{"id":23108,"date":"2020-10-23T15:41:22","date_gmt":"2020-10-23T04:41:22","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.airtasker.com\/blog\/?p=23108"},"modified":"2024-03-18T19:24:39","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T08:24:39","slug":"samhain-diy-ideas-recipes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.airtasker.com\/blog\/samhain-diy-ideas-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"Samhain DIY ideas & recipes to try this October"},"content":{"rendered":"

Samhain has nothing to do with the type of scares you\u2019re used to. It\u2019s not the \u201cDemon Voice Recorded In My Basement\u201d, or \u201cReal Scary Ghost Caught on Tape\u201d, or even \u201cMiley Cyrus\u2019s Wrecking Ball\u201d. This is Samhain, and it\u2019s some real ancient spooky stuff.<\/p>\n

In this article, we’ll explore the true meaning of Samhain, and uncover 10 Samhain DIY ideas and tasty recipes to make this October totally exciting, fun, and memorable!<\/p>\n

What is Samhain?<\/h2>\n

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Samhain pronounced,\u00a0 Sow-en, is the beginning of winter and the Pagan New Year. It’s known as the festival of death. To explain, it\u2019s the time that death surrounds us in nature, leaving the land barren and leaves falling from trees. It\u2019s also the harvest of death when farmers would slaughter cattle and preserve the meat to last through winter months.<\/p>\n

In Wicca, the God of light descends into the Underworld on Samhain opening the doorway to the spiritual world. Samhain stands as a time to remember loved ones we have lost and give thanks to our ancestors. Sure, it\u2019s a time for ends, but it\u2019s also a time for new beginnings.<\/p>\n

It falls on Halloween night, the spookiest of all, and is considered the end of the Celtic<\/a> year. On Samhain night at Australia, we stand at the space between seasons, and in the heightened magic that connects the realms of the living, and the dead.<\/p>\n

Halloween is an ancient programme based on the ancient pagan Celtic druid satanic ritual<\/a> – aka, Samhain. It was practised by occultists and witches. They would carve scary faces in pumpkins, wear freaky costumes and masks to scare away \u2018\u2019ghost spirits\u2019\u2019 that are thought to have been departed from their graves, making it \u2018the festival of the dead\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n

Ok we don\u2019t know how true that last one was but, pretty scary, right?<\/p>\n

Samhain DIY ideas and festive decorations<\/h2>\n

Now that we know the meaning of Samhain, let\u2019s find out how to make your home super spooktacular first with DIY ideas and festive decorations.<\/p>\n

Install wallpaper decals<\/h3>\n

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So it\u2019s the time of year when (according to Samhainains), the world is dying. As morbid as it is, why not take advantage of of the Samhain rituals and get in touch with your darker side through some festive decoration?<\/p>\n

If you like to be inside more often, it’s the perfect opportunity to get into the festive spirit and freak out your family. Wallpaper decals<\/a> are a great way to decorate your home with minimal damage or effort for wallpaper installation and removal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To get into the Samhain spookiness hang scythes, skulls, and grave rubbings on the walls, along with some other symbols of death.<\/p>\n

Fill your baskets & bowls with harvest foods<\/h3>\n

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It\u2019s shopping time! Get out there and grab some baskets and bowls<\/a>. Head home and fill the baskets with harvest foods, from the grocery store<\/a>, such as apples, corn, gourds, and miniature pumpkins.<\/p>\n

Once the healthy stuff is taken care of it\u2019s time for the sweets! Fill the bowls with any type of sweets you can imagine. A good Samhain DIY idea is to invest in a florists wire, and hang them on the walls of your home.<\/p>\n

Even when Samhain is finished, you can still use the harvest food decorations to come up with some amazing recipe ideas!<\/p>\n

Paint that pumpkin!<\/h3>\n

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Pumpkins are staple halloween decoration<\/a>. From recipe ideas, spiced beverages, and jack-o\u2019-lanterns, festive decoration, everyone knows that autumn and pumpkins are practically synonymous.<\/p>\n

You might not know, though, that this is the perfect time to let your crafting skills shine, and completely transform your pumpkin into that bright orange seasonal staple.<\/p>\n

If you have very young children, you can allow them to paint rather than carve. They will probably get more enjoyment out of the painting and painted pumpkins usually last longer than carved ones. Once done, you can place them at the door to spookily greet visitors.<\/p>\n

Set up your outdoor decorations<\/h3>\n

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When Samhain comes, the slightest wisp of your imagination is able to transform otherwise ordinary creepy crawlies into terrible, hair-raising monsters. Therein lies the thrill of trick or treating.<\/p>\n

Now, don\u2019t get me wrong, candy is still definitely important, but what lasts in your memory of Halloween is not the sweets so much as the setting in which they were offered.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of ways to show off your creativity t0 your neigbours. Black wreaths, mounted broomsticks, wheelbarrows, and straw men are a great way to show the street your spooky side.<\/p>\n

Honour the ancestors<\/h3>\n

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When Samhain comes, you can make a Samhain altar or a small shrine in order to honour your ancestors, or turn it into a festive decoration for an entire ancestor altar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re aware of your family history, you can turn your family tree into an altar cloth. You can even hang photos of your deceased family members in a place of prominence. In some traditions, the photos used are adorned with a black cloth as a symbol of honour.<\/p>\n

Festive Celtic recipe ideas<\/h2>\n

Since Samhain is such an ancient practice, there aren\u2019t that many “traditional” recipes that are still in use, but there are still so many options to keep the holiday spirit. Samhain recipe ideas can focus on autumn produce that will soon become scarcer. These dishes can be shared with family, friends, and even your community.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s check out some delicious festive Celtic recipe ideas because as it turns out, the witch CAN be bribed with chocolate. But, if you’re short on time, you can also hire a private chef<\/a> to whip up these great dishes\u00a0 with ease.<\/p>\n

Let’s dive in!<\/p>\n

Colcannon<\/h3>\n

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A traditional Irish dish – Colcannon. This was most likely eaten during Samhain celebrations, due to potatoes being in season.<\/p>\n

Colcannon is super easy to make and doesn\u2019t require much effort. It\u2019s made with a base of creamy mashed potatoes, and cooked greens which are typically cabbage, however, you\u2019re also able to use spinach or kale. Add some onions and voila! You\u2019re presented with the delicious Colcannon recipe idea.<\/p>\n

This recipe idea is truly perfect for a cold evening around the bonfire.<\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n