By Chris McGowan
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First tagged by Zubo
Customer tags: halloween stories, festivals, halloween, samhain, pagans, all hallows eve, the wicker man, irish traditions, druids, celtics
Review & Description
Halloween's roots lie in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on a full moon around November 1. Samhain was the most important of the Celtic fire festivals, or holy days, because it was the start of the New Year. The harvest had ended, the last crops had been picked, and a chill was in the air. The dark half of the year was beginning. On the night of Samhain, the Celts believed that the souls of the dead were restless, on the move, and could cross over into the world of the living. The Catholic Church's All Saints Day and All Souls Day celebrations (together called Hallowtide in England) eventually absorbed Samhain, and its eerie atmosphere continued in the night called All Hallows Eve, later altered to Halloween. When Irish immigrants arrived in great numbers in the 19th century, Halloween came with them and the restless energy of this harvest festival and “mischief night” found expression in new surroundings. Today, Halloween seems to be evolving into a masquerade night with a spooky backdrop. Yet elements of its pagan past and medieval heritage live on.Halloween's roots lie in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on a full moon around November 1. Samhain was the most important of the Celtic fire festivals, or holy days, because it was the start of the New Year. The harvest had ended, the last crops had been picked, and a chill was in the air. The dark half of the year was beginning. On the night of Samhain, the Celts believed that the souls of the dead were restless, on the move, and could cross over into the world of the living. The Catholic Church's All Saints Day and All Souls Day celebrations (together called Hallowtide in England) eventually absorbed Samhain, and its eerie atmosphere continued in the night called All Hallows Eve, later altered to Halloween. When Irish immigrants arrived in great numbers in the 19th century, Halloween came with them and the restless energy of this harvest festival and “mischief night” found expression in new surroundings. Today, Halloween seems to be evolving into a masquerade night with a spooky backdrop. Yet elements of its pagan past and medieval heritage live on. Read more
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