The Magic of Samhain – Where Halloween Truly Began

Spectacular Autumn Sky

As the light fades earlier each evening and the air carries that unmistakable chill of late October, there’s a shift that feels almost otherworldly. The leaves turn to gold and russet, the fields lie bare and the scent of woodsmoke drifts through the glen. It’s a season that hums with old stories, when the veil between worlds thins and we gather close around the fire for warmth, light and food that feeds the soul.

Since childhood, I’ve always known this time by what I call the scent of Samhain. The air feels different as the festival approaches, sharper, more alive somehow. There’s a sense of expectation, a quiet thrill that seems to ripple through the countryside. It’s as though the whole landscape is holding its breath between the end of harvest and the long sleep of winter. The feeling is hard to name, but I’ve always recognised it: that tingle in the air, the first crackle of the fire and the promise of stories yet to be told.

Enjoying the falling leaves

Before Halloween became a night of costumes and sweets, it was Samhain, one of the four great Celtic fire festivals marking the turning of the year. Celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for over two thousand years, Samhain signified the end of harvest and the beginning of winter a time to honour the ancestors, to prepare for the darker days and to feast from the bounty of the land before the long sleep.

In olden times, people would light great bonfires on hilltops, casting out the old year’s energy and inviting blessings for the next. Families feasted on dishes made from the final harvest grains, root vegetables, and preserved fruits and left offerings of food and drink for the spirits who might wander through on that liminal night.

Here in the Scottish countryside, I still feel that quiet magic in the air. When I return from a walk through the woods with Bella and Bracken, cheeks flushed and fingers tingling,  the scent of something gently bubbling on the stove welcomes me home. Samhain is less about spooks and tricks and more about gratitude, reflection and connection. It is the connection to the land, to the people who came before and to the comfort of a warm kitchen filled with good smells and soft candlelight.

Candle with Autumn Berries

So this year, as Halloween approaches, I invite you to mark Samhain in your own way light a candle, share a meal with loved ones, bake something from the harvest, and remember that the simplest rituals can carry the deepest magic.

Colcannon Soup with Crispy Leek Topping

A twist on an old Irish favourite, this comforting soup takes all the heart of colcannon buttery potatoes, earthy cabbage and a hint of onion, it turns it into a velvety bowl of autumn comfort. Perfect for when the mist rolls in and you crave something simple and soulful.

Serves: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes

Garnishing Colcannon Soup

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 
  

  50g butter

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 leek, washed and sliced (reserve a few rings for garnish)

• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

• 600g potatoes, peeled and diced

• 500ml good vegetable or chicken stock

• 250ml milk

• ¼ small Savoy cabbage, finely shredded

• Salt and black pepper

• A knob of butter for frying the leeks

Method

1. Melt the butter in a large pot and gently cook the onion, leek, and garlic until soft but not coloured.

2. Add the potatoes and stock, bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer for 15–20 minutes until tender.

3. Add the milk and shredded cabbage and cook for another 5 minutes until the cabbage is tender.

4. Blitz with a hand blender until smooth (or leave slightly chunky for a rustic finish). Season well.

5. In a frying pan, heat a knob of butter and fry the reserved leek rings until crisp and golden.

6. Serve the soup topped with the crispy leeks, a drizzle of cream, and a good crack of black pepper.

Simple, honest, and pure comfort in a bowl — perfect for those dark Samhain nights.

Spiced Apple Cake

Spiced Apple & Oat Crumble Cake

At Samhain, apples symbolised wisdom and were used for divination — remember bobbing for apples? This cake is a celebration of that tradition. It’s part crumble, part cake — soft, warmly spiced, and perfect with a cup of tea or a splash of cream.

Serves: 8

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 150g butter, softened

• 150g light brown sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 200g self-raising flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ½ tsp nutmeg

• 3 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

For the crumble topping:

• 50g butter, chilled and cubed

• 75g plain flour

• 50g oats

• 50g soft brown sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin.

2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.

3. Sift in the flour, baking powder, and spices, and mix gently to combine.

4. Spoon half the mixture into the tin, layer with sliced apples, then top with the remaining batter.

5. For the crumble, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs, then stir in the oats and sugar. Scatter evenly over the cake.

6. Bake for 40–45 minutes until golden and a skewer comes out clean.

7. Cool slightly before slicing and serving warm.

It smells like the best kind of memory — cinnamon, butter, and apples in the air. A slice of autumn to share with friends or keep all to yourself.

A Few Samhain Kitchen Rituals

• Light a candle as you cook — a small nod to the fires that once burned on Celtic hillsides.

• Set an extra place at the table, even symbolically, to honour those who came before you.

• Bake or simmer something that fills your home with the scent of apple, spice, butter, smoke.

• Step outside for a moment of quiet, take the time to listen to the wind in the trees, the call of a distant owl, the whisper that says the year is turning.

Samhain reminds us that endings and beginnings are often the same thing — a cycle, a story, a promise. And what better way to honour that than through food — made with love, shared with others, eaten by firelight.

Celebrate the season with me at Meg’s Scottish Kitchen where every recipe tells a story. Explore more autumn recipes, cosy supper ideas and my latest cookbooks, perfect for this magical time of year.

Here’s to warmth, memory, and the quiet magic of home.

With love,

Meg x

Meg’s Scottish Kitchen

Share your Samhain table! Tag @megsscottishkitchen with your Halloween bakes