What is Halloween?
Halloween is a very popular Irish festival (not American) which can be dated back over 2500 years. However back then, the festival looked a bit different. For example, it was a pagan festival called ‘Samhain’ which was celebrated to mark the change of the seasons, from the harvest season to the cold season. The Celtic people that celebrated Samhain believed that their dead could visit them on this day. Similar to ‘Dia de los Muertos’ in Mexico.
How did they Celebrate?
The Celts use to light huge bonfires in celebration of Samhain. They would use these bonfires for many different rituals, including divination and spiritual cleansing. They would also have feasts with family and friends to celebrate.
When did Samhain become Halloween?
Samhain became Halloween around 1200 years ago. When Christianity arrived in Ireland, the early church did not like the pagan festival, so they decided to christianize it. They called November 1st ‘All Saints Day’ with Halloween being the vigil. It became a day to remember our loved ones instead of believing they came back.
How is it celebrated today?
Just like the Celts did years ago, Irish people love to celebrate Halloween and every year there are huge celebrations around the country. Some modern traditions include dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating, games, fireworks, decorating, bonfires and celebrating with friends and family.
