can anyone tell me something that i do not know about Halloween or Samhien?

Question

i am looking for historic beliefs and customs here.
i know many of them, i am just wondering if anyone knows something that i do not.

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Debra, good answer very informative.

Epona, I am really just trying to get some
actual knowlege about the holiday posted here. more for other folks to read and learn than for myself, but you never know someone just may have some random bit of information that i dont know. possibly a folk tale from an obscure part of ireland, or a family tradition that folks started 200 years ago.

Answer 1

Halloween had its beginnings in an ancient, pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead. The Celtic peoples, who were once found all over Europe, divided the year by four major holidays. According to their calendar, the year began on a day corresponding to November 1st on our present calendar. The date marked the beginning of winter. Since they were pastoral people, it was a time when cattle and sheep had to be moved to closer pastures and all livestock had to be secured for the winter months. Crops were harvested and stored. The date marked both an ending and a beginning in an eternal cycle.

The festival observed at this time was called Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween). It was the biggest and most significant holiday of the Celtic year. The Celts believed that at the time of Samhain, more so than any other time of the year, the ghosts of the dead were able to mingle with the living, because at Samhain the souls of those who had died during the year traveled into the otherworld. People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, to aid them on their journey, and to keep them away from the living. On that day all manner of beings were abroad: ghosts, fairies, and demons--all part of the dark and dread.

Samhain became the Halloween we are familiar with when Christian missionaries attempted to change the religious practices of the Celtic people

My maternal Great grandmother used to set out bowls of cream for the Daoni Shea ( I am not sure I spelled that right, it is Celtic and that is how she pronounced it.} It means the Little People. She said it was an old custom.

Answer 2

Here is something fascinating about the origin of that certain date, because sept 20 in our gregorian calender is the usual start of the fall season so why would the end of oct be used for the fall festival and the tradition of samhien which was converted to halloween by the Catholic church? I hope this gives the answer

Was an Ancient World Really Destroyed?
Such an awesome catastrophe, if it really happened, would never have been completely forgotten. Hence, in many nations there are reminders of that destruction. Consider, for example, the precise date recorded in the Scriptures. The second month of the ancient calendar ran from what we now call mid-October to mid-November. So the 17th day corresponds approximately to the first of November. It may not be a coincidence, then, that in many lands, festivals for the dead are celebrated at that time of year.

Answer 3

Did you know, That, in the 14th and 15th century Europe, only parts of if mind you, usually poor towns with very little contact with larger cities, believed that children were more likely to become possessed by evil spirits? This is how one of the beliefs for gift giving came into play for Halloween. They believed if you gave a child something nice they would not be angry and would not be open to allow evil spirits to enter them and take them over.

Answer 4

Yes, I can.

While in graduate school, I did some fairly extensive research in this area and am considered somewhat of an academic scholar/expert.

However, I find myself unable to communicate from this vast array of knowledge due to the simple fact that it would then become something that you DO know (vs "do NOT know").

Perhaps another time, then.

Unless you can answer this question for me:
How is OCT 31 EXACTLY THE SAME as DEC 25

Answer 5

Well this year is my first year of Samhain. I know it is a way for the pagans to connect with the spirits. We have a ritual and every thing. We have to leave food and a candle in our window so the spirits will be guided to our homes.

Answer 6

Chris, this is a bit difficult as I do not know what you know. ~LOL~
I wish more people knew that Samhain is actually a cross quarter day and so it wasn't always tied to Halloween.

Answer 7

How about the truth....

http://www.yahweh.com/booklets/Halloween/Halloween.htm