Samhain: How Celtic Traditions Inspired the Modern Day Halloween

Did you ever wonder why trick-or-treating is called trick-or-treating? How about why people dress up in costumes on the last evening of October going door to door, asking for treats? Sticking a light or candle in a carved-out pumpkin? Where did it all come from? Well, you can thank the Celts and the festival of Samhain for all of it. Samhain is referenced over a thousand years ago in Irish literature. Today we’ll talk about the origins of Samhain and the customs, traditions, and legends that eventually led to the modern-day Halloween. Some images c/o: Imbolc: malcolm, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Beltane: Stefan Schäfer, Lich, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Mummers: Michael Maggs, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, AndyScott, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Doyle of London, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Guisers: Guisers in the procession at Uyeasound Up Helly Aa by Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Mike Pennington / Guisers at Norik Up Helly Aa Soulcakes: Malikhpur, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Halloween Tumshie: LornaMCampbell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Turnip (Halloween): Rannpháirtí anaithnid at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Bodrugan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons All Saints Day: Holger Motzkau 2010, Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-3.0), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Silar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons All Souls Day: Laurence Goff, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican: Ricardo André Frantz (User:Tetraktys), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons All Saint’s Church: All Saints church in Salperton on Boxing Day 2012 by Roger Davies, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Samhain / Pangans: See page for author, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons #halloween #documentary #history #samhain #scotland #ireland #isleofman #traditions #customs #legends #folklore #mythology #halloween2023 #halloween2022 #halloweenhistory #traditions #didyouknow #didyouknowfacts #trickortreating #historyfacts