Exploring the Celtic Roots of Halloween
Discover the Celtic traditions that have shaped modern-day Halloween celebrations in Ireland and globally.
The Celtic festival of Samhain has given us many Halloween traditions. In Celtic Ireland, Samhain marked the time when the boundary between the world and the otherworld was thinnest, and spirits could pass through.
The tradition of wearing costumes and masks emerged from this festival, as a disguise to ward off dangerous spirits. Samhain marked the division between summer and winter, and was regarded as the Celtic New Year.
Food was important in the celebrations, prepared for both the living and the dead. Ancestors were honoured through these rituals, with hints remaining in contemporary Halloween traditions, often centring around food and games like bobbing for apples.
The Celtic festival of Samhain has given us many of the traditions that modern-day Halloween is best known for.
Author's summary: Exploring Halloween's Celtic roots.