Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Samhain Rituals: What are the Traditions & Meaning of This Celtic Holiday?

Samhain Rituals: What are the Traditions & Meaning of This Celtic Holiday?
Revellers stand near the fires during the first of the Bonfire Night celebrations on September 25, 2004 in Burgess Hill, England. Bonfire Night is related to the ancient festival of Samhain, the Celtic New Year, and otherwise known as Halloween. (Dave Etheridge-Barnes/Getty Images)

Samhain (pronounced SAH-win) is an ancient Gaelic festival that inspired the modern Halloween. What are the traditions and original meaning of this pagan seasonal festival? Samhain is one of the four other seasonal festivals celebrated by Gaelic people. The others include Imbolc, Bealtaine, and Lughnasadh. Imbolc celebrates the beginning of spring, Bealtaine celebrates the beginning of summer and Lughnasadh marks the beginning of the harvest season.

Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It begins at sunset on October and goes until sunset on November 1. Because of this and its related feasts, it is sometimes described as the Celtic New Year. The calendar of the Celtic League begins and ends on Samhain.


In its original celebration, Samhain was viewed as a "liminal time," where the boundary between the physical world and the "Otherworld" could be more easily crossed. Modern pagans continue to hold this view. They believe that the supernatural "Aos Si," comparable to fairies or elves, can more easily enter the mortal realm during Samhain. It is also believed that the souls of the dead revisit their past homes during Samhain. To appease both of the Aos Si and the dead, feasts are held.

Druids perform a Samhain or pagan Halloween style blessing ceremony at Stonehenge in Wiltshire. (PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

In ancient Celtic times, people also would dress-up in disguises and go door-to-door and recite a verse in exchange for food. This gave rise to the modern concept of trick-or-treating.

Probably the most famous of the Samhain rituals is the bonfire. Bonfire season begins in autumn in Celtic countries and continues until November 5. To practitioners of modern paganism, bonfires are still seen as having protective and cleansing powers, just like their ancient forbearers. According to Circle Sanctuary, one common bonfire ritual is to, "Write down an outmoded habit that you wish to end and cast it into the Samhain flames as you imagine release. Imagine yourself adopting a new, healthier way of being as you move around the fire clockwise."

Bonfires are held until the largest bonfire celebration, the Lewes Bonfire. The Lewes Bonfire is held on November 5 and not only commemorates Samhain but also Guy Fawkes Night and the 17 Protestant martyrs burned at the stake in the 16th century and 17th century by Catholic royalty. Like the Samhain ritual of burning something to do away, bonfires typically burn an effigy, usually made up to look like Guy Fawkes.

Despite going by a different name, Samhain and its Celtic origins continue to be an inspiration to modern rituals and traditions. Other ways to celebrate this special time of year include going on a reflective nature walk, learning about family history, and visiting a cemetery that has loved ones buried in it.

More from News

Teachers Share The Questions Students Asked In Class That Broke Their Hearts

Being a teacher is a calling.

It is not for the meek or weak of heart.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Emily Compagno
Fox News

Fox Host Slams Dem For Dropping An F-Bomb After Praising Trump For The Same Thing Just Minutes Earlier

Fox News host Emily Compagno was criticized after she praised Donald Trump's use of the "f-bomb" earlier this week before condemning Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett's use of the same word—on the same episode of her show, no less.

Trump made headlines this week after admonishing Israel and Iran for violating a ceasefire agreement he'd announced on Truth Social. Although he claimed the ceasefire had been "agreed upon," Iran fired at least six missile barrages at Israel after it was supposed to take effect.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ken Jennings; Emily Croke
@Jeopardy/Instagram

Champ's Wild Final Jeopardy Connection

In a dramatic conclusion on last Monday’s Jeopardy!, a contestant revealed a surprising relationship to the final clue's answer. Hailing from Denver, Emily Croke made it to the final write-in portion of the game show with $12,200 in earnings.

In the category of “Collections,” host Ken Jennings read the clue:

Keep ReadingShow less
State Department logo illustration
Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

State Department Slammed After Requiring Visa Applicants To Make All Social Media Posts Public For Vetting

The State Department is facing harsh criticism after it announced that anyone applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa will need to disclose all social media profiles from the last five years, requiring that all applicants set their posts to public so they can be properly vetted by its agents.

The agency said the new rules are part of a new screening process aimed at identifying individuals who may pose a threat to U.S. national security. According to the department, failure to comply could result in a denial, and consular officers have been instructed to flag signs of “hostility” toward the U.S.—though the criteria for such determinations remain vague.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Tiny Chef Show being canceled
@thetinychefshow/TikTok

Heartbreaking Animated Video Announcing Emmy-Winning Show's Cancellation Has The Internet Sobbing

Whether or not you've heard of the show, Nickelodeon's The Tiny Chef Show has been turning heads. Not only is it a show that children love, but it's an Emmy Award winner.

Despite all of this adorable, pea-sized chef's success, and a Minion-like voice to boot, the show appears to be canceled.

Keep ReadingShow less