The idea of night and day was central to everyday existence in Celtic culture. Bealtaine and Samhain were two of their most important holidays. Their year was split between a dark half and a light half, and the transition from one to the other was celebrated with festivities. Samhain is a term that is often translated to mean “summer’s end,” and it was certainly a festival that took place during the darker half of the year.
Halloween
Categories: Irish Traditions , Interesting Stories , Celtic Holidays , Halloween , Celtic Legends , Education , Legends and Folklore , History of Ireland
Categories: Irish Traditions , Interesting Stories , Celtic Holidays , Halloween , Celtic Legends , Legends and Folklore , Celtic Culture , History of IrelandSome traditional Halloween customs associated with Halloween include going trick-or-treating in spooky costumes, pumpkin carving, and going door to door for candy. Samhain is a Gaelic term that is pronounced: “SAH-win.” It was a pagan religious celebration to welcome the harvest at the end of summer when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
- Jul 06 2022
Top 10 Scary Irish Mythological Creatures
Categories: Interesting Stories , Celtic Holidays , Halloween , Celtic Legends , Legends and Folklore , History of IrelandAddressing Scary Irish Mythological Creatures or Celtic Mythological Creatures is the topic of one of the most frequent inquiries that we receive in connection with Irish mythology. Since the beginning of Celtic mythology, old Irish creatures and demons have been used to scare members of the general public, particularly around the time of Halloween. - October is Rosary Month. On October 7, Irish Catholics commemorate the Blessed Mother’s Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. October was also the month in which Mary appeared to shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, for the final time, encouraging them to “say the rosary every day to obtain global peace.”
- Sep 22 2021
Autumnal Equinox the Celebration of Mabon
Today is the first day of autumn. The fall equinox will occur today, September 22, 2021, at 3:21 p.m. Eastern. The Sun will be exactly above the Earth’s equator at that time, appearing overhead at noon as seen from the equator. Every year, around the same time, the Sun shines directly over the equator, distributing the same amount of light on both sides of the planet. - In Celtic mythology, the Cat is a beast that is both adored and despised. Those in search of otherworldly abilities sought him, but not in a kind or compassionate way. For those who were fearful of supernatural forces believed to exist outside of the church, the cat was a sign that the devil's hand was close at hand. This idea would eventually grow so widespread that merely possessing a cat would be seen as extremely hazardous.
- Categories: Irish Traditions , News , Interesting Stories , Celtic Holidays , Halloween , Celtic Legends
As children and adults around the world take part in the spooky festivities of Halloween on the night of October 31st, All Hallows Eve, few know of its ancient Irish Celtic roots in the Samhain (Samain) festival.
Read more about Celtic Halloween Origins,
- Sep 26 2020
Celtic Halloween Myths and Legends
Celtic Halloween called Samhain in Gaelic is a traditional Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest season. It also marks the beginning of winter also known as the "darker half" of the year because the days get dramatically shorter. Samhain is traditionally celebrated at sunset on October 31st and lasts until sunrise on November first. This is considered the halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. This time during Samhain was seen as a transitional time, when the vail between this world and the other side could be crossed without difficulty allowing Aos SÃ, or the 'spirits' like the 'fairies' into our world to create mischief. The Irish have many Celtic Halloween Traditions to ward off these spirits.
Celtic Anti-Fairy Measures for Halloween
- Oct 04 2018
IRISH HALLOWEEN TRADITION - BARMBRACK
There are many Irish Halloween traditions in Ireland. One of my favorites is barmbrack. Barmbrack is at the very core of the Irish Halloween traditions. The Halloween Brack, much like Christmas pudding traditionally contained various objects baked into the sweet bread. - On Halloween night children would dress up in scary Halloween costumes and go house to house. Phrases like "Help the Halloween Party" and "Trick or Treat" were the cries to be heard at each door. Halloween beliefs, customs, and costumes migrated with the first wave of Irish and Scottish immigrants that arrived in the United States in the 18th century. These immigrants came from Ireland and Scotland.
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