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Apr 6, 2018 · Samhain is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. In modern times, Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow‑win”) is usually celebrated from October ...
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It was also the festival of Samhain, who may or may not, depending on the source, have been the god of the dead but who remains a favorite of modern witches, neo-pagans, and fans of Walt Disney’s 1940 film Fantasia. On October 31, the last night of the old year, spirits of the deceased were thought to roam the land, visiting their loved ones, looking for eternal rest, or raising hell.
- Carving Jack-o’-Lanterns. The tradition of carving Jack-o’-Lanterns originated in Ireland using turnips instead of pumpkins. It is allegedly based on a legend about a man named Stingy Jack who repeatedly trapped the Devil and only let him go on the condition that Jack would never go to Hell.
- Seeing Ghosts. The festival of Samhain marked the transition to the new year at the end of the harvest and beginning of the winter. Celtic people believed that during the festival, spirits walked the Earth.
- Wearing Scary Costumes. In order to avoid being terrorized by all the evil spirits walking the Earth during Samhain, the Celts donned disguises in order to confuse the spirits and be left alone.
- Trick-or-Treating. There is much debate around the origins of trick-or-treating, but generally there are three theories. The first theory suggests that during Samhain, Celtic people would leave food out to appease the spirits traveling the Earth at night.
Oct 3, 2023 · Samhain traditions were initially only celebrated by diaspora communities in North America, but later spread further throughout the population. Once they became part of the American mainstream, they mixed with seasonal traditions of other communities - such as those of All Saints’ Day or Mexico’s Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead - to form the Halloween we know and love today.
- Ancient Times: Halloween Begins as Samhain. Samhain was celebrated with fires, dancing and costumes.& nbsp; Ancient Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, marked Samhain at the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice.
- 10th Century: Samhain Is Christianized. In the 7th century, the Catholic Church established November 1 as All Saints' Day, a day commemorating all the saints of the church.
- The Middles Ages: Trick-or-Treating Emerges. Trick-or-treating has become an integral part of Halloween. In England and Ireland during All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day celebrations, poor people would visit the houses of wealthier families and receive pastries called soul cakes in exchange for a promise to pray for the souls of the homeowners’ dead relatives.
- 19th Century: Jack-o-Lanterns Take Shape. The practice of carving faces into vegetables became associated with Halloween in Ireland and Scotland around the 1800s.
Oct 30, 2023 · It is believed that today’s Halloween traditions were also influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic-speaking countries, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which is still celebrated in some places and has pagan origins. Samhain is celebrated on 1 November, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, or “the darker half” of the year.
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Oct 30, 2018 · Samhain, the fire festival that marked the beginning of the dark half of the year, is situated between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. ... In Jack Santino’s Halloween in America ...
