Every witch and her dog (or should that be little black cat?) is gearing up for Halloween this week, otherwise known as Samhain and All Hallows Eve… but what if I told you that you’re all barking up the wrong broomstick? It’s actually Beltane!
Yep, any Aussie witch worth her Himalayan Salt will know that while Halloween over in the States falls on October 31, in Australia, it’s actually at the start of the year. Which makes sense since we’re different hemispheres, right?
So when is the actual Halloween in Australia and what on earth have we been celebrating all these years on October 31?
As PEDESTRIAN.TV’s very own resident witch (and deputy editor), I am going to answer all your spooky questions…
What is Halloween and do we celebrate it in Australia?
While popular culture has led you to believe that Halloween is a commercial holiday that’s all about sweet treats and carving pumpkins, it’s actually an incredibly sacred day with ancient origins.
Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”), which was believed to have pagan roots and is celebrated in modern times by witches alike.
It’s the third and final harvest festival of the year and falls on October 31st in the Northern Hemisphere as it represents the end of autumn and the beginning of winter.
It’s also believed that on this date, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead are at their thinnest and spirits will walk the earth for one day only — hence the tradition of dressing up in spooky attire.
The Charmed Ones on Halloween 2024. (Credit: Charmed)
When is the real Halloween in Australia in 2024?
Here in the Southern Hemisphere, Halloween actually falls on April 30!
October 31st is still a sacred date, but it ain’t Halloween — it’s actually the date of another Sabbat (a witchy word for celebration or sacred day), known as Beltane, which I will get to in a mo.
With that said, many local witches prefer to stick to the U.S. date and celebrate Halloween anyway and that’s totally fine, too! These aren’t hard and fast rules — just pieces of tradition and ancient wisdom that I am now passing on to you.
Go with your gut, use your intuition, etc. Whatever works for you, my witchy boos.
What is Beltane?
Glad you asked!
Beltane is a pagan holiday that celebrates the energy of life. The name “Beltane” derives from the Celtic God “Bel,” meaning “the bright one,” and the Gaelic word “teine,” which translates to “fire,” “Bright Fire” or “Good Fire”.
It comes from Irish and Scottish traditions — as well as the Roman festival Floralia, which honours the Goddess Flora. It celebrates nature, fertility, and the aforementioned crossover between worlds of the living and the dead.
So in a way, it is kind of similar to Samhain, only it actually sits on the exact opposite end of the Wheel of the Year, as Beltane honours Spring (while Halloween is all about Autumn) and acts as a celebration of life, abundance, and the power of Mother Nature, plus fertility and sexuality.
An altar built by the witches of The Craft can be mimicked for Halloween 2024 / Beltane. (Credit: The Craft)
Rituals for Halloween and Beltane
So, you’ve put the lollies, chocolates and pumpkins away… what exactly do you do now? (Well, maybe not the lollies and chocolates… they are both sacred and necessary on any damn day!)
Here are some rituals you can perform on Beltane to mark the day…
Divination
As our connection to the spirit world is at its greatest on this day, try using any form of divination to help receive messages from the universe. What is divination, you ask? It’s any form of fortune-telling, basically. Whether that’s a tarot, angel or oracle card reading, numerology, tea leaf reading, or whatever your preferred method may be.
The tarot reading in the latest episode of Agatha All Along — just in time for Beltane / Halloween 2024! (Credit: Disney+)
Build a Beltane altar
Celebrate Beltane by crafting an altar in its honour!
Some items to drape across your altar could include: fresh flowers, anything green, lilac or yellow, candles, crystals, honey, oats, milk, antlers, horns, fruit (ideally cherries, mangos, pomegranates and peaches).
Maypole dancing
A very popular Beltane tradition is maypole dancing, which involves crafting a maypole with gorg ribbons of the aforementioned colours. You and your coven would then dance around the pole, weaving the ribbons in patterns to symbolise your connection as a group and to celebrate bountiful springtime.
Create flower crowns
As it’s the celebration of spring and flowers are essential, why not tap into 2013 Lana Del Rey Tumblr era and create beautiful flower crowns to wear for the evening. These beautiful accessories aren’t just nostalgic, they’re also a celebration of nature.
Good news, flower crowns are back! Celebrate Beltane by crafting a flower crown with your coven. Then, you can use it as a Halloween 2024 costume! (Credit: Lana Del Rey / “Born To Die”)
Eat with friends and family
It is a celebration, after all, so celebrate by enjoying a merry feast with friends and family. Recommended meals include fruits and vegetables to celebrate spring (ideally asparagus, strawberries and other spring fruit and veg). Other Beltane dishes include oat cakes and honey cakes. Yum!
And that’s everything from me! Now you’ll know what to say when your mates ask when is Halloween in Australia.
Blessed be, witches. Happy Halloween, Beltane, or whatever it is you choose to celebrate on Halloween 2024.
Meanwhile, head here to read your November horoscopes 2024 and suss what’s going on with Scorpio Season.
Matt Galea is the Deputy Editor of PEDESTRIAN.TV, as well as our resident astrologer who penned your November horoscopes 2024. You can find him on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
The post When Is Halloween 2024 In Australia & What Is Beltane? An Actual Witch Answers Ur Spooky Questions appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
