This was written in response to a friend who had looked up Samhain in Wikipedia. I hope that you enjoy it!

Wikipedia doesn't have it quite right but we have to remember that Wiki is written by anyone and everyone...it is not like the Britannica or World Book where things havae to be researched.

Samhain (pronounced sow-ahn and the sow rhymes with cow) is the old Irish or Welsh word that refers to the New Year as it began in ancient times. The ancients in all cultures celebrated life with the changing of nature....cycles of the moon, cycles of the seasons, cycles of life. (Note the Celts, the midEastern, the Oriental, the Latin and the Native traditions.)

At this time of year in the northern hemisphere, people would be making the final harvest, storing the last of the food for the winter and beginning the long, cold, dark wait for spring to come again.

This is also the time of year that the ancestors are venerated. It is believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the ones who have crossed over is particularly thin at this time of year. Thus, in many cultures you will see offerings of various sorts made to the ancestors for their continued good will and protection throughout the coming year. Dinners are prepared with special foods and there is often an altar dedicated to the ancestors.

The veneration of the ancestors is a solemn time. Halloween is actually a contraction of the Hallow's Eve. Hallow means holy. The ancestors in all ancient cultures were considered holy.

Thus, you can see another way the the church used what was to teach what they believed. Even the cycle of the story of Jesus' life fits into the natural cycles of the year.

In many denominations of Christianity, Nov. 1 is celebrated as All Saints Day. It is the day when a mass for those who have passed in the last year is said and their names read out one by one. Again, we see the veneration of the ancestors.

The "sugar skulls" that my daughter and I are listing right now come from the Latin American celebration of Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. Originally celebrated in ancient times on approximately Nov. 2, it is now celebrated anytime from Oct 30- Nov 2 in keeping with the modern Roman calendar. Please see my guide on Dia de los Muertos. Dia de los Muertos Guide by Kate Falconer

If you are wondering how our modern Halloween reflects the ancient times, it is not difficult to understand that the ancients who believed that they shared space and time with other worldly creatures would think that they too would commuicate on this night. With the mystical nature of being began to disappear, there began a campaign of fear about that which was not understood. Thus, ghosts, goblins, fairies, brownies and such became the stuff of "scary" stories.

Needless to say, Hollywood has been having a boon with this topic since the advent of the silent movie!

I hope this helps and that you enjoyed it!