The Dumb Supper
The dumb supper - or silent supper - is an old Halloween ritual that was once common. Today it's mainly performed by modern pagans and those wanting an atmospheric addition to a night of Halloween revelry! Even if you don't believe in spirits and seances, you might consider holding a dumb supper as an idea to introduce a unique, spooky element to your Halloween celebrations.
What Is A Dumb Supper?
The dumb supper is a nighttime meal eaten in silence as near as possible to midnight at Halloween.According to old beliefs, the veil between worlds was thin on the night of Halloween. This is why evil spirits and demons could cross into our world. However more benign spirits could also find their way through with a little assistance. The dumb supper was intended to encourage the appearance of such a spirit, very often that of someone recently deceased. In some ways it was like a "no frills" seance!
How To Hold A Dumb Supper
There's no single "right" form of dumb supper ritual, there are a huge number of regional variations on the basic method. The only common thread is that of silence throughout the meal. If you're attempting to contact a particular spirit then everyone should be aware of the person concerned. Photographs or other memorabilia can be placed on the table or around the room. Remember that you're trying to encourage the spirit to cross over, so consider using things that bring back happy memories.An empty place is often set for the departed.
Other elements of ritual that are sometimes used in the Halloween dumb supper include: eating by candlelight; the use of black crockery and/or napkins; eating the courses in reverse order.