Samhain – The Origin of Halloween
The Origin of Halloween
- Prior to Christianity, the Celts, who occupied Ireland, Scotland, Wales and other areas, celebrated Samhain (Sow-en) on October 31st and November 1st.
- Prior to Christianity, Celts were multi-theists (also known as “pagans”), which means they believed in multiple deities (Gods and Goddesses) and also believed in fairies and other spiritual beings: Leprechaun, Grogoch, Grey Man, Sheerie, Changling, Pooka, Merrow, Banshee, Dullahan, etc.
- Since the Celts followed the lunar calendar, they started this celebration when the sun set on October 31st.
- The meaning of the name Samhain in the Irish language is “summer’s end”. The Celts believed that summer ended at the end of October 31st, and the new year and winter started on November 1st.
- Before sunset, throughout the day on October 31st, the Celts would extinguish the fire in their homes. They would engage in cleaning their house so they would start the winter and the new year with a fresh and clean household.
- At sunset on October 31st, clans or local villages began the formal ceremonies of Samhain by lighting a giant bonfire. People would gather around the fire, dressed in costumes, to burn crops and animals as a sacrifice to the deities. They were giving the Gods and Goddesses their share of the previous year’s crops and herds.
- During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes for three reasons:
- The first reason was to honor the dead, who after they passed away went to the Land of the Dead, but were now allowed to rise from the land of the dead to the physical world for November 1st. Although, those souls that had been trapped in the bodies of animals were set free and sent to reincarnate.
- The second reason was to protect themselves… Not all of the souls who returned to the physical world were respected. Celts believed that some that returned to the physical world would destroy crops, hide livestock or haunt the living who had done them wrong when they were alive. By wearing the costumes, they were able to hide their identity and these souls could not find them.
- The third reason was to honor the Celtic Gods and Goddesses of the harvest, fields and flocks. This was the end of harvest season and they wanted to honor the Gods and Goddesses who helped them have a successful harvest that year.
- Another part of the celebration were the Celts dancing around the bonfire. Many of these dances told the stories or played out the cycles of life and death and payed tribute to the cycle of life.
- When the community celebration was over, each family would take a torch or burning ember from the bonfire and return to their home and they would relight their extinguished fire with the flame from the sacred bonfire to help protect their home and its inhabitants during the winter. These fires burned continuously night and day for several months. It was believed that if the fire extinguished, tragedy and troubles would soon follow in that house. With the fires lit, the families would place jack o’lanterns, food and drink outside their doors to appease the roaming spirits who might play tricks on the family.
- Pumpkins and potatoes originated in the Americas. During the celebration of Samhain, the Celts carved turnips as jack o’lanterns and made them glow with a candle burning inside.
- The colors of Samhain are orange and black. Black represented the time of darkness after the death of the God during Lughnasagh (loo-NAH-sah – a Celtic celebration at the beginning of August) and also the waning of the light during the day. Orange represented the waiting of dawn during Yule (December 21st to January 1st) when the God is reborn.
- When Christianity made its way throughout non Christian cultures, the Christians would learn about these cultures and convert their celebrations into Christian celebrations. October 31st became Hollowed Eve (Halloween), November 1st became All Saints Day, and November 2nd became All Souls Day. Halloween’s traditions originated from the Celts – dress up in costume, festival colors of orange and black, carve jack o’lanterns and houses offer treats.
- Source of this information: http://www.paganspath.com/magik/samhain-history.htm
Posted: October 18th, 2013 under Celebrations.
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