Oíche Shamhna - The History of Halloween as a Celtic Irish Tradition - Fallers.ie

Tá Oíche Shamhna ag teacht! Halloween, is just around the corner, and what better time to delve into the history of the festival than now! Halloween originated as a pagan festival in Ireland over 2,000 years ago, known as ‘Samhain.’ Traditionally observed from October 31st to November 1st, this Celtic festival marks the conclusion of the annual harvest and the onset of winter. Samhain incuded various rituals and customs, all of which began in Ireland and laid the foundation for what we now celebrate as Halloween!

Halloween/Samhain, seen as the night of celebration for all those who had died that year. It was a night to light bonfires and share food and drink so that the surrounding spirits did not go hungry. As it was celebrated on the eve of All Saints and All Soul’s Day, it was a night of commemorating those that had passed. It was also considered an evening of celebrating the end of the harvest as farmers had brought their cattle indoors for the winter, the potatoes were dug and the oats were stacked.

One popular tradition during Samhain would be the making of special crosses placing them above the door of houses thus protecting the home from bad luck and fortune for the coming year. To this day, they are very much associated as a Halloween symbol. Here we see the Celtic Cross design, a very traditional symbol of Christianity. The surrounding circle represents eternity, that there is no beginning and no end. The use of the crosses was to honour saints and deceased loved ones on the eve of All Saints Day.