Samhain is a Wiccan and Pagan festival on October 31st that marks the end of the harvest, the beginning of winter, and the Celtic New Year. It is a time of deep spiritual significance, as the veil between the living and the dead is believed to be thinnest, allowing for communication with ancestors. Celebrations often include bonfires, feasting, and rituals to honor the deceased, such as creating altars and holding "dumb suppers" in silence.