(EP. 21} The History and Cultural Origin of Halloween (or Samhain)

Halloween….the spookiest time of year. When the veil that separates the living and the dead gets dangerously thin. 

Welcome back, writers and weavers to season three of Writing the Broomstick!

No matter where you live in the world, we’re willing to bet that your culture commemorates the end of summer and the beginning of winter...when our ancestors prepared themselves for the harshest months of the year. 

In ancient Ireland, the Celts celebrated with the Samhain festival—a time when rural farmers stared darkness in the face with a giant celebration and where spirits roamed the earth. 

But how did Samhain evolve into Halloween? 

Katrina and Genny take you on a quick tour throughout Celtic Ireland where the seeds of our modern-day Halloween were sown. We discuss the origins of the Jack-o-lantern, trick-or-treating, costumes, and spookiness in general.

We then trail off into dreamland where both girls share their experiences of Halloweens gone by. 

Suggested Reading for the Spooky Season:

• The Wise One  by K.T. Anglehart

Sources:

• https://www.history.com/news/history-of-the-jack-o-lantern-irish-origins
• https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/irish-traditions-halloween
• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-history-of-trick-or-treating-is-weirder-than-you-thought-79408373/
• https://www.ireland.com/en-gb/things-to-do/events/puca-festival/
• https://wfupress.wfu.edu/arts-and-culture/spooky-history-of-samhain/
• https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/origins-halloween-samhain-002271
• https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/13things/7448.html