Samhain Fireside Gathering

The Samhain Fireside Gathering takes place at The Salisbury Centre on Saturday 31 October, a fireside session drawing on the folklore and traditions of Scotland, Ireland and the wider Celtic world to mark Samhain. In the Gaelic calendar, it's the turning of the year and the beginning of winter, when the harvest gives way to the darker months and the boundaries between the familiar and the unknown grow thinner. It's a time to remember those who came before and to find warmth in one another.

There's a bit for you to bring along if you fancy it. You're invited to bring a carved turnip or pumpkin lantern — a traditional feature of Hallowe'en in Scotland — and something to offer at an altar for the departed. There's also a call for a small cultural offering to share around the fire: a song, a poem, a story, a riddle or an instrument. It's an open invitation, so you can contribute as much or as little as you like.

No previous experience or knowledge of Pagan traditions is needed, and the evening is open to all ages. It's a gathering rather than a performance, with the fire at the centre and the folklore of the Celtic world as the starting point. If you've got a story or a song you've been sitting on, this is a good place to let it out.

Doors open at 5:30 PM and the fire is lit at 6:00 PM, with the session running until 8:30 PM. It's by donation, and because spaces are limited, booking is advised to guarantee your entrance. You'll find it at The Salisbury Centre, 2 Salisbury Road, Newington, Edinburgh EH16 5AB.