Dumb Supper

Since I'm new at all this, I thought I'd write down my experiences.  So far, I find myself drawn to something very natural.  What I mean is, I've started making things I find out in the countryside or in the garden.  I don't feel drawn to exotic or rare ingredients. Furthermore, I've started to think about an outdoor altar, but I don't know how that is going to workout.  Nonetheless, I do feel a strong draw to the wheel of the year.  While learning about Samhain, the next festival, which is in a few weeks, I learnt about the dumb supper and really liked the idea. 

My plan for this years dumb supper sometimes called a silent supper is as follows:

• Write out an invite list of friends and pets past on and then burn it and see the smoke as a postal service to the otherworld. 
• I bought some black dinnerware especially for the occasion. The dinnerware and tableware should be all black if possible.  
• Incense sticks for after the supper. 

The supper plan

I learned the the supper is in reverse order, so dessert is served first and starters are after the supper. It is customary to set a place for the ancestors at the table and eat the supper in silence; hence, the turn 'dumb supper'.  The idea is to invite those relatives and pets past on, which is why we set a place at the table for them. 

To start: Homemade apple and pumpkin crumble with homemade pumpkin ice-cream.

For the main: Juicy marble vegan steaks with mash potato and green beans.

To finish: olives and pineapple chunks on sticks.

Later, I have some sweets and vegan sausage rolls because I'm bound to feel hungry again after drinking some wine. That is also when I plan to spent to not only remembering those passed on, but look at the photos I have of them.  I might even share some photos with other living relatives. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of my Nan and Pop or my cat, which is hurting me so bad. 

What I learnt about Samhain this week

Samhain takes place at the end of October and the beginning of November, which is the midpoint between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice.  I also learned that Samhain, like the other festivals, has its own set of colours. These colours are orange and black. The dinnerware is black, the tablecloth is meant to be black, but I couldn't find one that I could afford.  I did, however, find black napkins, so i did my best.  The dinner is meant to be by candle light, but I can't find any black vegan candles, so I will have to do with out.  It is worth noting, that the supper is held at this time of the year, because it is said that the veil between this world and the otherworld is at its thinnest; thus, allowing for communication between the two worlds to take place. In other words, the ancestors can cross over for the supper and communicate with us. Is is a serious business and no laughing matter; we we love and miss our relatives and pets and long to be with them again.  Personally, I like to seek guidance from the ancients about customs since the Romans destroyed a lot of evidence of old Britain and the celts didn't leave much in the way of writing.  Perhaps, this is why I started using Orgham in my witchcraft. As of yet, I still feel that it is unsafe to talk openly about witchcraft in the UK.  

The connection to Halloween, All Hallows Eve. 

I've seen some connection to the two festivals, but they are different in some ways. Halloween is a christianisation of Samhain; thus, excludes any attempts to communicate with the dead or invite them in. Halloween is more about sweets and dressing up while Sahmain is more about remembering lost loved ones and pets.  While the dumb supper is I big part of Samhain and is in silence, Halloween is more about a happy, loud party where kids go out trick or treating while dressed up as monsters. The two seem worlds apart to me and I would even go as far to say that Halloween is more about mocking Samhain. While reading about Samhain, whereas some see it as a 3 day festival that starts at sunset 31st of Oct and ends at sunset on the 2nd of Nov, Halloween is just on one evening on the 31st of Oct. 

Hopefully, with with my new black dinner plates, black side plates, black bowls and black napkins and invites, I will have do enough to make the ancestors feel safe and welcome enough to attend the supper. I did have a lot of fun learning about this wonderful festival and I really think I will have a great time.