Halloween – the Celtic American Holiday

We Celts have always had a thing for Scary. Werewolves, vampires, and murderous fairies were part of our culture long before they inspired the likes of Bram Stoker (who was Irish, by the way). Some of our traditional myths and legends involve things that would never be allowed on TV. Cuchullain going into warp spasm comes to mind, what with the nine feet of spurting black blood, twisting around in his own skin, and so on. And that is one of our happier legends! The scary stories are intense indeed.

Pronounced “Sow-en”

Halloween is roughly based on Samhain (pronounced sow-en), the Celtic New Year. According to tradition, this is the beginning of the dark time, heading into the lean part of the year. Harvesting is finishing, and the long wait for spring begins. With the nights at their longest, our ancestors believed that on Samhain, the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest, and things that go bump in the night often did. The spirits of the dead could and would come back to visit, and that the fairies would run amok on this eve. Rituals included bonfires, setting out offerings, and doing things to scare unwanted spirits away. These traditions slowly merge with other cultures and traditions, until our families migrated to the US, and voila: a billion dollar holiday is born. Here are some factoids that you can use to educate our less informed brethren.

By any other name: Spooky!

Halloween is short for “All Hallows Eve” or “All Hallow e’en.” This is the evening before the Catholic Christian observance of All Saints’ Day. A mass was said called “All Hallowmas.” The fact that this event takes place on Samhain is no coincidence. Pope Gregory (the first) back in 601 CE decreed that it would be a great way to spread the faith, that if the locals were having a celebration, adding a Christian celebration to it would be great marketing. It worked so well in fact that Christmas and Easter both coincide with religious celebrations of other major religions. It was a kind of, “Join them and then beat them” policy. Pope Gregory IV in 835 CE moved All Hallowmas to November first. The genesis of our word Halloween was born. I should add that another fine harvest (Roman) holiday was co-opted, one celebrating a Harvest Goddess (of apples, in particular). Her name was Pomona (hmmn, where have I heard that name before?). Also, for Celts, the holiday was never about anything Satanic. Our ancestors saw the Samhain tradition as dangerous, but not evil. The evil tinge comes courtesy of some fire and brimstone Christian influence.

Oídche na h-aimléise: Mischief Night (scare them before they scare us)

Now some folks might sit quietly quivering in the darkness, but many Irish and Scots took a more preemptive tact. Go out and cause mischief before the ghosts and ghoulies do. Scare them before they scare us! Go out and knock over outhouses,and play harmless tricks. Presumably this was effective, and a good excuse for fun anyway. This was combined with the tradition of Mumming or Guising (dressing in costumes, which was part of a variety of holidays, including Christmas). I might add this makes for handy disguises to protect the innocent, of course.

Who Wants (Soul) Cake?

“Trick or Treat” actually has more to do the traditions of November 2nd, All Souls Day. Early Christians would go begging for “soul cakes” or “go a-soulin” and promise to say prayers on behalf of people that had passed that year (a European tradition). More modern Scottish traditions (1800s forward) considered going around “begging” beneath them. On the other hand, singing a song for a treat was fair trade, hence a “trick for a treat.” This tradition was more associated with the Christmas season. Bribing someone not to do a mischief was not Celtic viewpoint as the “trick or treat” tradition implies today. Why bribe someone when you can thump them instead?

And now, Scary Americans

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Jack of the Lantern (Irish Head Lights)

You might not recognize the original Jack of the Lanterns. In Ireland, they had a tradition of carving turnips and putting candles in them. The practice is linked to folktale of Hard Jack or Stingy Jack, a mean-spirited man who managed to trick and beat the devil. When he died, neither Heaven nor Hell would take him. He begs the Devil for something to keep him warm in limbo, and the devil tosses him a burning ember. He can’t carry it in his hands, so carves out a turnip to carry it in to find his way. So now the ghostly visage of “Jack of the Lantern” wanders forth on Halloween, trying to find someplace to call home.

When the Irish emigrated to the US, they found pumpkins easily available, and a new American tradition is born. There is some evidence that since the ancient Celtic warriors collected heads and displayed them, that perhaps there is more to this old tradition than meets the eye. After all, a carved turnip with a candle in it looks eerily like a glowing human skull!

A Celtic Holiday of our Very Own

Unlike St. Patrick’s day (when everyone is Irish), few of the millions of Halloween revelers know how American-Celtic this holiday really is. This Halloween people will use their imaginations, scare each other silly, and feast on way too much candy. And underneath it all are the Celtic traditions that you can now regale your friends with. But as you celebrate your Halloween or Samhain, be careful. The veil between the worlds can be very ragged, and some of our old folktales are lively indeed. So lively, they might want to follow a kindred Celt home! After all, our hospitality is legendary.

Happy Halloween!