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My Samhain Dumb Supper Tradition

Every year on Halloween, precisely midnight, we hold a Dumb Supper. It is, by far, my favorite tradition of the year. This post illustrates a breakdown on how I celebrate and honor my ancestors during this magical time.

  My Tradition

Table Setting:

Technically, everything should be black on the table.  I break this rule and use primarily black, white and silver. It's a little hard to find every single thing (including silverware) in black. Black is the color of comfort and death, but also immortality, which is why it is used. I also use fine china & decorate the table in pumpkins and other fall festive items. I serve food in Italian terracotta pots that look very similar to cauldrons. The last couple of years I've used a beautiful table cloth adorned with spider web designs.  At the head of the table, I set a place for the invisible guests. I have a beautiful and eerie black chalk board with a black frame around it that I prop up on the seat in front of the table setting. 

Date and Time:

The Dumb Supper is held on Halloween at midnight because this is when it is believed that the veil between the living and dead is the thinnest. November 1st - 12:00am. 

Guests:

 I always invite guests who I believe will get the most of out the experience. I invite family and friends, those who are open minded and who understand why I do this ritual. I invite people I feel comfortable showing my witchy side to. I ask each guest to choose one invisible guest to bring with them, and an accompanying photo. 

Pre-Dinner:

Around 11:45 I begin to prepare for the dinner. I sage the house thoroughly and I open all the windows and doors to allow our invisible guests in. I set a freshly carved Jack-o-Lantern outside the front door to ward off negative spirits. I turn off all the electricity and light candles on the table. I welcome in my guests and tape the photos of their invisible guests to the black board at the head of the table. 

The Dinner:

At midnight, I serve dinner. Traditionally, a Dumb Supper is completely silent, as dumb means silent. But, during my dinner, everyone takes a turn introducing who they brought and tells us a little about their life and what they meant to them. It's a night of remembrance, connection, celebration, sadness, grief and closure. 

Post Dinner:

When dinner is finished, I pass out small pieces of special paper and a pencil to each guest. We then write a message to our loved one. Using a pot, we place each note in the pot and burn them. With this special paper, when you light it, it floats off and disappears. It's a beautiful way to end the dinner and send off a special message to your ancestor. When we are finished, I sage again, close all the windows and doors and turn the electricity back on.