Celtic Festival of Samhain

Celtic Calendar’s New Year Suggests Origins of Halloween

Oct 29, 2008

The Eve of Samhain, the 31st October, was an important fire festival for Celtic Peoples and the origin of many modern day Halloween customs.

The Celtic Festival of Samhain was a key point in the Celtic Calendar, marking the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. Celtic regions, including the north west of France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the west of England celebrated the time with fires, storytelling and rituals such as offerings to ancestors.

The Ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain

One the Eve of Samhain, the 31st October, ancient Celtic peoples believed that the veil between this world and other more mysterious realms was at its thinnest. This was a time at which creatures of the other world were at large. Witches would fly on their broomsticks, or ride on tabby cats transformed into black horses, around the countryside. Fairies and hobgoblins would also roam the earth, adding an extra air of glamour, and fear to the peasant population.

At this dark time of the year there was much divination to shed light on what the New Year would bring. Bright fires were lit local high points across the Scottish Highlands, and communities could become quite competitive over the size of their bonfires, competing with the neighbouring communities whose fires would be visible for miles around. Whoever threw a stone into the embers of the fire would learn whether they were “fey”, or destined for great misfortune in the year to come. If the stone lay broken, or was missing, in the morning then there was much to fear in the year ahead, whereas an intact stone was a promising sign.

Remnants of Samhain Today in Modern Halloween

The modern custom of trick or treating may be a continuation of the belief that such games would occur between the worlds of the living and the dead on the Eve of Samhain.

Bonfires are still lit to celebrate the end of October and beginning of November, although in England the custom has largely been transferred to Bonfire Night, when the English celebrate the foiling of the plot by Guy Fawkes to destroy the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Certainly on the Isle of Man, which remained a Celtic stronghold in ancient times while other regions fell to invading forces, the custom of lighting fires on Halloween continued into modern times.

In Roman Catholic Europe many people still remember their dead ancestors on All Saints Day, the first of November, by taking flowers, usually chrysanthemums, to decorate tombs and graves. It is considered indelicate in countries including France, to give chrysanthemums as a gift to the living for this reason.

So go ahead and celebrate Halloween and All Saints Day, knowing that you are continuing the ancient traditions of the Celtic Festival of Samhain, and that, after passing through the celebrations of the Winter Solstice will come the Celtic Festival of Imbolc, signaling the start of Spring.

References

The copyright of the article Celtic Festival of Samhain in Paganism/Wicca is owned by Joanne E. Brannan. Permission to republish Celtic Festival of Samhain in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Jun 1, 2009 4:29 PM

Guest :

In the above copy it states that European Roman Catholics remember their dead on All Saints Day, November 1st. It should be noted that All Souls Day, November 2nd, is the day Roman Catholics honor the faithful departed. All Saints Day is the day Roman Catholics honor the saints, it is also what is known as a Holy Day of Obligation (a day when one is required to attend Mass). Many people honor both the saints and the dead souls on the day they have to go to church. The Day of the Dead, El Día de los Muertos in Mexico, celebrates All Soul's Day.

Jun 1, 2009 8:49 PM

Joanne E. Brannan :

Many thanks for your interesting comment. Indeed, both days include customs concerning departed loved ones. In particular, on All Saints Day in many European Countries people visit the graves of loved ones.