks. Children should make garlands and wreaths of Daisies to wear to avoid the mischief of the Fay.
  
• In homage of the Sun and this His most powerful time, erect a bonfire to celebrate. Leap the flames for good fortune and prosperity.
• Today is a great day for Divination and magick of all forms! Try your hand at scrying by the embers of the balefire; see what visions may be had within the sacred flames. Dancing and fire spells are well suited to this day, as is pure celebration of this the strongest Day of the Sun.

The mood of the Earth now is like that of satisfied lovers after union: content, open, and loving. The earth is ripe. Life boldly flaunts itself; flowers abound, trees are full and leafy and begin to grow fruit. There is heightened activity in Nature, best seen at Midsummer, when it is so great that even the faeries allow themselves to be seen. The veil is thin and all are One. 

The days are long; the Sun dominates over the Night. But, as nothing may remain stagnant for long, this too wanes. The fruit continue to grow; the grain ripens and must be harvested.

This is the prime of life, of heightened power, strength, and relates to that of the Full Moon and adulthood.

aka Beltain and May Day
Summer is here! The Earth is warm and bursting with life. The scent of flowers fills the air and all of Nature is busy with creating more life. Fitting, that the theme for this day is fertility and reproduction. What better way to celebrate life than by celebrating that which creates life!

Common Beltaine Traditions
These are a few traditions that many Pagans and Wiccans enjoy as part of their Beltaine celebrations.

• May Pole: great for group celebrations. The wrapping of the Pole in ribbons is a none too subtle ritual re-enactment of the most popular way of creating life. Afterwards, the ribbons, gently slid off the Pole, make a great fertility charm: perfect as a Handfasting gift!
• May Gad: a miniature version of the May Pole, the May Gad is perfect as an altar centerpiece for solitaries. Make one out of a wooden dowel, securing the ribbons to the top with a heavy craft glue, top with a crystal cabochon.
• May Baskets: familiar to many Americans as a common May Day tradition, though its roots lay in pre-Christian European practice. A great activity for kids! Make small paper baskets by weaving together strips of construction paper, don't forget a handle. Fill the baskets with wildflowers and leave on a neighbor or loved one's door to wish them prosperity and good fortune.

The height of Spring is upon us! Granted, in many places, there is still several feet of snow blanketing the Earth, but the signs of returning life are there none-the-less and Ostara, the Vernal Equinox, is just around the corner.

This is a great holiday for children and the possibilities of things to do with them to celebrate are endless!

So, here are a few great ideas for the holiday, suitable for children of all ages. 

Nature Walk
It’s finally warm! Get your kids outside and in the woods. Keep your eyes open for the Greenman, who is sure to be out, and faeries. See how many flowers you can find (but no picking!) Try to identify them as a family. Small children can try to find as many different colored flowers as they can or spot which kinds of trees have the most leaves.

Family Meal
Cooking and eating together are great things to do as a family! Even very young children can help pour and mix ingredients. Make cupcakes and decorate them with edible flowers like carnations or seeds. 

Depending on how warm it is where you are, you could gather greens for a salad and make a Springtime salad dressing to go with it. Simply place equal parts of vinegar, oil, and sugar into a jar; add some dill, onion, a bit of salt, and pepper; then, hand it to your kid to shake to mix (hand it to the most impatient or antsy child.) 

For a main meal, quiche is a great choice. Add a couple of handfuls of fresh spinach, some spring onions, and garnish with Dandelion blossoms (sure to amuse your kids, but they’re edible, too.)

Crafts
Decorate eggs the night before and hide them before your kids wake up.  After they’ve found all of the eggs, have an easy breakfast outside of hardboiled eggs!

Make a prosperity charm by layering different kinds of seeds in a jar and cork it. Choose the seeds based upon magickal correspondences. Or, use flower seeds and give the jar to a friend or loved one as a gift. They can then plant the seeds and have your well wishes bloom around them!

Ritual Ideas
Cast the Circle together by sprinkling seeds or flowers. Mark the Quarters with an egg dyed the appropriate color. Make shakers by placing seeds in between two paper plates. Punch holes along the edges of the plates and thread them together with ribbons or yarn; use these shakers to call the Quarters.