The most common Samhain greetings are "Happy Samhain" and "Blessed Samhain," and either one is a warm way to mark October 31. Below you'll find how to say them, short greetings for cards and posts, the Irish way to wish someone a happy Samhain night, and 13 rhyming blessings to say out loud while you light a candle, set the table for your ancestors, or close a ritual.
How Do You Say Happy Samhain?
You say Happy Samhain as "Happy SOW-in," since Samhain is pronounced "SOW-in" or "SAH-win," not "Sam-hain." Our Samhain pronunciation guide has a short video if you'd like to hear it.
The greetings you'll hear most are these:
- "Happy Samhain!" This is the everyday greeting, friendly and fine for anyone.
- "Blessed Samhain." This one is common among pagans and witches, and it carries a little more of a sense of the sacred.
- "Happy New Year!" Many practitioners keep Samhain as the Witches' New Year, so a new year's wish fits the night too.
- "Blessed be." This is a traditional pagan greeting and farewell that works on any sabbat.
In Irish, you can say Oíche Shamhna shona duit, pronounced roughly "EE-ha HOW-na HUN-a ditch." It means "a happy Samhain night to you."
Do You Say "Happy Samhain" or "Blessed Samhain"?
You can say either "Happy Samhain" or "Blessed Samhain," and neither one is more correct. "Happy Samhain" is lighter and works for friends, coworkers, and social posts, and "Blessed Samhain" tends to come up in ritual, in cards to fellow pagans, and among people who keep the night as a sacred one.
If you're not sure whether someone celebrates Samhain, "Happy Halloween" is always a kind fallback, since the two holidays share the night. Our guide to what Samhain is explains how they're connected.
Samhain Greetings for Cards and Posts
These short Samhain greetings fit in a card, a text, or a caption. Use them as they are or change a word to make them your own.
- Happy Samhain! May your ancestors walk with you tonight.
- Blessed Samhain, and a happy new year to you and yours.
- Wishing you a warm hearth and a thin veil this Samhain.
- May the light you carry see you through the dark half of the year.
- Blessed Samhain to you and all your kin, the living and the gone.
- May your table be full and your ancestors feel welcome tonight.
- Happy Samhain! Here's to the people we miss and the stories we keep telling.
- Happy Witches' New Year! May the turning of the wheel bring you everything you're ready for.
- On this night when the veil is thin, may you feel close to everyone you love.
Samhain Blessings and Chants
These 13 Samhain blessings are written to be said out loud, alone or with others. Each one rhymes so it's easy to remember, and seven of them come with a short video of me reading them.
Ancestor's Embrace
As the veil thins, our ancestors near,
With their wisdom whispered in the seer's ear.
Blessings of Samhain, as we remember you,
Guide our paths, in all we pursue.
Cycle's Turn
As the Wheel of the Year takes its final spin,
Let the old pass away and the new begin.
Blessings of rebirth, as the dark takes hold,
In the cauldron's depths, let mysteries unfold.
Harvest's End
The fields are bare, the harvest in,
The long, dark half of the year begins.
For every gift the year has grown,
We give our thanks and bless our home.
Spirit's Dance
Spirits dance 'neath the moon's pale light,
Shadows play, reveling in the night.
Blessings of connection, of memories old and new,
May this Samhain night bring insights true.
Candle's Glow
By the glow of candles, our intentions set,
For love, for peace, for dreams soon to be met.
Samhain's light, guide us through the night,
To the dawning day and the sun's first light.
Wisdom's Call
Owls in flight and raven's cry,
Whisper secrets of the sky.
Blessings of knowledge, old and profound,
May this Samhain's wisdom be unbound.
Nature's Rest
As trees stand bare and flowers fade,
Nature retreats into winter's shade.
Blessings of rest, of introspective nights,
Recharge our souls for the coming light.
Fireside Warmth
By the fireside, stories are told,
Of brave deeds, love, and heroes of old.
Samhain blessings, as we gather close,
Cherishing the warmth, as the cold wind blows.
Protection's Shield
While spirits walk this Samhain night,
Keep this house in warmth and light.
Guard the door and guard the hearth,
And every step we take on earth.
Dreamer's Vision
In dreams tonight I'll travel far,
Beyond the moon, beyond the stars.
Let what I see be clear and true,
And bring me home when dreams are through.
Transformation's Power
From fallen leaves the new will grow,
As roots drink deep in the dark below.
What I release, I leave behind,
And carry forward peace of mind.
Love's Embrace
To loved ones lost, but never truly gone,
In our hearts, your memory lives on.
Blessings of love, undying and true,
This Samhain, we honor and remember you.
Circle's Seal
As we close our circle, hand in hand,
Blessings spread across the land.
May Samhain's magic, potent and deep,
Guard us safe, in wake and sleep.
How to Use a Samhain Blessing
You can say a Samhain blessing any time you want to mark the night: when you light a candle for someone you've lost, when you sit down to eat, or when you close a ritual. A few ideas:
- At an ancestor altar. Light a candle beside their photos and say Ancestor's Embrace or Love's Embrace. Our Samhain altar guide has ideas for setting one up.
- Before a dumb supper. If you're holding a silent meal with the ancestors, say one blessing before the silence begins. Our guide to the dumb supper explains how to hold one from the first candle to the last bell.
- With an offering. Say Harvest's End as you set out bread, apples, or a plate from dinner. Here are 13 traditional Samhain offerings.
- At the door. Say Protection's Shield as you light a lantern in the window or on the step.
- Before sleep. Say Dreamer's Vision if you'd like to remember your dreams on Samhain night.
- To close a ritual. Circle's Seal works well as the last words of any Samhain gathering.
Samhain Greetings FAQ
What do you say on Samhain?
On Samhain, people usually say "Happy Samhain" or "Blessed Samhain." Some also wish each other a happy new year, since many practitioners keep Samhain as the Witches' New Year.
Do you say happy Samhain?
Yes, "Happy Samhain" is a common and friendly greeting for October 31. "Blessed Samhain" is the other popular choice, especially among pagans and witches.
How do you say happy Samhain in Irish?
In Irish, you can say Oíche Shamhna shona duit, pronounced roughly "EE-ha HOW-na HUN-a ditch." It means "a happy Samhain night to you."
What is a Samhain blessing?
A Samhain blessing is a short verse said on Samhain to honor the dead, give thanks for the harvest, or ask for protection through the winter. Many are written to rhyme so they're easy to remember and say aloud.
What does "Blessed be" mean?
"Blessed be" is a pagan greeting and farewell that wishes the other person well. It's common in Wicca and modern witchcraft and works on Samhain or any other sabbat.
