Things You'll Need:
- traditional "underworld" food. This can be elaborate or simple. Some examples of underworld food are chocolate, black olives, beans, pork and red meats.
- Optional decor, such as black cloth for table, candles, pumpkins for carving, pictures, or memoirs of loved ones, and any other thing you see fit to decorate with.
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Step 1
Decide when you want to celebrate the feast. Most of the time, we like to go trick or treating, enjoy costume parties, etc. on Halloween. Traditionally Samhain falls on Nov. 6th. I find this date particularly convenient because I can take the time to enjoy a "Halloween night" and the fun that ensues. This also gives you a little more time to plan, and still be in the spirit of the season. I even think it's fun to even have a Halloween/ Samhain week :) However, if you are set on Halloween and chose to incorporate this feast into your celebrations, that would be fun too! It's all up to you.
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Step 2
Decide who it is you want to honor, what you would like to eat, and how elaborate, or simple you want to make it.
You may keep the person(s) and pet(s) simply in your mind and heart, or you may even place a few items on the table that remind you of them. Another option is to decorate the table, or even parts of the home with pictures, and items. Cover your table with black cloth, light candles, carve jack o' lanterns and place in window seals to light their way home and invite good inside.
Traditionally the foods are ones that are considered underworld food. These foods include (but are not limited to) black olives, dark chocolate, nuts, pork and other red meats, pumpkins, corn, beets, squash and other root crops, apples, gingerbread, mulled cider, or mulled wine (red wines are more traditional), mushrooms, pomegranates, and all grain. -
Step 3
Decide how you want to invite your ancestors, loved ones who've passed, etc. into your home. You may do this by simply burning sweetgrass, the plant of sending and receiving love, and asking them to join you this night. You can find sweetgrass in many occult shops, and shops that simply provide incense. It is usually sold in braids. If you want to be more elaborate you can cast a circle, and formally do as you will. There are also some wonderful Samhain incense recipes online if you wish to compile your own. You can simply google "traditional Samhain incense"
and you will find several wonderful results. -
Step 4
Decide how you wish to honor your ancestors during the supper. If you are having guests, it is wise to make a collective decision on how everyone agrees to celebrate. Some chose to not speak during their supper because this gives time for reflection, and remembrance. It is also derived from the old belief that the dead cannot physically "speak" as we do now. At this time you may receive imagery, or even words from your loved ones in your mind and heart. This is not at all unusual, and is a very typical way our passed ones will speak with us. If you choose to observe this way, this is called the "Dumb Supper" Dumb meaning obviously the lack of speech. You may also wish to tell stories to each other about the loved ones, and remember them that way. This can also be done with the cup of remembrance. The cup of remembrance is simply a goblet of wine or glass of cider, etc. that is passed around the table from person to person. You may choose to recite some of your lineage, and where you came from ( I am Jane the daughter of... and so on) or you may simply chose to tell a story about a loved one or a few if there aren't many guests. Afterwards, take a drink of the cup, and pass it on to the next person. When you are done, the cup sits with the ancestors plate. If you choose to observe this way, This is simply observed as the Feast of the Dead. I find it works better with a crowd, especially if you have children, and the dumb supper works better for a solitary. But either way is fine, and if you have a group that is able to observe silence, it could be lovely. There is no wrong here, again let it come from the heart.
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Step 5
Prepare your food (s) depending on how simple, or elaborate you would like to be. Remember there is no "right" or "wrong" level of cooking, the importance here is that you are taking time to remember the people you loved. You may even sit down simply with olives and bread, and be in remembrance. Do what feels good to your heart. If Aunt Fanny or Uncle Jim had a particular dish they enjoyed, and it doesn't "fit the list" of underworld food, but feels right for you to cook it, go right ahead.
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Step 6
Serve the plates. Traditionally you will set a plate for your ancestors, and loved ones. You may set a place per person/pet, or you may simply have one dish that is collectively representative of all your passed loved ones. You will always in respect, serve the ancestors plate first. They get everything that you get, but you may make the portions smaller if you wish, or if you simply don't have much.
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Step 7
Say prayers if ye will, eat and observe the way you chose to enjoy your meal with your loved ones. After you may play games, or even choose to do divination and talk with your loved ones. Enjoy your meal! ^-^
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Step 8
Leave the ancestors plate out overnight, by setting it outside, or leave it on the table, inviting them to stay the night over, protecting and sending you good dreams. With the morning light or whenever you arise the next day, take the time to take it out to the woods and give the food to the spirits, and back to the earth.
Comments
PrincessZelda said
on 10/17/2009 Fantastic article! It was very informative about the day of the dead too, it kinda makes me want to celebrate it too, in honor of those who passed on. It's funny how soooooooooo many people get Halloween/Samhain mixed up with evil and such. It's just a day where we honor our deceased loved ones :)
quiquiq said
on 10/1/2009 Fantastic article! Thanks so much for all these wonderful and meaningful tips. I can't wait to celebrate this year, and with your guide I feel much better prepared.
staysik said
on 2/17/2009 My mom is from Mexico, so Dia de los Muertos has always appealed to me in spiritual and the artful ways.
Blackinkheart said
on 1/5/2009 Wow! That is amazing ^_^ , and indeed day of the dead is a nice holiday invitation for them to fill up as much space as they please! I would love to see those pictures! I'll bet you were excited I know I would've been!
sneedc said
on 1/4/2009 This year this holiday brought more meaning to me, as In photos we were able to see "orbs" or spirit life caught on film totally filling every space imagineable outdoors during our festivities. WILD? SO now I know why it's called day of the dead. FOR they really come out in droves. NO LIE. GREAT article, 5* and recommendation!