From October 31st to November 1st Celts are set to celebrate the religious festival of Samhain, a holiday where the barrier between the living world and spiritual world are opened.
Samhain (pronounced Sow-win) has quite an extensive history behind it and has taken on many forms, with roots traveling back from ancient times, the Middle Ages, and modern-day celebrations.
At first, the pagan holiday lasted three days and three nights, taking place between the fall equinox and winter solstice. Families let the fires in their homes burn out while they collected harvest. Once harvest was completed, the community would join Druid priests to light the community fire on a wheel. When lit, the wheel was meant to symbolize the sun which the community prayed around and brought fire back into their homes.
The Middle Ages marked an interesting period for Samhain. Instead of a community fire to mark the success of a bountiful harvest, these bonfires, or Samghnagans, were now meant to act as a protector to families from fairies and witches. Notably, this is when the first jack-o-lanterns, carved turnips, not pumpkins, started to appear.
This time period also marked the significance Samhain has with the connection between the living and spiritual worlds. Families would hold a supper that acted as an invitation for their deceased ancestors as a way to interact with them.
It wasn’t until the 5th century, that Catholic popes attempted to reconstruct the holiday. Samhain was now meant to honor the lives of saints and martyrs. It went from having a fall celebration month to being celebrated in May. However, it wasn’t until the 9th century that Samhain was moved back to the month of November and became two Catholic holidays, All Saint’s Day (November 1st) and All Soul’s Day (November 2nd).
Now in the present day, Samhain has merged with Halloween after being introduced by Irish immigrants in the 19th century. Many Halloween traditions, trick-or-treating-, pumpkin carving, and mischievous pranks, all originated from the Celtic heritage on the nights leading up to Samhain. And while most of these traditions are carried out by children, Celts in earlier centuries believed that fairies and other supernatural forces were behind it!
There are those from the Pagan religion that are reconstructing Samhain to bring it back to its original roots. Celtic Reconstructionists want to rename the holiday to Oiche Shamnhna and celebrate the mating between two Celtic gods, Tuatha de Danaan gods Dagda and River Unis. Celts celebrate by creating an altar for dead in their homes and hold feasts honoring their loved ones.
Happy Samhain to all!
