Samhain – Summer's End

The Roots of Halloween Ghosts, Evil Spirits, and Masquerades

Oct 8, 2009 Marc Salyer

Long ago, before electric light, men feared the shadows of the night. In those days people developed some strange customs to deal with the hidden danger.

The ancient Celts called it Samhain (summer’s end). It was a happy time that marked the end of one part of the year (the light part) and the beginning of the next (the dark part). It was in fact the eve of the Gaelic / Celtic new year. The European Atlantic Islanders observed the spring and summer as light times and the fall and winter as the dark times. The dark times were for them a time when evil spirits roamed the streets at night.

Familiar Spirits

When Rome swept north into Europe they found cultural idiosyncrasies with which they could identify. One aspect of the British Islander’s culture that the Romans found familiar was the Celtic Samhain celebration. The occupying Mediterranean force enjoyed Samhain as it reminded them of their own feasts, Lemuria. Though the Roman feast was observed in May, it held many of the same spiritual and superstitious sentiments. This is because almost all ancient cultures have celebrations of death. The Romans were no different in that respect. As Rome adopted Christianity, it imposed its beliefs on those whose lands it occupied. Having abandoned their pagan feast of the dead, it seems the Romans merged the Celtic observance of Samhain into a new ritual All Souls Day. This became a day to pray for the righteous dead who passed from this life with a few outstanding sins on their record.

Harvest Feast

Ancient societies, particularly Northern ones, were dependant on nature, among other factors, for winter survival. Problems with soil, pests, weather, water, war, and disease could devastate small villages (even large cities) of the ancient world. If a fungus spread among the crops, or the summer skies refused to rain, or the strong arm de jour burnt off the fields to send a message to the local regent, it could mean small meals and survival mode for the long, cold winter months to come.

So when the summer harvest ended successfully, the people who were subject to the fickleness of nature were grateful to her. They knew that winter was near and food had to be prepared for the months of ice and cold.

But to make things ready, they had to glean the fields and then turn them under, killing off the plants. They had to kill livestock or wild game for meat to last the winter months. Also, the prospect of death in the harsh climate was constantly before them through the season. In many ways death surrounded them in these bleak, winter months, and that most assuredly contributed to their seasonal obsession with death.

This was for the British Islanders a night when the wall between the spirit world and the physical world was weak and all manner of beings entered into our side. Fairies, banshees, and a host of ghostly beings played in the night enticing the adventurous to roam the streets, and encouraging the more fearful to stay inside by the fire where it was safe.

Some Strange facts about Samhain

• On this one night it was customary for clans to be at peace with one another. It was also a good time to settle up debts and clear the conscience.
• The barrier between the world of the dead and the world of the living was thought to be weakest on this night.
• The Pooka, a large goat, boar, or horse with glowing red eyes stalks the town on the night of Samhain. It urinated on unprotected food stores, took unwitting villagers on wild rides, and foretold the future for some (it can talk).

It was considered a good omen for a woman to become pregnant at Samhain.

References:

"Samhain". Encyclopaedia Britannica.2009. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. Accessed October 6, 2009.

Owen, James."First 'Halloween'Costumes:Skins, Skulls, and Skirts?"National Geographic.2008. Accessed October 6, 2009.

Additional Articles:

The Origin of Halloween

Lemuria - The Exorcism of House Spirits

How an Effective Teacher Starts the Day

The copyright of the article Samhain – Summer's End in E European History is owned by Marc Salyer. Permission to republish Samhain – Summer's End in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Manpeople Still observe Summer's End with a bonfir