The Origin of Halloween

        Sometimes I feel like what I'm going to write about in this blog post is common knowledge, but I forget that not everyone is into Halloween (or Samhain, pronounced sah-win) as I am. Even though I was born in a country where it wasn't widely popular, I have celebrated Halloween one way or the other for as long as I can remember. So, I don't think it's a coincidence that I now live in the country of its origin and can just climb sacred hills or go to old forests and immerse myself in modern versions of ancient rituals. Before I go into detail about the origin of my favourite holiday, I feel the need to write a longer disclaimer about the accuracy of the information I will present here.

     This blog post captures widely accepted details about the history and traditions of Samhain and Halloween, reflecting a synthesis of scholarly research, folklore, and well-documented Irish customs. However, guaranteeing complete accuracy on topics like ancient festivals can be challenging, as much of what we know about early Celtic practices is derived from a combination of historical records, archaeology, and folklore, which can contain gaps or interpretations.

     Historians rely on sources like The Annals of the Four Masters, writings from early Christian scribes, and archaeological finds, but much of Celtic spirituality, including Samhain rituals, was not written down contemporaneously. Instead, it was preserved orally and later documented by Christian scribes who may have interpreted or altered aspects to align with Christian perspectives. Consequently, some details about Samhain reflect a blend of fact, interpretation, and educated extrapolation based on available evidence.

        For these reasons, while the information is as accurate as current scholarship allows, it’s essential to recognise that some of the deeper or symbolic interpretations of Samhain remain informed by tradition, folklore, and historical analysis rather than strictly empirical records.

The Ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain

    Born in Ireland, Samhain marks the end of the harvest. Recent research suggests the term may derive from Proto-Celtic samoni, meaning "assembly" or "reunion", related to words in Old Norse and Sanskrit signifying "together". Samhain was one of the four major Celtic festivals along with Imbolc, Bealtaine, and Lughnasa. Celebrated from sunset on October 31st to sunset on November 1st, Samhain was much more than a seasonal transition; it was a gateway into the world beyond. This liminal time signified the thinning of the “veil” between the mortal and the spirit world. The Celts believed that on this night, spirits of the deceased and supernatural beings roamed freely among the living. For the Celts, Samhain wasn’t about fright or horror. Instead, it was a time for gathering and honouring the ancestors who had come before, a powerful celebration of the cycle of life and death.

The "Otherworldly" Tradition

    To prepare for the night of Samhain, ancient Irish families would extinguish their hearth fires to represent the coming of winter’s darkness. They would then gather with their community at a central bonfire, often on a sacred hill or a site with Druidic significance. There, they performed rituals of protection and thanks for the harvest. Flames were believed to ward off evil spirits, and the lighting of communal fires represented a fresh start for each family, as they relit their hearth fires with flames from the sacred bonfire to bring warmth, light, and protection back into their homes.

    But it wasn’t just spirits that made an appearance. The Aos Sí, or "fairy folk," roamed freely as well. In the folklore of the Irish, these beings were more mysterious than malevolent, often acting as protectors of the land. However, they could be mischievous, and to avoid any unwanted interference, the Celts left offerings of food and drink for the Aos Sí and their ancestors. These offerings were left on doorsteps, creating the roots of the “treats” we know in modern trick-or-treating.

Costumes and Masks: Hiding in Plain Sight

    The origins of Halloween costumes trace back to Samhain as well. The Celts believed that by dressing in costumes or wearing masks, they could disguise themselves from wandering spirits or the fairy folk who might play tricks on the unwary. This act of dressing up wasn’t about looking “scary” in the modern sense, but rather about blending in with the Otherworld. Often, the costumes were made from animal skins and heads, or painted with ash from the sacred bonfires. Such outfits may have appeared ghoulish but served a purpose—helping the living pass undetected through a landscape crawling with spectral visitors.

From Samhain to Halloween

    As Christianity spread across Ireland, the church attempted to Christianise pagan celebrations by aligning them with religious holidays. Samhain was no exception. The church declared November 1st as All Saints' Day, or "All Hallows," to honor saints and martyrs. The evening before became known as “All Hallows’ Eve,” which later morphed into “Hallowe’en,” before settling into the Halloween we know today.
    In the mid-19th century, Irish immigrants brought Halloween to the United States, along with its unique blend of superstition, reverence, and merriment. There, Halloween found fertile ground in American soil and transformed from a modest celebration into the highly commercialised holiday we recognise today, complete with costumes, candies, and decorations galore.

The Rise of Jack-o'-Lanterns

    No Halloween celebration is complete without jack-o'-lanterns, but their roots are distinctly Irish. Originally, the Irish carved turnips and placed a burning ember inside to create a ghoulish face. This tradition was based on an Irish folktale about “Stingy Jack,” a crafty blacksmith who managed to outwit the Devil himself, thus cursing his own soul to wander in the dark forever. With only a hollowed-out turnip and a coal to light his way, Jack’s story gave birth to the “jack-o'-lantern.” When Irish immigrants arrived in America, they found the local pumpkins much easier to carve, and a new Halloween symbol was born.

A Festival of Darkness—and Light

    Samhain is often seen as a celebration of darkness. Yet, in truth, it is a festival that brings light into the winter months ahead, a way to honour both life and death. Here in Ireland, some of us still light small bonfires on Samhain night and offer prayers for those who have passed on. It’s a time to reflect on the past, to honour ancestors, to let go of what no longer serves you, and to connect with the land and its rhythms.

    While Halloween today may seem like an odd cocktail of sugar, pop culture, and scares, its roots remain firmly planted in Ireland’s ancient festival of Samhain—a celebration of community, of mystery, of the seen and unseen, of light and shadow, and of the ever-turning wheel of the year. So, as you carve your pumpkin, light a candle, or don a costume, remember you are partaking in a tradition thousands of years in the making.