Samhain 2023

Samhain (pronounced sah-win), a Celtic sabbat often confused with Halloween, is celebrated from October 31 to November 1. Although Halloween and All Souls Day fall on these dates, they are Christian in spirit, but do take their roots from the pagan beliefs.

Samhain occurs at the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice and marks the Celtic new year, celebrated on November 1. Celts split the year in half, one light and one dark. Samhain signals the end of the harvest season and the start of the darkest time of year–winter. And because the veil between the world of the living and the world of the departed is at its thinnest at midnight on the 31st, its a time to connect with the people gone from this world.

Bay back in the dark ages some Christian missionaries decided to ‘educate’ the people of the land and replace their pagan beliefs with bright and shiny Christian ones. Yup, those pagans were too damn uneducated for the Christians and needed a good learnin’ about how the spirit world worked.

Soooooo, Samhain got a makeover and was renamed Halloween, hallowed means holy, and All Souls Day. One night and one day to honor those who have passed from this world into the next.

Thus the Celts were somewhat allowed to keep their Samhain cakes and eat them too.

What are Samhain cakes, you ask? They’re wonderful scone-like cookies baked to honor departed loved ones. Made from wheat, lard (butter if possible), eggs, salt, spices and sugar.

At night, during medieval times, the poor would go ‘mumming’, a practice of pretending to be wandering ghosts. They would visit wealthier homes and sing, prayer, and perhaps perform tricks, in the hope that a steaming plate of cakes would be their reward. By the 8th century, Samhain cakes had been adopted by the Christian church (sigh) and ‘mumming’ became known as ‘souling.’

Samhain Cakes (also known as Soul Cakes)

The ingredients of Samhain cakes are important: wheat, sugar, and butter for sustenance; salt for wisdom; cinnamon to attract prosperity; ginger for healing; plus raisins or currants to placate any angry spirits.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp each cinnamon, ginger
• 1 tsp. salt
• 8 Tbsp. butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup whole milk (more added if dough is crumbly and won’t stick together)
• 1/4 cup dried, chopped cranberries, currants, or raisins
• Additional milk and sugar for topping
• Additional 1/4 cup of flour for rolling out dough.

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Cream together sugar and butter with a hand mixer.
• Add the milk and vanilla extract and mix.
• Next add in baking powder and spices and mix.
• Add in the flour one cup at a time and mix well.
• Fold in the dried fruit and chill dough for 20 minutes.
• Roll out dough on parchment paper and use extra flour on your hands, rolling pin and parchment paper as needed. Roll about 1/2 inch thick.
• Using a cookie cutter or a biscuit cutter, cut the cakes out and place them on a cookie sheet that’s lined with parchment paper.
• Cut the X in the top and decorate with dried fruit if you want to. Brush the tops with milk
• Bake for 12 minutes.
• Remove cakes from the oven and brush the tops with milk again and then sprinkle on sugar. Bake for another 11-14 minutes until the tops have started to brown a bit. Do not bake them for longer than 26 minutes total.
• Transfer to a cooling rack right away and let them cool completely.
• Offer a plate to those who have gone before and enjoy one or two yourself.

I wish you a bountiful Samhain, a Happy Halloween, and may the loved ones you’ve lost bless you with their love.

Blessed Be ;}

Mi manchi, mia amata immortale.