Celebrate Samhain October 21st in Nashua, NH

This October, witches and wise folk from across New England will gather in Nashua, New Hampshire for the 13th annual Celebrate Samhain festival.

The longest-running event of it’s kind, Celebrate Samhain is a celebration of the Pagan holiday of Samhain (sow-when) – the ancient Celtic festival honoring the final harvest and ancestors past. Often referred to as the ‘witches’ mardi gras’, it is a time of celebration before the onset of the dark, cold months of winter.

Situated between the “light half” and “dark half” of the year, the veil between the mortal and spirit realms was believed to be at its thinnest at Samhain, making it an auspicious time to honor and make contact with ancestors and those who have passed. The wave of Irish immigration in the 1800’s brought many of the traditions associated with Samhain to America. Over time, these practices morphed into the uniquely American holiday known as All Hallows’ Eve – or Halloween.

This year’s Celebrate Samhain features a number of noted author presentations and magical workshops to get you in the spirit of the season and enhance your practice. Browse must-have wares offered by the finest mystical vendors and artisans in New England – from crystals and cloaks, oils and unctures, jewelry and books, to must-have ritual and decorative items. Discover what the future holds in store with a reading from a gifted intuitive – from palm and tarot readers, to mediums and psychics. Be enchanted by songs of myth and magic by a Celtic chanteuse; laugh and sing along to the bawdy tunes of a minstrel troupe; and be captivated by the grace and movement of a traditional belly dancer.

Highlights include presentations by:

• Best-selling author and witch, Raven Grimassi. Author of 20 books on Wicca and Witchcraft and recently voted “One of the 25 Most Influential Pagans” by Patheos, Grimassi's most recent release is “Communing with the Ancestors: Your Spirit Guides, Bloodline Allies, and the Cycle of Reincarnation”.

• Druid Priestess, master herbalist, and author Ellen Evert Hopman. Author of a dozen books and DVDs, Hopman will be leading a panel discussion featuring subjects of her latest book, "The Real Witches of New England: History, Lore and Modern Practice".

• Witch, healer, teacher, author and co-founder of The Temple of Witchcraft (Salem, NH) Adam Sartwell. Sartwell's latest release is "The Blessing Cord: Meditations on the Blessings of the Qabalah and the Elements".

• Best-selling author, international speaker, teacher, "psychic sledgehammer" and spiritual catalyst, Dr. Kevin Ross Emery. Dr. Kevin will be speaking on Coming Out of the Closet – taking back our power and coming out of whatever closet we have been forced into.

• Author, crystal healer, and educator, Dr. Skye Stephenson. Stephenson is the creator of "Crystal Companion Cards: Messages from the Stones and a Star". Stephenson will be presenting Obsidian: Dark Portal Stone of Power and Protection – discover uses for obsidian as a divinatory mirror and as a healing tool par excellence.

Other presentation include Poppet Making by herbalist and witch, Susan Marie Coté; Divining with the Dead by psychic medium and witch, Danielle Dionne; Honoring the Ancestors through Storytelling and Writing by witch and high priestess, Robbi Packard, and The Energy Body: Dreaming and Enchantment by witch and cunning man, Jeffrey Cerneson Coté.

Entertainment includes live performances by traditional belly dancer, Akasha; songs of myth and magic by recording artist, Jenna Greene and her band; and madrigal a capella group,Myschyffe Managed. More acts are expected to be confirmed as the date approaches.

In addition, intuitive readers – among the finest in the region – will be on-hand for one-on-one personal readings. Discover what the future holds in store! Choose from tarot readers, palm readers, psychic mediums, or specialty divination system readers.

Concluding the day will be an open ritual honoring those who have gone on before, led by Wiccan high priestess, Lyrion ApTower and high priest, Raven ApTower of the Granite Tower coven (Wilton, NH).

Admission is $10 with donation of a non-perishable food item (or $12 without) and grants access to all the day’s events, entertainment, and vendor rooms. Food donations will be made to the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter.

Celebrate Samhain will be held on Sunday, October 21 at the Courtyard Marriott Nashua, located at 2200 Southwood Drive, Nashua, New Hampshire from 10am-6pm. Admission for the day’s events is $10 with donation of a non-perishable food item or $12 without. Children under 12 are free. Donations will be made to the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter.

Visit www.CelebrateSamhain.com  and Facebook at: NHSamhain for more event information and up-to-date news