New London Talk on the Celtic Origins of Halloween

Post by Richard Connell

Halloween follows a 2000-year Celtic custom that commemorates the once a year return to earth of deceased relatives.

The Celtic holiday, called Samhain (Sooween), featured the interchange of the dead and the living one night per year, at the beginning of the dark half of the year (Winter). Costumes and tricks were created to allow only good “ghosts” into homes. Over the millennia some additions were introduced, such as “Jack-O-Lantern.”

Christianity modified some of the ancient Celtic Samhain customs in the 5th through 8th centuries.

Halloween began to be celebrated in America after the arrival of Irish Famine immigrants in the mid=1800’s. In America, pumpkins replaced turnips as the carved out candle holders. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that Halloween became largely a children’s’ holiday. Today, Halloween has become the second largest commercial holiday in America.

The John P. Holland Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) in New London County is sponsoring a program describing the ancient Celtic traditions of Samhain and the evolving practices that gave rise to Halloween.

The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at St. Joseph’s School Hall on Squire Street in New London.

For information, contact one of the following people:

• Sean Moore at 443-2508 or john107@snet.net
• Jim Gallagher at 739-8216 or jimgall98@juno.com

Visit the John P. Holland Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Facebook page or website for more information.