Halloween
Origen and other related holidays
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Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in North America. It’s known for its spooky costumes, ghoulish customs, and treats. But what many people don’t know about this holiday is that it has a deeper meaning as well. The first documented reference to Halloween comes from the English word háliday, which means “holy day” or “festival.” The Scottish and Irish also have their own words for this holiday: Samhain (“end of summer”) and Samhuinn (“end of winter”). What do these names mean? They refer to the Celtic New Year and Old Year celebrations. When November 1st falls on a Sunday, it’s usually known as the Samhain New Year because it signifies the end of one year and the beginning of another; when November 1st falls on a Monday it’s called the Oíche Shamhna (pronounced EYE-cheh SHAH-nah), which means “first night’s light.” What does all this have to do with Halloween? Everything! These are some interesting facts about this spooky holiday.
What is Halloween?
Halloween is celebrated on the eve of the Western New Year, also known as All Saints’ Day (November 1). To celebrate, people decorate pumpkins and carve jack-o’-lanterns, which represent the spirits of the dead. Families also often exchange costumes and costumes that symbolize different generations. This marks the beginning of the spooky season in many parts of the world. To learn more about the history of Halloween, you can read this article: How Did Halloween Begin?
Samhain and Samhuinn
Other related holidays include Samhain and Samhuinn. These are Irish Gaelic words that mean “summer’s end” or “winter’s end,” referencing the Celtic New Year and Old Year celebrations. In the old Celtic calendar, the 30th of October was known as Samhuinn and the 1st of November was Samhain, where people would light fires to cleanse their homes of the “fey” and ward off the spirits that roamed during these times. With the coming of Christianity, Samhuinn was pushed to 1st November and was associated with All Saints’ Day, and Samhain was associated with Halloween. Many believe that, as Christianity spread, Samhain was pushed back to 1st November and became a more sinister celebration.
The Celtic New Year Traditions
Traditionally, the Irish and Scottish celebrated a new year at the end of winter, when crops and wildlife were dormant, and with the coming of spring, people would celebrate the new year at the summer solstice, when the days were longest. People also celebrated the New Year at Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh. As Christianity spread, it became the established tradition to celebrate the New Year on the Western New Year’s Day on 1st of January. In Ireland, however, the New Year continued to be celebrated on the same date as it had been for thousands of years, and was called Samhain. People would prepare for the New Year celebration at the end of summer. They would clean and purify their homes, burn fires outdoors, and clear all clutter from their minds, bodies, and homes so they were prepared to welcome the New Year with clean minds and clear spirits.
