Why I Celebrate Samhain as My New Year
Samhain, traditionally celebrated between October 31st and November 1st, marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. In ancient Celtic tradition, it was a time when the boundary between the world of the living and the dead was believed to be thin. The thinning of the veil between worlds reflected a transition—not just between life and death, but between the seasons. This moment invited deep reflection on what had come before and what was yet to come, creating space to honour the past and prepare for the future.
This connection with the dead was not about fear but about acknowledging the inevitable cycles of life and death. Just as nature moves into a period of hibernation and retreat, so too do we reflect on our own lives, looking at what must be let go, what needs to be sustained, and what we want to carry into the next cycle. For me, this is why Samhain feels like the right time to celebrate New Year. It’s a period for embracing the natural rhythms, a reminder that everything, even difficult periods, are part of an ongoing cycle of renewal.
By aligning my New Year with Samhain, I honour these cycles in a more intuitive way. The colder, darker months ahead are not just a time of slowing down, but also of introspection—what I call “wintering.” As nature withdraws, I too withdraw inward, reflecting on the past year and preparing for the new one. Samhain offers the perfect opportunity to pause, to let go of old patterns or experiences that no longer serve me, and to envision how I want to move forward into the next season of life. This mirrors the way our ancestors would prepare themselves for the coming winter, both physically and spiritually, with the hope of renewal in the spring.
In modern life, where the pressure to always be productive is constant, I’ve come to embrace Samhain as my New Year because it aligns more naturally with the cycles of both nature and my own energy. By January, I’m often already worn down by the long, dark months of winter, and the push to start fresh with resolutions feels forced and out of sync. Samhain, however, comes at a time when the world around me is also slowing down—the darker evenings, colder air, and retreat of nature invite a more intuitive rhythm of reflection and rest. Rather than charging into a new year when I’m already tired, Samhain provides the perfect moment to pause, gather my thoughts, and let go of what no longer serves me, all while preparing for the deeper winter ahead. This slower pace allows me to reflect inward, reset, and renew with a sense of purpose and clarity, making the transition into the colder months feel more intentional and less hurried.
This period will starting from the 31st October to 1st November and runs through November - I dedicate the month. This runs to the Spring Equinox period - at the end of March allowing for a “mid-year’ reflection month in April - as nature’s cycle starts to blossom.
How I Celebrate Samhain
Samhain, a time when the ancient Celts marked the transition from the light half of the year to the dark, is a period of reflection, letting go, and renewal for me. To honour its roots and make it meaningful in modern life, I incorporate rituals that ground me, help me release what’s no longer needed, and prepare me for the winter ahead.
Wintering: Slowing Down and Connecting to Nature
Wintering is a key aspect of how I celebrate Samhain, deeply in tune with the Celtic understanding of this time as one for retreat, rest, and hibernation. As nature withdraws, I take this as a signal to slow down too. Samhain prompts me to reflect on transitions—what must be released, what needs rest, and what will grow again. Like the Celts who gathered to honour the cycles of death and rebirth, I embrace the darker months as a time for introspection.
I practice this through quiet evenings with tea or wine, meditation, and moments of mindfulness, allowing space for rest and reflection. Much like the ancient Samhain rituals that focused on marking the end of the harvest, I take this time to acknowledge what the past season has brought and prepare myself for the rest that winter demands.
The Year Book: Reflecting and Letting Go
Samhain’s theme of death and renewal resonates most deeply in my personal reflection practices. The Celts used this time to honour their ancestors and let go of the old, making way for the new. I adopt this spirit of letting go by using my "Year Book" journal, where I review the past six months and look forward to the future. This review includes key aspects of my life—family, home, work, health, relationships—and I give them a review, reflecting on what worked, what didn’t and what I would like to focus on.
In the spirit of Samhain’s theme of release, I use this time to let go of habits, thoughts, or burdens I no longer want to carry into the new season. I may not burn them as the Celts might have done, but I do tear up or symbolically set aside these things, making space for what is to come. This allows for what I need to leave behind to die away - so allowing for something brand new to be born. Again, the theme of life and death but with a positive slant about new beginnings. The areas I think about are ridding myself of limiting thoughts and beliefs, relationships, people, the versions of myself that are holding me back or making me feel down, the ways I have been treated or bad habits. Also important to check in on how I feel about endings - do i hold on too long and get stuck in the past or am i ready to let go. Kirsty Gallagher in Sacred Seasons suggests this visualisation
“Whatever you hold on to now you will take into hibernation, so visualise being in a cave for the next few months – would you want all that you have in your current life to be in there with you?”
Gallagher, Kirsty. Sacred Seasons: Nature-inspired rituals, wisdom and self-care for every day of the year (p. 169). Hodder & Stoughton. Kindle Edition.
Also another suggestion is to journal your thoughts or use tarot cards as a morning ritual
“Try including oracle/tarot cards in your daily ritual practice, either asking for guidance on anything you are struggling with or pulling a card each morning as a theme for your day.”
Gallagher, Kirsty. Sacred Seasons: Nature-inspired rituals, wisdom and self-care for every day of the year (p. 171). Hodder & Stoughton. Kindle Edition.
These themes from tarots cards can really help manifest the day, focus on moving forwards and eliciting your inner magic.
My Year Book also includes longer-term reflections, looking 3, 5, and 10 years ahead, helping me align my present actions with my future goals.
This period of reflection lasts until the Spring Equinox and into April roughly five-six months after Samhain, when light and dark become equal again. As nature begins to wake up, I use this as a check-in point to see how my goals are progressing. This cycle, from Samhain to the Equinox, mirrors nature’s hibernation and reawakening—like trees shedding leaves and beginning to grow again in spring. I honour this natural rhythm by balancing rest with action, preparing myself for renewal as the light returns.
Staying Active: Grounding Through Exercise
While wintering invites rest, staying physically active remains important, a practice that also ties back to Celtic traditions of honouring the body and the natural world. Samhain was a time to prepare for the hardships of winter—keeping the body strong to survive the darker months.
For me, this means balancing rest with movement. I continue swimming in the cold sea, which invigorates me and reminds me that life and the natural world continues even in winter. Walking in nature and practicing yoga also help me stay grounded, allowing me to connect with my body and the earth. This mirrors the ancient Celts’ reverence for nature and the elements - particularly water and earth - staying in tune with the world around them while embracing the slower pace of winter and honouring the cycle of seasons and embracing the cold as part of life’s ebb and flow.
Embracing the Social: Gigs, Films, and Winter Foods
The Celts, during Samhain, gathered for communal feasts to celebrate the harvest and prepare for the cold months. Feasting was a way of acknowledging both abundance and the scarcity to come, connecting with loved ones and sharing what had been gathered before winter set in.
In modern life, I celebrate this communal spirit by embracing the cultural and social aspects of winter. With festivals winding down, winter brings more indoor gatherings—gigs, restaurants, and cinema nights. The darker months are a perfect time to enjoy music, films, and social activities. These gatherings are my way of staying connected, much like the ancient Samhain feasts that brought communities together for warmth and celebration during the darker half of the year. I also embrace winter foods—gravy-based meals and hearty dishes—that comfort and nourish me, in line with the Celtic traditions of enjoying the harvest’s bounty before winter. Who doesn’t enjoy a super comfy jumper, a mug of mulled wine in front of an open fire. Embracing these moments help me to feel optimistic and embrace the season.
Conclusion
For me, Samhain is not just an ancient festival—it’s a way of living in sync with nature’s cycles. By honouring this time of transition, reflection, and renewal, I align myself with the natural rhythms of the earth and the wisdom of the Celts. Whether through wintering, staying active, embracing social connections, or reflecting on my goals in my Year Book, celebrating Samhain as my New Year allows me to prepare for the darker months ahead while holding onto the promise of light and renewal to come.
