How are Samhain and Halloween different?

Answer 1

Samhain marks one of the two great doorways of the Celtic year, for the Celts divided the year into two seasons: the light and the dark, at Beltane on May 1st and Samhain on November 1st. Some believe that Samhain was the more important festival, marking the beginning of a whole new cycle, just as the Celtic day began at night. For it was understood that in dark silence comes whisperings of new beginnings, the stirring of the seed below the ground. Whereas Beltane welcomes in the summer with joyous celebrations at dawn, the most magically potent time of this festival is November Eve, the night of October 31st, known today of course, as Halloween

Answer 2

In THIS day and age -

Samhain (SOW-in ... "sow" and in "cow" or "how") is the sacred holiday for many pagans starting at sundown on Oct. 31st. It is to honor the dead, ancestors, and loved ones that have passed on.

Also commonly celebrated at the half way mark between the Autumnal equinox and the winter solstice. Also commonly celebrated on the first full moon in Nov.

Hallowe'en is the secular holiday celebrated by dressing up and sending the wee ones off for trick-or-treating.

Both have origins in the combination of the old Celtic festival Samhain and the later Catholic All Hallow's Eve.

Answer 3

Samhain is Halloween.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain
Samhain is the end of Summer. October 31st. The time when demons and witches and monsters are said to come out and interact with each other for one night. Halloween is just the tradition of taking kids to get candy. It's a pagan holiday that the Celts and Wiccans celebrate.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Answer 4

Samhain was the Celtic celebration of the end of harvest season. Farmers would take stock of herds and grains and decide what needed to be slaughtered to survive the Winter. They had bonfires and families would light their hearths from the common flame to symbolize unity of the families and the village. They would also celebrate their dead and tell stories of their ancestors.

This doesn't sound at all like our halloween dressing up and gong trick or treating.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain

Answer 5

um the spelling? For starters. They are not different, just that Samhain is the origin and Hallowe'en is the result of centuries of boiling it down.

Answer 6

Read the answer to the first question since this is the reverse of that one. The lady who answered gave you this answer as well! Halloween is commercialized the other is not.

Answer 7

They Aren't they are the same holiday, Christians just didn't want to use a pagan name for another holiday like they did for Easter (which is actually oestra)

Answer 8

there isn't much more that can be added to what has already been said. Blessed Be!