Samhain

Previously, I wrote about the upcoming Pagan festival day, Samhain, and how the emphasis is on honoring one’s ancestors. After posting that, a friend asked me a simple but important question. Nowadays, when many people don’t make it a practice to ritually honor their ancestors, how is that done? How can we ritually honor our ancestors?  

(Note: I use the word “ancestor” loosely in this post. These don’t have to be family. They can be close friends who have passed, for example.)

Dumb Supper

One method is called the “Dumb Supper.” The word “dumb” here is an archaic way of saying silent, as will become apparent later. 

There is no required menu for a Dumb Supper. Some make Soul Cakes (visit here for a good recipe). However, any dish will suffice. If you have a specific ancestor in mind, I would recommend using their favorite dish if they had one.

Some recommend decorating the table in black. Black tablecloth, plates, and so forth. If you don’t have such, nearly every Halloween and party supply shop is loaded with them. However, black is not necessary. It is important to ensure each seat is fully stocked with salt, pepper, and so forth, whatever the color, so that no one feels the need to ask for something during the meal. As you set the table, there should be one seat at a place of honor where no one sits. This seat is for the ancestor(s) that you’re honoring.

The area should be designated as a sacred space. This can be by invocation, prayer, incense, or other methods. This can be done before or at the start of the supper. All phones should be silenced, and radios/ televisions turned off. If you’re hosting a Dumb Supper, you may want to remind the participants of the need for silence before it begins.

How it concludes depends on the host. One way is when each person finishes, that person sits quietly. Then the host silently motions that all may leave the table simultaneously. 

Alternative Ritual

If a Dumb Supper is impractical, something as simple as pausing to focus on the memory of an ancestor works also. If you have a photo, place it on a table, possibly next to a candle. After lighting the candle, speak from the heart. Express any feelings of gratitude. 

Conclusion

Samhain isn’t an alternative to Halloween. While Halloween started as a Christian holy day, for many, it’s now a secular festival without religious implications. So feel free to enjoy some spooky Halloween fun after your Samhain event. Life goes on despite our losses.

(The website Learn Religions was my source for a Dumb Supper.)