What is Hallowe’en?

Hallowe’en, or Samhain (pronounced Sow’in and meaning “summer’s end) was an ancient Celtic festival celebrated in the U.K., Ireland and other parts of Northern Europe on the last day of October. On this date, the animals that could not be kept through the winter were slaughtered and their meat salted to feed people through the winter.

Also known as the Feast of the Dead, it was believed to be a time when the veil of death was down, and the spirits of the dead roamed free.

Dressing up in costumes, originally monsters and animals, was a device to scare off any evil spirits that might haunt humans.

I shall light my candle and invite the spirits of the recently deceased to join me.

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