~ many modernised celebrations of Halloween — children (and some adults) trick-or-treating, costumed parties and rites to connect with and honour the spirit world – have roots within the myriad interpretations of samhain ~
these interpretations and/or gnosis can result from many sociological or theological theories, from scholarly materials or from spiritual connection with deity and nature. The following articles have ‘queer-ified’ aspects of samhain, deepening their meaning and spirituality to the individual and community
and even those who don’t consider themselves pagan but still adorn themselves in elaborate costumes, beneath all the body paint and glitter, the celebration of halloween by the LGBT community has roots in queer-ifyed samhain traditions and magick
the role of the sacrificed youth at samhain: an article discussing the death aspect of Samhain in relation to tragedies experienced within the LGBT community
. . . many who practice the Old Ways mark Samhain with rituals designed to honor the dead. My own altar bears pictures of ancestors going back four generations. I fete them silently with blood red wine, rich dark bread, apples, nuts and flowers. Pomegranates and dried leaves lay scattered across the altar’s surface, while candles and incense burn to call the dead to feast. For the past five years I have included another photo on my altar that of a young man who I never met in life, yet who represents something spiritually primal to me.
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samhain, with robin herne: a short commentary on sexual and gender identities, and Samhain
. . . embracing sexual identity into ritual can become a source of spiritual fulfilment and growth. For those who have struggled with self-identity, there is a death and rebirth in refuting the fear and disgust of centuries past and revelling in ones sexuality as a source of joy, pleasure, and pride; a gift rather than a curse. All of which seems peculiarly well-suited to Samhain.
halloween: a more history-focussed article from 2011, discussing both samhain and its modernised festival of halloween, in relation to the LGBT community
. . . halloween is an annual folk event held on or around October 31 for celebrating masquerade, fantasy, and horror. Originally a Celtic pagan observance of deeply serious intent signifying a time when the dead visit the living, Halloween was co-opted by early Christian missionaries to Northwestern Europe. Having lost most of its terrifying aura, Halloween became principally identified as a festival for youth and young adults. But in recent decades, Gay people and their allies have made Halloween a Gay festival as well, when individuals in LGBTQ venues are free to perform alternative personas, drag is the norm, and elaborate costume displays are taken into the streets without fear of harassment.
for additional information about halloween and samhain in the LGBT community, please visit this previous post
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~ in addition to a magickal night where the veils between the worlds are at their thinnest and ghosts cross over to spend time with loved ones, samhain (as halloween) has become a night where fantasy and freedom abound ~
perhaps the most looked-forward-to aspect of halloween night is the chance to create an unique costume that shows off one’s individuality and personality
this article features great halloween costume ideas for lesbian couples, such classics as marcie and peppermint patty from peanuts, superheroines, and any of the game of thrones warrior-esses
and for the solo-going lesbian, AfterEllen has put together a collection of fifteen lesbian-themed halloween costumes, such as dark willow from buffy the vampire slayer, sailor neptune from the anime sailor moon, and santana lopez from glee
and lesbians don’t get to have all the fun — Gay.net has a slideshow of nineteen couple costumes for the guys, from the classical superheroes to mario and luigi
