Samhain – The Irish Origins of Halloween
Explore the ancient Celtic origins of Halloween, Samhain, and how it has shaped Halloween traditions all over the world.
Cรฉad Mรญle Fรกilte – and welcome to your Letter from Ireland for this week. On our journey over the past two weeks across North America, we were struck by the sight of Halloween decorations adorning so many homes amidst the vibrant autumn tree foliage. This spectacle served as a reminder that we’re approaching that mystical time when the boundary between our world and the Otherworld grows thin. So, with Halloween on the horizon – a festival rooted in the Celtic “Samhain” – I’ve decided to dedicate my letters over the month of October to exploring this captivating celebration from the Celtic Calendar.
I’m sipping on a steaming cup of Barry’s tea as I write, and I invite you to join me with your own favourite brew as we explore the fascinating origins of Halloween in ancient Irish tradition.
The Ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain.
Long before Halloween “Jack-o’-lanterns” and “trick-or-treating”, there was the festival of “Samhain” (pronounced “sow-in” – where “sow” rhymes with “cow”). This ancient Celtic festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year. Samhain was celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1 and was one of the four major festivals on the Celtic calendar.
For our ancestors, this was a time when the boundaries between the world of the living and the world of the dead became blurred. Many believed that on Samhain, the ghosts of the dead could more easily come back to our world. While this might sound frightening, it wasn’t seen as a bad thing. It was a time to honour our departed friends and family, but also a time when the presence of otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Celtic priests, or Druids, to make predictions about the future.
Our ancestors had many traditions associated with Samhain that you might recognise in modern Halloween celebrations. For example, large bonfires were lit on hilltops. These fires were thought to have protective and cleansing powers. There would also be great feasts for the end of harvest, where the bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into the flames of the bonfire. Another tradition was the wearing of costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins. This was thought to disguise our ancestors from the otherworldly spirits roaming about. The Druids practiced various forms of divination, as the thin veil between worlds made it an ideal time for predicting the future.
From Samhain to Halloween.
As Christianity spread through Ireland and other Celtic lands, the Church looked to replace pagan festivals with Christian observances. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a day to honour all saints. The evening before All Saints’ Day became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which later evolved into Halloween.
However, many of the old Celtic traditions persisted, blending with the new Christian observances. This combination of old and new is a hallmark of Irish culture, where ancient traditions often underlie more recent customs.
Over time, Samhain evolved into the Halloween we know today. Many modern Halloween traditions have their roots in the ancient Celtic festival. For example:
- Trick-or-treating may have origins in the ancient practice of “souling,” where people would go door-to-door asking for food in exchange for prayers for the dead.
- Jack-o’-lanterns come from the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil and was condemned to wander the earth with a hollowed-out turnip to light his way. When Irish immigrants came to America, they brought this tradition with them, substituting the more readily available pumpkins for turnips.
- Halloween costumes. As previously mentioned, these are a modern interpretation of the Celtic tradition of disguising oneself to hide from spirits.
While Halloween is celebrated in Ireland today much like it is in other parts of the world, there’s still a strong connection to the old Samhain traditions. Many Irish people still call Halloween “Oรญche Shamhna” (pronounced “ee-ha how-na” – Eve of Samhain). Bonfires are still lit in many parts of the country, and traditional games like bobbing for apples are played.
In recent years, there’s been a renewed interest in celebrating Samhain in a more traditional manner. The Hill of Tara, an ancient Celtic sacred site, hosts a yearly Samhain celebration that draws thousands of visitors.
So, as you celebrate Halloween this year, remember its roots in the ancient Irish festival of Samhain. Whether you’re carving a pumpkin, dressing up in a costume, or simply enjoying the autumn evening, you’re participating in a tradition that stretches back thousands of years in ancient Ireland. How about you? Do you have special celebrations for Halloween? Do share your own Halloween traditions with us in the comment section below.
That’s it for this week,
Slรกn/Bye for now,
Mike.
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