![]() ![]() Wiccans look at Samhain as the passing of the year, and incorporate common Wiccan traditions into the celebration. Wicca celebration of Samhain takes on many forms, from the traditional fire ceremonies to celebrations that embrace many aspects of modern Halloween, as well as activities related to honoring nature or ancestors. READ MORE: Halloween Through the Centuries: A Timeline of the Holiday Wicca and SamhainĪ broad revival of Samhain resembling its traditional pagan form began in the 1980s with the growing popularity of Wicca. Halloween pranks also have a tradition in Samhain, though in the ancient celebration, tricks were typically blamed on fairies. In Ireland, mumming was the practice of putting on costumes, going door-to-door and singing songs to the dead. Trick-or-treating is said to have been derived from ancient Irish and Scottish practices in the nights leading up to Samhain. October 31 became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, and contained much of the traditional pagan practices before being adopted in 19th-century America through Irish immigrants bringing their traditions across the ocean. Neither new holiday did away with the pagan aspects of the celebration. READ MORE: How the Early Catholic Church Christianized Halloween Samhain Merges With Halloween All Souls’ Day would follow on November 2. In the 9th century, Pope Gregory moved the celebration back to the time of the fire festivals, but declared it All Saints’ Day, on November 1. The fire festivals of October and November, however, did not end with this decree. He moved the celebration to May 13 and specified it as a day celebrating saints and martyrs. The first attempt was by Pope Boniface in the 5th century. The Lady Gwyn is a headless woman dressed in white who chases night wanderers and was accompanied by a black pig. Some specific monsters were associated with the mythology surrounding Samhain, including a shape-shifting creature called a Pukah that receives harvest offerings from the field. ![]() It was expected that ancestors might cross over during this time as well, and Celts would dress as animals and monsters so that fairies were not tempted to kidnap them. ![]() READ MORE: Who Were Celts? Samhain Monstersīecause the Celts believed that the barrier between worlds was breachable during Samhain, they prepared offerings that were left outside villages and fields for fairies, or Sidhs. Some documents mention six days of drinking alcohol to excess, typically mead or beer, along with gluttonous feasts. Anyone who committed a crime or used their weapons during the celebration faced a death sentence. There was also a military aspect to Samhain in Ireland, with holiday thrones prepared for commanders of soldiers. During this time of year, hearth fires in family homes were left to burn out while the harvest was gathered. Read more about Halloween and watch Haunted History on HISTORY Vault Ancient SamhainĪncient Celts marked Samhain as the most significant of the four quarterly fire festivals, taking place at the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. In modern times, Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “SAH-win”) is usually celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.” Celebrants believe that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world break down during Samhain, allowing more interaction between humans and denizens of the Otherworld. ![]() Samhain is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. ![]()
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