Oíche Shamhna / Halloween

As the nights grow longer and the air turns crisp, we arrive at one of the most magical times of the year — Samhain. Long before Halloween existed, Samhain was an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. It was believed that on this night, the veil between the living and the dead grew thin, allowing spirits to wander among us.

Oíche Shamhna | Halloween

The feast of Samhain marked the beginning of Winter, but as with all of the Celtic festivals the main celebration takes place on the evening before Samhain itself - Oíche Shamhna (the night of October 31st).

In Irish, Halloween is called Oíche Shamhna, which means “the night of Samhain.” It’s a night filled with stories and superstitions. People once lit fires and wore disguises to confuse wandering spirits — customs that evolved into the modern Halloween costume.

It is interesting that the English word for 'Halloween' and the Irish 'Samhain' have a totally different origin.

In the 8th century, the Christian Church designated November 1st as All Saints’ Day (also called All Hallows’ Day, as 'hallow' was an old English word for 'holy'), and the evening before—October 31st—became known as All Hallows’ Evening, which gradually shortened to “Halloween.”

This Christian festival merged in Ireland with the pre-existing festival of Samhain.

An Chailleach | The Witch

 Among the figures of Irish folklore is An Chailleach, the witch or wise old woman of the winter, a reminder of nature’s darker, wilder side. You might also hear whispers of the Taibhse, a ghostly presence said to roam the countryside on Oíche Shamhna.

Cluichí | Games

Before pumpkins and fancy costumes, Halloween in Ireland was a night of simple traditions that connected families to the ancient festival of Samhain. While today’s celebrations are full of sweets and spooky movies, many Irish customs still reflect the old ways of marking Oíche Shamhna — the night of Samhain. Children still play Halloween games such as bobbing for apples, and of course eat bairín breac (raisin cake/bread). It's also a good time to light a tíne cnámh / bonfire and tell a spooky story!

A Spooky Halloween Poem

Have a listen to this spooky Halloween poem....perfect for this time of year!