Samhain Night (Hallowe’en)

Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic / Gallic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to honor the dead ancestor sand ward off threatening spirits. The old celebration lasted for several days. The whole celebration is the moment of union between the world of the dead and the living. The first known archeologic evidence of Samhain appeared on a Gallic calendar found in Coligny (2^nd Century B.-C.), a little town of Burgundy in France. Therefore gains weight the theory of Gallic origin and later diffusion of Samhain first to Brittany, and later to the British Isles.

In the eighth century, the pope designated November 1st as a time to honor All Saints. Immediately All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, contracted in Hallowe’en, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating sweet treats. Although many  European cultures are linked to Celtic or Gallic past (almost all western and much of central- and eastern Europe), Halloween traditions have recently been reported to be practiced mainly in the actual regions of celtic language and culture such as Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Brittany. The 19th century Irish-scottish immigrant tradition of Halloween was adopted in the United States and was later on, mainly in the 20th century, transformed and reimported into Europe and other parts of the world. Now it forms part of the annual calendar of children’s and adult’s celebrations all over the world.