People who in modern society identify as "witches" are people who carry on the tradition of folk magic. It is not a religion or belief system per se; it is a practice and is either highly individualized or built on practices that are handed down in an hereditary lineage. Despite the myth about witches and Halloween, there is not necessarily a de facto connection between the two. However, many but not all, modern witches are also neopagans. Neopagans recognize and celebrate Halloween as Samhain--a period in the Celtic/Anglo/Teutonic yearly cycle that was the last harvest of the year (specifically the time that animals were slaughtered for meat to feed the clan through the winter). It was a time to honor those who had died and also reflect on
