Preparations For Samhaine
FESTIVAL PREPARATIONS

Altar cloth colour: Orange, Red, or Black.

Altar decorations: Horned God mask, Fertility symbols, Black candles for Gods, Pumpkins & turnips, Red apples, Acorns, Pine cones, Black ribbons & streamers, Nuts, Beans, Autumn flowers, corn, gourds, Autumn leaves, Divination tools & pomegranates. Ritual wine: Ginger wine, Apple cider or

Spiced wine, non alcoholic: Ginger beer, Apple juice.

Greenery: Oak, Holly, Willow, Yew, Pine, Cypress, Elder, Rosemary ,Rue, Thyme & ginger.

Dress code: Traditional Black, modern orange or red. Masks can be worn during the rite, Fancy dress is used by American witches for the feast & party afterward

Incense & oil: Frankincense, Rosemary, Cinnamon, the oil is Rosemary or Black pepper.

Ritual foods: Vegetable stew. Pork roast. Haggis. Smoked & dried meat & fish.

Apple dishes. Pumpkin dishes. Bean dishes. Corn. Most of the traditional dishes are highly spiced as are wines & brandy. Both ginger & garlic is used freely. Modern Wiccans serve curry or have a barbecue.

Drinks that are served are: Mulled spiced wine, Ginger brandy & wine, Cider, Mead, & apple juice, Elder champagne & ginger beer.

Rosemary is placed or hung in the home at this time for remembrance.

Anoint a white candle with Patchouli oil & place within a carved pumpkin, at sunset light with the following words, then place in your front window.

"With this candle, & by its light,
I welcome ye spirits, this Samhaine night."

The purpose of wearing a mask is to make a spiritual connection with Deity or Nature Spirits represented by the mask. The first stage in making a mask is deciding what the mask should be of, then gathering all the materials needed, then ritually make it, infusing it with magical power through visualisation & consecration. For the beginner a Lone Ranger mask found at toy shops is the easiest way to start. Extra card board, feathers, shells, flowers, ribbons, sequins etc may be glued on with wood glue.

A mask of silver or white is used for maiden aspect of the Goddess, red for the mother & black for the crone. Gold for the Sun God & Oak King, green for Holly King, Pan, Green man etc.

Here are a few ideas. A mask for the Maiden, begin with a white or silver mask. A long veil of sheer white material is added for mystery. A crown of white flowers & a crescent moon is worn on the head. Decorate the mask with pearly sequins, & wear a white sheer floor length dress. Adorn yourself with pearls, moonstones, silver jewellery & a sliver girdle or belt, paint your nails & toe nails silver.

For the Mother aspect, use a red mask & decorate with a mosaic of rice & seeds to express Her abundance & fertility. Wear a crown made of miniature corn, wheat, barley & a full moon symbol.

Wear necklaces of nuts & seeds & a red cape or dress.

The Crone aspect mask is black & might be embellished with peacock feathers as an expression of the mysteries, as well as a black sheer veil. The black moon is attached to a black headband. Black feathers can be worn in your hair, around your neck & wrists or attached to your mask or headband. The mask itself can have black lace or a paper dolly painted black glued on it with black sequins, wear black robe, black stones such as jet, onyx etc & silver jewellery. Snake bracelets, rings & belts ca n also be worn.

A gold mask for the Sun God is decorated with gold glitter or sequins, wear a sun crown made of gold & wear a gold or bright yellow cape to complete the effect. Wear gold sun symbols of your choice.

A gold mask for the Oak King will be decorated with oak leaves & acorns & green ribbons. A crown of willow & oak leaves is worn on the head & a brown cape can complete your outfit. Wear acorns around your neck.

A green mask for Pan, Dionysus, & Bacchus, should be decorated with pine needles, ivy, grape vine & grapes. If the mask is for Pan add Rue & Rockrose to the crown used, cape should be green or brown & the chest bare.

A green mask for the Holly King is decorated with holly & its berries, the willow crown has the same added & a dark green cape is worn.

A mask of black is used for the Horned God & horns of some type are added, a black cape completes this outfit.

A mask of bronze adorned with barley is used for John Barleycorn, wear a crown of barley & use a bronze or light brown cape.

A green mask covered with leaves of all types is used for the Green man, he is dressed in brown & vines are wrapped all around him.

For masks representing Nature Spirits use their elemental colours & add their symbols or create your own visualisation of them when making your mask.

WATER: Seaweed, coral, seapods, sea shells, sea sand, Mer- people, feathers from sea birds, fish & dolphins, & holey stones & rounded sea & river pebbles.

EARTH: Flowers, leaves, ferns, creepers, herbs, fruit, nuts, stones, crystals, feathers from ground living birds.

AIR: Feathers, birds, symbols & runes for air, stones belonging the air element.

FIRE: Flint stones & other stones associated with fire, red, yellow & orange cellophane cut to represent flames, runes & symbols such as dragons & dragonflies.

BLESSED BE