Samhain - Customs, Traditions and Facts Some of you call it Halloween; most of us call it Samhain (pronounced “SOW-in” in my beloved Ireland, SOW-een in Wales, “SAV-en” in Scotland or “SAM-hain” in non-Gaelic speaking countries). Samhain means “End of Summer”, and is the third and final Harvest. The story that “Samhain” was a Celtic God of the Dead is a myth. Samhain is a fire festival. Sacred bonfires were lit on the tops of hills in honor of the Gods. Samhain bonfires, called balefires, were once lit on every hilltop in Britain and Ireland as soon as the sun set on October 30. The custom of dressing in costume and “trick-or-treating” is of Celtic origin, with survivals particularly strong in Ireland and Scotland. Pope Gregory II moved the christian holiday of “all Hollows Eve” from May 13 to November 1st to coincide with the Feast of Samhain. Feasting and merrymaking played a big part in rural homes during Samhain. The lady of the house prepared a special feast in honor of the night. Colcannon, a mashed potato and kale or cabbage dish with a reservoir of creamy melted butter, was a favorite. Boxty bread, made from mashed potatoes and flour was also popular, as was Barm Brack. Yum Yum. In Waterford Ireland, Samhain is called oídhche na h-aimléise, “the night of mischief or con.” Where did trick or treating come from? Dating back to 700BC, on the eve before Samhain, people would leave food on their doorsteps to stop hungry spirits from entering their homes. Where did the costumes come from? Samhain festival goers would dress up as ghosts and goblins to confuse wandering spirits into letting them be. In ancient times, black cats were believed to be the familiars of witches. Some “vampire bats” do drink blood. But not the blood of humans. In Central and South Americas, some bats feed off the blood of horses, cattle and birds. The first Jack O Lantern was made of a turnip, not a pumpkin. The largest pumpkin on record was recorded in 2003 in Oregon and weighed 1385 pounds. The word “Witch” stems from a Saxon word meaning “wise one”.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 02:40:28 +0000