“…a feast for life and a greater feast for death!” AL II:41
The Dumb Supper is an old Victorian tradition that comes from the peak of the spiritualist movement in the late 19th and early 20th century Europe. Traces of dining with the dead go back for a millennia and can be found in the Celtic, Scandinavian, Saxon, Southeast Asian, and Mexican peoples.
The Wiccan tradition of the Dumb Supper (also called the “Red Meal” in Traditional Witchcraft) consists of a potluck dinner that is eaten in complete and total silence. Each person should bring a dish that is either important to your family or a favorite food of a beloved deceased person. Once all the food is prepared and everyone is seated, the meal commences in silence at the toll of a bell. During the time of silence, you may eat your meal and then commune with the spirits of your beloved ones if you finish early.
After the supper, we’ll lighten the mood by celebrating the Halloween season with music and fun.
Please bring:
- A dish to share: The favored food of one who has passed on, or a food traditional to your family or culture.<\li>
- Wine if you plan to imbibe.
- Photos and/or mementos of your beloved dead for the ancestor altar
Suggested attire: Black robes preferred but general all-black attire is ok, too.
