Editor's note: A previous version of this story showed mis-information regarding witchcraft and paganism. We are sorry for any upset caused. 

As the clocks tick nearer to the Hallowe’en witching hour, newly released data confirms that the number of Satanists, witches and pagans who are practising in Pembrokeshire has increased significantly.

According to the census figures, six people have said they are practising Satanists within Pembrokeshire, which means they worship or venerate Satan, also commonly known as the Devil or Lucifer.

However further analysis suggests that the word ‘Satanism’ is often used as a metaphor for people who question authority and reject mainstream religion.

Seven Pembrokeshire residents have selected witchcraft as their religion, while a total of 34 locals have selected Wicca as their religion in the 2021 census. 

But the greatest increase is in the number of pagans who are practising within the county, which has seen a sharp rise of 32 per cent, bringing the pagan total to 273.

Pagans view the world as a place of joy and life, not of sin and suffering and believe that the divine can be found in the natural world.  They tend to be earth conscious and hold a deep reverence for nature and the earth. 

Halloween, which has roots in paganism, originated from the Celtic celebration of Samhain that marked the end of summer and the beginning of the winter. Celts believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred on this night.

Celtic priests would build bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

Eventually, the influence of Christianity spread into Celtic lands and All Saint's Day was created, incorporating some of the original pagan traditions. To celebrate the days, people would light bonfires, throw parades and dress up as saints, angels and devils.