Samhain facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Samhain is the Gaelic celebration at the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It is pronounced SOW-in. This festival is also celebrated in Paganism and Wicca. It is now known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve and celebrated on the 31st of October.

Legends

A common legend on Samhain is that it is easy to talk to the dead. One way to do this is by using a Ouija board, a wooden board with numbers and letters on it.

Images for kids

  • Coligny-closeup

    Samonios on the Coligny calendar

  • Heroes of the dawn (1914) (14750481494)

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

  • Owenagcat

    Oweynagat ('cave of the cats'), one of the many 'gateways to the Otherworld' whence beings and spirits were said to have emerged on Samhain.

  • Beltane Bonfire on Calton Hill

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

  • Snap-Apple Night globalphilosophy

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

  • Mari Lwyd (wiki)

    A Mari Lwyd, the Welsh equivalent of the Láir Bhán

  • Traditional Irish halloween Jack-o'-lantern

    An Irish Seán Na Gealaí turnip lantern from the early 20th century at the Museum of Country Life


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Samhain Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.