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n Origins Samhain

One of the earliest known examples of a celebration involving the dead is the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts were a group of people who lived in Europe beginning in the second millennium b.c.e. (between the years 1999 b.c.e. and 1000 b.c.e.), and possibly much earlier. Carrying iron tools and weapons for conquering other peoples, and traveling on horseback, the Celts spread across much of the European continent and the British Isles. At some point around the fourth century b.c.e. Germanic tribes began to seize control of some areas of Europe formerly under Celtic rule. After that period, the history of the Celtic peoples began to blend with that of the invading tribes. Nevertheless, historians agree that groups of Celts continued to live across Europe well into the first century b.c.e. The Celtic word Samhain , or Samain , means “end of summer,” and indeed this holiday is believed to have marked the transition from the summer season to autumn and winter, as well as the Celtic new year. Because the Celts lived so long ago, it is difficult for historians to decipher the details surrounding this holiday. As a result, there is much disagreement when it comes to the specific aspects of the celebration of Samhain. What is known, however, is that many of the traditions of Samhain, as well as the date of the holiday, have carried over into the modern celebration of Halloween. Many believe Samhain was the date every year on which the shepherds brought their flocks in from the pastures and people began preparing for the winter season. Winter was also known as the “lord of death.” The Celts believed that on their New Year’s Eve, the last day of the month of October, the border between the worlds of the living and the dead opened, allowing the souls of the dead to return to the realm of the living and to the homes they had left behind. These spirits, along with the Celtic gods, were believed to create havoc, harm crops, and play tricks on the living. Some of the common symbols of Halloween, such as witches and goblins, may rise out of these ancient beliefs. The Celtic people employed many tactics to avoid the malicious intentions of these spirits, including dressing up in hideous disguises made with animal heads and skins so that they might be mistaken for fellow spirits and left alone. They also offered gifts to the gods, often in the form of sweets or animal sacrifices. Often they would leave food on their doorsteps. The Celts hoped these gifts would please the gods and spirits and keep them from interfering in the lives of the living. Fire also played an important role in the Samhain festival. At night, the Celtic people would gather on hilltops and light large bonfires. One purpose of these fires was to burn the plant waste

Halloween & Remembrances of the Dead

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