Where Ancient Lore Meets Modern Magic: Samhain and The Witch's Rebirth Series

As the nights grow longer and a chill fills the air, we often find ourselves drawn to tales of the supernatural. But many of our most beloved Halloween traditions have roots far deeper, stretching back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It’s this rich tapestry of Celtic lore and autumnal mystery that forms the heart of Michaela Riley's captivating "The Witch's Rebirth Series."

Set in the historically fertile ground of Septimania, Gaul (modern-day France), Riley’s series plunges readers into the extraordinary journey of Merona, a witch whose story literally rises from the ashes. Tried for witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1500 AD Copenhagen, Merona is reborn under a celestial sky at a mysterious labyrinth in 478 AD Septimania. If that doesn't set a hauntingly perfect tone, what does?

The Ancient Roots of Samhain

Bobbing for Apples on Samhain

Samhain, celebrated around the end of our modern October, was a pivotal moment in the Celtic year. It marked not just the end of summer and the harvest, but a period of profound uncertainty – a time when revelers genuinely worried about the extinction of life itself as winter approached. To coax the sun deity back, ancient Celts lit colossal bonfires, their flickering flames a beacon through the encroaching darkness. Apples, symbols of life and regeneration, were tied to evergreen branches, another hopeful sign amidst the stark landscape.

Crucially, Samhain was also believed to be a time when the veil between worlds thinned, when barriers to the Underworld were temporarily suspended. This made it a period of heightened spiritual power, where divination was thought to be especially potent – a perfect backdrop for the mystical events unfolding in Riley's Septimania.

Bobbing for Apples: A Divination of Love

Among the most enduring Samhain traditions, still beloved today, is bobbing for apples. While now a festive game, its origins are steeped in ancient courtship rituals and divination. Legend had it that the first person to bite into a dangling apple would soon be walking down the aisle, a playful yet serious game for divining future romantic entanglements.

The apple's significance extends deeply into Irish mythology. It's not just a fruit; it’s a symbol of life, knowledge, and immortality. For instance, the formidable sea-god Manannán Mac Lir is said to rule Emain Ablach, or "Emain of the apple trees," a paradisiacal island where apple trees miraculously bear both fruit and blossoms simultaneously.

Intrigued by Manannán Mac Lir? His stories, along with a wealth of other Celtic lore and crucial mysteries about Merona’s first birth, are woven into "Spear of Lugh: The Witch's Rebirth Part III" – a must-read for any fan of ancient myths and compelling fantasy.

Michaela Riley’s "The Witch’s Rebirth Series" masterfully bridges the gap between these ancient beliefs and a thrilling contemporary narrative. By centering her story around all things Samhain in a historically rich setting like Septimania, Riley beckons readers to explore the magic that lurks within our oldest traditions. Dive into a world where history, myth, and rebirth collide.

Ready to uncover Merona's full story and immerse yourself in the depths of Celtic magic?

Read "The Witch's Rebirth Trilogy" by Michaela Riley and get your copy today!