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To say that the Celtic culture touches almost every facet of modern day American life would probably be true.
I guess it never ceases to amaze me how much our modern day world is impacted by the Irish culture.
No wonder people are so proud of their Irish heritage. For yet again, we have Ireland to thank
for one of the most fun holiday's around! Halloween is a holiday that I always look forward to with
its costume parties & haunted houses & hay rides in the country. I hope you enjoy our Halloween section & have
a safe & fun holiday.
Halloween... I think its important to remember how modern festivals and celebrations came about so I want to provide a brief synopsis for you.
"Samhain" (pronounced SOW- en) roughly translated to mean "summers end" was the Celts ancient festival at the end of October to celebrate the
end of harvest and the beginning of the winter season. It was celebrated with bonfires and festivites spanned the course of a few days. In Ireland today, they still celebrate with huge bonfires.
The Celts believed in reincarnation- that life had no end. This was epitomized in their jewelry
and art which shows circles and spirals. When a person was born, they were "washed in the well of forgetfulness" which is why you were unable to
remember past lives [easily]. The Gaels believed that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin on Samhain; because some animals and plants were dying, it thus allowed the dead to reach back through the veil that separated them from the living.
The Catholic Church adopted the holiday in the 8th century by naming November 1 "All Saints Day". It was a
holy day of obligation for any Saint that had no specific day of worship already. Hence "All Hallows Eve" ,
which shortened over time to "Halloween".
Halloween was brought to America by none other than Irish immigrants fleeing the havoc caused
the Potato Famine of the 1840s.
Did you know that the Jack O'Lantern also has Irish roots?? Well, it seems that Jack, an Irish blacksmith from the 18th century,
signed some sort of pact with the Devil and therefore was denied entrace in Heaven's Pearly Gates. He was condemned to
wander the Earth in darkness. So he carried with him a carved out turnip lit with a candle to light his way. When the
Irish brought this tradition to the States, they found pumpkins much more available than turnips
& therefore the tradition of carving out Jack O'Lanterns' was born.
So remember your Irish roots this Halloween holiday season & be aware that we have the Irish,
yet again, to thank for one of our modern day traditions.
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