For millions of Americans, the end of October means silly costumes, tons of candy and plenty of ensuing stomachaches.
But for many others, there is a deeper, sacred occasion separate from all the commercialization. Halloween always occurs around the same time as Samhain, a Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the start of the darker half of the year. Samhain (pronounced SAH-win) is celebrated by Pagans and practitioners of several pre-Christianity faiths.
Patrick and Diane DiPietro, who own Tintagels Gate at 505 Main St., observe the holiday. In addition to running their store — which specializes in medieval, magical and metaphysical supplies — they devote time to dispelling myths and rumors that plague their faith.
“To me, it means love and acceptance and personal growth,” Diane said. “This is not an easy path to take, in terms of faith. You really do need to walk your talk and put in the hard work.”
“We’re open to all religions and all factions,” Patrick said. “Most Pagans believe in God.”
Both are ordained reverends of Our Lord and Lady of the Trinacrian Rose Church in Salem.
Patrick explained Samhain is a time of self-reflection.
“It’s a time when the veil, as we call it, is at its thinnest. That’s the area between living and the people who have passed,” he said. “It’s a very important spiritual day to pay respect to your ancestors.”
Patrick DiPietro said Samhain is generally acknowledged on Oct. 31 (and some Pagans do celebrate it that day), though it varies every year based on lunar cycles. The DiPietros said they were celebrating the holiday on Oct. 28, with a “dumb supper,” which Patrick said is a feast eaten in silence to honor loved ones who have died. Diane said she looked forward to communicating with her grandparents, mother and aunt.
Patrick said his faith, which he refers to as “The Craft,” is often stigmatized in society. He stressed there is nothing evil about it — they don’t worship Satan and don’t cast spells on people.
“There’s good and bad in every religion. … Our rule is ‘Harm none,’” he said. “God is not a reason to fight. It’s a reason to get along and be inclusive … We teach spirituality and healing here.”
Patrick said he was raised Catholic and Russian Orthodox and was a Baptist when he lived in Maine. He first became enchanted with spirituality and meditation when he practiced martial arts to recover from a football injury that affected his shoulder. Diane said her faith has always been in her blood and she grew up seeing things that could not be explained.
There are different factions of their religion, but Patrick said they are Avalonian Celts. Patrick said his deity is Lugh (pronounced Loo) and Diane said hers is Brighid. But Patrick mentioned many people blend Christian and Pagan beliefs in something called Chraganism.
The DiPietros opened Tintagels Gate six years ago and expanded the store after the first year. The shop, named after a castle in the United Kingdom, sells everything from metaphysical stones and bulk herbs to incense sticks and books about Medieval times and literature. The varieties of stones include howlite (to aid in calm communication and the achievement of goals), ocean jasper (to relieve stress and worry, and encourage joy) and charoite (to provide insight).
The store also carries wands and ceremonial daggers called athames. Customers must be 18 or older to purchase athames.
Patrick said he also sells jewelry and Furrybones, Japanese-made figurines that resemble the skeleton characters from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” He said the figurines creep out some people, but are just misunderstood.
“Death is not a disgusting thing. Death is not an evil thing,” he said. “Death is something that happens when you live.”
Diane conducts tarot card readings at the store and she and her husband offer spiritual classes and house blessings. They also officiate at weddings, called handfastings. At a handfasting, two people in love with each other have their hands tied together — loosely enough so they can maintain their individuality, but firmly enough to acknowledge a shared journey through life. The expression “tying the knot,” meaning to get married, originated from these ceremonies.
More information is available at www.tintagelsgate.com or email: tintagelsgate@mass.rr.com or call 978-830-4611.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.
On Twitter: @DomenicPoli