The Origins and Traditions of Samhain: A Pagan Perspective

Samhain is a holiday celebrated by pagans. It is often considered a pagan holiday because it has its roots in ancient Celtic traditions. The word "Samhain" is Gaelic and means "summer's end." It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. During Samhain, pagans believe that the veil between the physical world and the spiritual world is thinnest, allowing for easier communication with spirits and ancestors. It is a time to honor and remember the dead, as well as to celebrate the cycle of life and death.

It is a time to honor and remember the dead, as well as to celebrate the cycle of life and death. Many pagans believe that Samhain is a time of spiritual reflection and transformation. Samhain is celebrated in various ways by different pagan groups.

25 Must-Read YA Books About Witches To Add Magic and Curses To Your Reading Life

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Kelly Jensen

Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She's the editor/author of (DON'T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her next book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen.

Some believe witch season is only once a year. I tend to fall in a different camp: witch season is every season, no matter what. Along with witch season comes the deep fascination with and desire to read YA books about witches.

Find below a wide array of excellent YA books about witches. What I love about witch stories is that for readers who are sometimes put off by either horror books or by supernatural/fantasy reads, witch books are often grounded enough in reality—a witch is often human, after all—to make them easy to access. The young adult books with witches below span those titles which lean more heavily toward realistic than fantasy, as well as those which are far more toward the fantastical than realistic side. In other words: there’s something here for every kind of witchy reader.

Descriptions come from Goodreads. Some of your favorites are probably missing from this list, since I kept it fairly short. If you’d like even more books about witches after you fly through these 25 picks, make sure you check out these 100 must-read books about witches. I’d also love if you dropped your favorite YA books about witches into the comments!

I’ve included a * next to the book titles which are part of a series, so that you can plan to fall deeply into a multiple-book world of witches.

Some may hold rituals or ceremonies, while others may participate in community gatherings or festivals. Common traditions include lighting bonfires, wearing costumes or masks to ward off evil spirits, and feasting on seasonal foods. While Samhain is primarily associated with paganism, it is not exclusively a pagan holiday. In modern times, it has also been adopted and adapted by other cultural and religious groups. For example, Halloween, which falls on the same day, has many similarities to Samhain and is widely celebrated in many parts of the world. In conclusion, Samhain is indeed considered a pagan holiday due to its origins in Celtic traditions and its association with spiritual practices. However, it is important to recognize that it has also become a part of the cultural and religious practices of other groups..

Reviews for "Samhain: A Pagan Festival Celebrating the Cycle of Life and Death"

1. Jane - 1 out of 5 stars - I found "Is Samhain Pagan" to be terribly misleading and not informative at all. The author failed to provide any substantial evidence or historical background to support their claims. It read more like a personal opinion piece than a well-researched article. I was hoping to gain some knowledge about the pagan origins of Samhain, but instead, I was left with more questions than answers. Overall, I was very disappointed with this article and would not recommend it to anyone seeking accurate information about Samhain.

2. Mark - 2 out of 5 stars - As someone interested in pagan practices and beliefs, I was excited to read "Is Samhain Pagan." However, I was left feeling unsatisfied with the content presented. The article lacked depth and failed to explore the topic in a comprehensive manner. It felt more like a surface-level overview rather than an in-depth analysis of Samhain's pagan origins. Additionally, I found the writing style to be dull and unengaging, which made it difficult to stay interested in the content. Overall, while this article may be suitable for those with minimal knowledge of Samhain, it falls short for anyone seeking a more comprehensive understanding.

3. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars - "Is Samhain Pagan" was a complete waste of time. The author seemed more interested in pushing their own agenda rather than providing factual information. The article lacked any credible sources or supporting evidence. Instead, it was filled with personal anecdotes and opinions that held no weight in the discussion. I was hoping to learn more about the pagan origins of Samhain, but this article failed to deliver anything of substance. I would not recommend this article to anyone seeking accurate and reliable information about Samhain and its connection to paganism.

Delving into the Pagan Origins of Samhain and its Modern Celebrations