Samhain facts for kids

Samhain (pronounced SOW-in) is a special Gaelic celebration. It marks the end of the harvest season and the start of winter. This ancient festival is also important in Paganism and Wicca. Today, many people know it as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve. It is celebrated every year on October 31st.

What is Samhain?

Samhain is one of the oldest festivals in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. It was a time when ancient Celts believed the barrier between worlds became thin. This meant spirits of the dead could visit the living world. People would light bonfires and offer food to these spirits.

A Time for Harvest and New Beginnings

Samhain was also a time to celebrate the end of the harvest. Farmers gathered their last crops before winter. It was a period of change and getting ready for the colder months ahead. People would store food and prepare for the long winter nights.

Ancient Traditions and Beliefs

Long ago, people believed that on Samhain, magical beings and spirits could cross into our world. These might be ancestors coming to visit or other creatures from the "Otherworld." To welcome good spirits and keep bad ones away, people had many traditions.

Bonfires and Feasts

Large bonfires were a very important part of Samhain. Communities would gather to light huge fires. These fires were thought to cleanse the land and protect people. Families would also have big feasts, sharing food and drink. They often left a place at the table for their ancestors.

Costumes and Disguises

To avoid being recognized by spirits, people sometimes wore costumes. These outfits were often made from animal skins or simple materials. This tradition helped them blend in with the spirits. It also helped them play tricks on any mischievous spirits.

Divination Games

Samhain was also a time for games that tried to predict the future. People would play games like bobbing for apples. They might also try to tell fortunes using nuts or other items. These games were a fun way to guess what the new year would bring.

Samhain Today

Many of the traditions from Samhain are still part of Halloween today. Wearing costumes, carving Jack-o'-lanterns, and trick-or-treating all have roots in this ancient festival. Even though it has changed over time, Samhain reminds us of the past. It connects us to old traditions of harvest, spirits, and preparing for winter.

Images for kids

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  Samonios on the Coligny calendar

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  The hero Fionn fighting Aillen, who is said to have burned Tara each Samhain

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  The 'Cave of Cruachan', one of the many 'gateways to the Otherworld' whence beings and spirits were said to have emerged on Samhain.

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  Bonfires were a big part of the festival in many areas (pictured is a Beltane bonfire in Scotland)

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  Snap-Apple Night (1833), painted by Daniel Maclise, shows people playing divination games on 31 October in Ireland

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  A Mari Lwyd, the Welsh equivalent of the Láir Bhán

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  A plaster cast of an Irish Seán na Gealaí turnip lantern from the early 20th century at the Museum of Country Life

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  Samhuinn Wikipedia editathon at the University of Edinburgh, 2016

See also

In Spanish: Samhain para niños