Samhain (pronounced
SAH-win or
SOW-in[1] Irish pronunciation: [sˠaunʲ]) is a
Gaelic festival marking the end of the
harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "
darker half"
of the year. Traditionally, Samhain is celebrated from sunset on 31
October to sunset on 1 November, which is about halfway between the
autumn equinox and the
winter solstice. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with
Imbolc,
Beltane and
Lughnasadh. Historically, it was widely observed throughout
Ireland,
Scotland and the
Isle of Man. Similar festivals are held at the same time of year in other
Celtic lands; for example the
Brythonic Calan Gaeaf (in
Wales),
Kalan Gwav (in
Cornwall), and Kalan Goañv (in
Brittany).
Samhain is believed to have
pagan origins and there is evidence it has been an important date since ancient times. The
Mound of the Hostages, a
Neolithic passage tomb at the
Hill of Tara, is aligned with the Samhain sunrise.
[2] It is mentioned in some of the
earliest Irish literature and many important events in
Irish mythology
happen or begin on Samhain. It was the time when cattle were brought
back down from the summer pastures and when livestock were slaughtered
for the winter. As at
Beltane, special
bonfires were lit. These were deemed to have protective and cleansing powers and there were rituals involving them.
[3] Like Beltane, Samhain was seen as a
liminal time, when the boundary between this world and the
Otherworld could more easily be crossed. This meant the
Aos Sí, the 'spirits' or '
fairies',
could more easily come into our world. Most scholars see the Aos Sí as
remnants of the pagan gods and nature spirits. At Samhain, it was
believed that the Aos Sí needed to be
propitiated
to ensure that the people and their livestock survived the winter.
Offerings of food and drink were left outside for them. The souls of the
dead were also thought to revisit their homes seeking hospitality.
Feasts were had, at which the souls of dead kin were beckoned to attend
and a place set at the table for them.
Mumming and
guising
were part of the festival, and involved people going door-to-door in
costume (or in disguise), often reciting verses in exchange for food.
The costumes may have been a way of imitating, and disguising oneself
from, the Aos Sí.
Divination rituals and games were also a big part of the festival and often involved nuts and apples. In the late 19th century, Sir
John Rhys and Sir
James Frazer suggested that it was the "Celtic New Year", and this view has been repeated by some other scholars.
[4]
In
the 9th century CE, Western christianity shifted the date of All
Saints' Day to 1 November, while 2 November later became All Souls' Day.
Over time, Samhain and All Saints'/All Souls' merged to create the
modern
Halloween.
[5] Historians have used the name 'Samhain' to refer to Gaelic 'Halloween' customs up until the 19th century.
[6]
Since the latter 20th century,
Celtic neopagans and
Wiccans have observed Samhain, or something based on it, as a religious holiday.
[7] Neopagans in the Southern Hemisphere often celebrate Samhain at the other end of the year (about 1 May)
