Samhain (pronounced SOW-in, or SAM-hayne) means "end of summer", and signals the beginning of Fall .

It is one of two spirit nights of the year , the other being Beltane (April 30th). Communicating with departed loved ones becomes easier at these times because it is believed that the veil between the worlds is lifted for them to travel onto Summerland.

Originally in Celtic countries the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated by leaving offerings of food on doorsteps for the wandering dead. Single candles were lit in windows to help guide loved ones home, extra chairs were sat around the hearth fires for unseen guests. The first jack-o-lanterns were actually hollowed out turnips carved to look like protective spirits. People dressed in white and often dressed as the opposite sex in order to fool the Nature Spirits, who liked to pull pranks.

Any crops left in the field on Samhain were left as offerings to Nature. Bonfires were lit, (originally called bone fires, because after the feast they would throw in the bones as offerings) and the hearth fires were lit from these bonfires for good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. The ashes were then spread over the fields to ensure a good crop.