Samhain is a Celtic pagan festival to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of Winter. It is also a time of reflection, when our ancestors return from beyond the veil to live and feast amongst us once again.
Tables often had empty settings with seats, plates and cups and an offering of food and wine for the wandering souls. It was a superstition that you never refused anyone who would knock on you door on Samhain, you never knew if they were a living person or one of these wandering souls from the other side.
The occasion was marked with a celebration on October 31st. People would gather to feast and drink, light bon fires, and welcome the spirits back to celebrated the end of another harvest and the "death" of the Sun in the hopes of it's "rebirth" and return in Spring.
Who might you meet on Samhain night?
In irish history and folklore you could meet any number of entity on Samhain night. If you were lucky you might meet the Spirits of your own relatives who has come back to celebrate with you. Other mischievous and dark entities you might have the misfortune of meeting are the Pooka, The Death Coach, Spirits from Pourgatory, The Black Dog or The Fairys, often referred to as "The good people" by locals.
Bonefires "Bonfire"
In ancient times animals and livestock were a symbol of weath. Animal bones were thrown onto these fires to ward off evil spirits and to usher in health and good fortune in the coming dark Winter months. The ashes from these fires were collected and spread over the land to protect against any evil spirits who might come to destroy crops and kill livestock.
Dressing up
Our ancestors were not the only entities you might meet on a Samhain night, as the veil between our world and the next grew thinner it allowed both good and evil spirits to cross to this side. Out of fear of being recognised by one of those evil spirits, people wore disguises to trick and ward off spirits.
Trick or Treat
Trick or treating evoled from the custom of people leaving food offerings to appease spirits on Samhain night.
In medieval England and Ireland, children would go “souling” on All Hallows' Eve, visiting homes to sing prayers for the deceased in exchange for soul cakes.
Carved Lanterns
In Celtic Ireland, people would carve scary faces out of turnips to frighten away evil spirits and entities.
When Irish immigrants moved to the U.S.A, they began carving jack-o'-lanterns from pumpkins, as these were native to the region and easier to carved than a turnip.
Jack-o Lantern came from a character called "Stingy Jack" who was said to be a miserable, old drunk who loved playing tricks on anyone and everyone, even the devil himself.
The story goes after tricking the devil not to take his soul that God denied Jack a place in heaven, and true to his word the Devil, did not take Jack into hell.
However, he instead cursed Jack to endlessly wander the night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack then made a makeshift lantern out of a carved-out turnip and put the coal into it.
Traditional games on Samhan night.
Divination and trying to tell the future was part of the festivities, for example, if you had a couple hoping to be married, each would throw a hazelnut into the fire, if they jumped towards each other it was seen as a good omen of a happy marriage, of the nuts jumped away from each other, well this would indicate that it's not a perfect match.
Bobbing for apples was another if not messy tradition. Children would gathered around a bucket or basin filled with water and apples, with your hands behind your back you had to dunk your head into the bucket, trying to bite an apple to retrieve it.
Apples were also hung from string and wouldbe contestants would try to take a bite out of the apple in order to win.
As the years went by and as more cultures influence and adopted Samhain, it has been reinvented to the modern day holiday we all know and love as Halloween.
Wherever you are, I wish you a night filled with joy and laughter with your friends and your family.
Just remember one thing. When you are ready to settle down for the night, before going to bed. Check under your bed, behind your curtains and in your wardrobes. Make sure when you lock your front door that you are indeed not locking anything Inside with you.
Blessed Samhain & Happy Halloween