Halloween - the origins

Halloween - or Samhain. Where did the traditional celebration originate?

Oíche Shamhna, 31 October 2025

The Wild Geese Historical Society has been asked to investigate the origins of the feast of Halloween, which will be celebrated around the world on 31 October. Americans, of course(!) think they invented it but the real origins are surprisingly much older than when Irish emigrants brought the celebration with them during the 18th and 19th centuries. But how far back do you think it goes?

Samhain, celebrated on the 31st October, is one of the eight 'Fire Festivals' - Féilte Tine - which have been celebrated in Ireland for over 5,000 years. We can be pretty certain about this because it was then when our ancestors built astronomical devices to determine the correct dates to celebrate each one, the most well-known being, of course, Brú na Bo'inne, or Newgrange which heralded the winter solstice. Nearby Knowth and Cairn T in the Loughcrew hills marked the equinoxes, while Carn L, again at Loughcrew, and the Mound of the Hostages at Tara, signalled the arrival of the 'quarter days', Imbolc at 1st February and Samhain at 31 October. Because of the scientific knowledge required, legend records that they were built by the Tuatha Dé Danann, that almost mythical and certainly mystical race, or rather designed by them, the actual physical labour involved in moving such huge rocks and soil being carried out by the Fir Bolg, the original farmers, who transported the earth and smaller stones in leather bags and were much appreciative of the knowledge as to when to plant their crops, and when to pasture and shelter their animals.

When the Gaels arrived in Ireland from Galicia, they were happy to continue the ancient rituals, Samhain and Imbolc being especially important to them because the newcomers were mainly pastoralists and needed to know when to protect their animals against winter and when to release them. The early Irish church hastened to 'christianise' all the old pagan customs, so Imbolc became St Bridget's Day and Samhain became Halloween (meaning the evening before the hallowed All Saints Day on 1st November). The methods of celebrating however continued unabated. Huge fires were built on strategic hills to spread the message and an evening of feasting, music, dancing, song and general merriment ensued. And so it goes on to the present day, spread by Irish emigrants to North America and throughout the world.

The Wild Geese in Czechia will of course continue the ancient traditions, and will assemble in a favourite nesting place - The Three Fiddles Irish bar in Malá strana, where they will swap tales of their own childhood experiences of the night in question - tales of bobbing for apples, visiting the neighbours for treats, eagerly searching for prize objects in the colcannon and barn bracks, and much more.

For those who may be interested, the pre-historic period in Ireland will be examined in forensic detail when we celebrate the winter solstice on 21st December with the event - The Miracle of Newgrange (further details will be in the December newsletter).

—Seán O'Sullivan, October 2025