Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport
    • En Garde!
    • BUWRU Still on Top
    • Hidden Histories: With The Archaeology Society
    • Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia
    • Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights
    • Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!
    • Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Redevelopment plans and the culture of Bangor

      October 28, 2022

      Immediate closure of Menai Bridge following reports of structural integrity issues

      October 28, 2022

      Racial abuse victim calls for harsher sentencing following nightclub assault

      October 28, 2022
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia

      October 29, 2022

      Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights

      October 29, 2022

      Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!

      October 29, 2022
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Gilmore Garms

      October 28, 2022

      Fleeces and Funk

      October 28, 2022

      Cheerleading: Getting your kit together

      October 28, 2022
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      North Wales Ramblings

      October 28, 2022

      Hamza Yassin: The Hard Work That Is Making Luck Happen

      October 28, 2022

      Student’s Union Hosts Repair Cafe for Sustainability Awareness Week

      October 28, 2022
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Discovery»History»Samhain: The History Of Halloween
    History

    Samhain: The History Of Halloween

    Kimberly NashBy Kimberly NashOctober 29, 2020Updated:October 29, 2020No Comments2 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Halloween is recognized today as the international day of the year when decorating your house with skeletons and jackal lanterns is not considered unusual, but this world-famous spooky holiday was once a sacred and very different kind of celebration called “Samhain”. 

    The Celts who lived more than 2000 years ago in the region now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their New Year on the 1st November. That day marked the end of the summer and the harvest, the beginning of the dark and cold winter that had come.  

    During the winter, the Celts believed that death was at its highest within that season and that on the night before the New Year, the line between the realms of the living and the dead was blurred. 

    On the night of October 31st, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed the ghosts of the deceased would return to earth, Celts often thought that the presence of otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future.

    Many people entirely relied on these prophecies, and it became an essential source of relief in the long, dark winter, offering comfort and stability in hard times. To commemorate the event, the Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to Celtic gods.  

    During the festival, the Celts wore costumes generally made up of animal heads and hides and tried to tell each other their fortunes. When the party was over, their hot fires, which had been extinguished earlier that evening, were re-ignited from the sacred bonfire to help shelter them in the coming winter.  

    Comparing the Halloween we experience today to that 2000 years ago, we can see that Halloween has changed and morphed into more of a commercial and family-friendly holiday, with sweets and quirky decorations. Halloween has become less of what it originated from and focuses more on children’s enjoyment.  

    Halloween today continues certain traditions, such as costumes and bonfires. But they have been so watered-down, by time and the influence of Christianity, that many have forgotten its origins: in the Celtic realm of spirits and the roaring ritual bonfires of Samhain.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Kimberly Nash

    History Editor 2020-21

    Related Posts

    The Origins of Easter

    April 4, 2021

    Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

    March 20, 2021

    LGBT History Month in Bangor

    March 4, 2021

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.