Samhain

is a holiday celebrated primarily by those of Wiccan and neopagan descent from October 31 to November 1.
==Background==
===Pre-War===
In the years before the war, the American government began to crack down on any seditious material or groups that could lead to social unrest within the United States; this included many hippies, beatnik, and alternate religious groups due to the often vocal opposition to the American Government and Military. Due to this, the Unamerican Activities Force began to conduct raids on many groups of oppositional groups. However, one of the more enduring opponents was the Wiccans. Due to their religion's close ties to nature, many members of the Wiccan faith began to take direct action against the "powers of destruction" in the world, sabotaging logging and mining equipment that would threaten former national parks. More radical covens took up arms against those exploiting and polluting the environment committing acts of murder against those viewed as the source of the destruction. Because of this, Wiccan and neopagan groups built communal homes and camps in deep secluded areas such as forests and the mountains away from the watchful eye of the Unamerican Activities Force either to live in peace or to plan further campaigns.
==Post War==
Many of these secluded covens were spared from the nuclear hellfire and ventured back into the shells of the former cities finding many dying and wounded among the destruction. The Wiccan groups would go on to aid as many as they could, using natural remedies grown from their secluded communes to supplement the increasing lack of pre-War pharmaceuticals. Because of the altruism, many survivors flocked to the Wiccans to seek aid and began settling communities near their communes for townships. In these townships, the Wiccans would often spread the teachings of their religion to those who would listen, which due to the popularity of the group was a high amount. Through this, the traditions and culture of the Wiccans were spread, including the increased celebration of their Sabbats (seasonal festivals), which included Samhain, or as it became more commonly spelt, Sawin or Sawn.
==Associated Traditions==
In the days and weeks leading to the end of October, many families begin to prepare pickles, jams, and other jar-based items intended to remain edible for long periods as well as jars of purified water. Then on the night of the 31st, there will be a large community bonfire(s) intended to mark the coming winter. By the light of the bonfires, families will begin going house to house gifting or exchanging the prepared jars intended to help survive the coming winter, including Yule until Imbolc. This exchange is a reminder of the mass starvations during the Glowing Winter and how many communities survived due to the cooperation and shared beliefs.
==Observation==
While not observed by a majority of the wasteland, this culture of exchange and gifting of supplies lead to the dissemination of various remedies of Wiccan origin across the United States through travellers and merchants who have taken part in these traditions, with those often not knowing of the recipes' origins, including those of Healing Powder and Fiery Purgative.
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