Samhain at The Burrow - A Family Celebration

Come and spend an autumn afternoon with us in the woods for our annual family Samhain celebration.

We'll gather around the fires, make our Samhain Burrow Butter, drink warm mulled apple juice, carve out time for stories and remembrance, and watch The Burrow change as the afternoon light fades and the pumpkins begin to glow.

Samhain at The Burrow has always been something we create together. This isn't a sit-back-and-watch event. Bring a pre-carved pumpkin for our display, add a log to the fire, take a turn stirring the cauldron, share a story or song if you'd like to, and spend some time with other people around the fire.

There'll be our interpretation of apple bobbing, mask-making, music, fires, and plenty of time to simply enjoy being together.

As darkness falls, we'll gather around the campfire for a story.

We'll finish at 5.30pm, so families who want to head off afterwards can carry straight on with their Halloween evening.

This isn't intended to be a historically accurate recreation of Samhain. It's our own Burrow celebration: an evening outside in the autumn darkness, gathered with other people around fire, food, story and music.

The Burrow exists to create opportunities for people to come together, and this event is very much about community. Ticket prices simply cover the costs of putting the evening on.

Come wrapped up warm, bring the family and join us around the fire.

Dress for the Occasion

Feel free to embrace the spirit of Samhain with a costume or mask. This tradition comes from ancient Celtic beliefs that at this time of year the veil between worlds was thin. People wore disguises to blend in with - or ward off - wandering spirits, while honouring their ancestors.

Stories, Songs & Ceremony

We have some Samhain tales and songs to share, and you’re warmly encouraged to bring your own. Think magic, bonfires, and protection from dark spirits (but keep it child-friendly!). We’ll also come together for a short traditional Samhain ceremony to honour our ancestors.

Pumpkin Display

Bring along a pre-carved pumpkin to add to our glowing display. This modern twist on the ancient Celtic tradition of carving turnips keeps alive the magic of warding off spirits with light and faces.

Remembering Loved Ones

We’ll have a remembrance space where a symbolic place will be set for those who have passed. You’re invited to write the names of loved ones on our remembrance sheet, creating a moment to honour and connect with them.

For the Kids

This is a time to honour our beloved ancestors and connect with the wisdom of those who have come before. Storytelling, poetry, and music will fill The Burrow, as we pay tribute to the spirits who walk among us. Expect apple-bobbing, and mask-making - activities passed down through generations.

Samhain Burrow Butter

Throughout the afternoon, a cauldron will simmer over the fire, filled with apples we’ve gathered locally, apple juice, and warming spices. This is our own take on the old autumn tradition of “black butter,” but with roots planted here, in our land and community.

Everyone is invited to take a turn stirring the pot as stories and songs weave around the fire. It’s a slow, collective act, a reminder of how our ancestors gathered, prepared food, and shared in the work of the season. By the end of the day, we’ll have our own Samhain Burrow Butter to taste together.

About Samhain

Samhain (pronounced "sow-in" or "sow-ane") is an ancient Celtic festival. Its influence spread throughout Celtic-inhabited regions and eventually became part of broader English customs. Samhain marked a period when the boundary between the physical world and the spirit world was believed to be at its thinnest, allowing spirits and the souls of the dead to mingle with the living. It is traditionally celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1, roughly halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, or the "darker half" of the year.

Samhain is traditionally a communal time, where people gather to celebrate the harvest and perform rituals to protect against harmful spirits. Bonfires are a central feature of these celebrations, believed to offer protection during the cold and dark months ahead. People wear costumes and masks to confuse and ward off malevolent spirits.

With the spread of Christianity throughout England, Samhain traditions blended with Christian observances like All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). This fusion is Halloween, now widely celebrated across England. Many familiar customs, like wearing costumes, carving pumpkins, and trick-or-treating, trace back to these ancient rituals.

In contemporary English culture, Halloween is celebrated with the same practices, making it a reflection of both ancient Celtic and Christian influences. Samhain is still celebrated by Pagans and Wiccans, marking a time to honour ancestors, contemplate the cycles of life and death, and prepare for the introspective winter months. While the original spiritual meanings may have evolved, the influence of Samhain continues to shape modern traditions in English culture.

So, gather your courage, don your guise, and join us at the Burrow for a Samhain celebration that will ignite your senses and connect you to the timeless wisdom of the ancients. Don't let this enchanting opportunity slip away - book your tickets now!

The Burrow is just under 3 miles from Farnham Train Station.

Due to our public liability insurance

- The Burrow is a strictly no alcohol space.

- There is a ⁠strict limit on numbers, please ensure you only come with a pre booked ticket.

Tickets

Abundant Ticket Adult £11 Child £8
For those who are able and inspired to give a little more. This ticket helps support others to attend at a lower cost and sustains the work we do at The Burrow. Includes full access to the event.

General Admission Adult £9 Child £7
Standard ticket covers the cost of the event fairly and supports our community gatherings.

Concession Adult £8 Child £6
A reduced-price ticket for those who need it - whether you're a student, on a low income, or otherwise unable to pay the full rate. We trust you to choose the option that feels right.

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.

The Burrow

We started in April 2024 to provide a space for people to come together to heal, transform, connect and celebrate.

Most of our events have holistic wellbeing in mind, all guided by skilled facilitators. We have had some wonderful workshops, including gong meditations, a women’s authenticity workshop, 5rhtyhms, wheel of the year celebrations, and Inipi ceremonies. Every month, I (Juliet) facilitate a fireside chat, where we commune around the fire with a specific topic and engage in conscious conversation for a couple of hours.

We have CIC status, which is designed for businesses that aim to benefit the community, rather than private shareholders. CICs are a form of social enterprise, where profits are generally reinvested into the community or used to support the company’s social mission. In time, we hope to get funding to improve the facilities, which will make some events easier during the rainier months. Every ticket you purchase gets us a little closer to our bigger plans.

If you’d prefer to keep off socials (I would!) the best way to get information is to “follow” The Burrow on here to be notified of any new events. We also have a website http://theburrowfarnham.co.uk .

Contact the host of Community Samhain at The Burrow - A Family Celebration