The start of winter is an important event for many pagan groups. The ancient Celts of Ireland, for example, were known to take part in a celebration called “Samuin.” While many festivals throughout the year are usually celebrated around farming habits like planting and reaping crops, the origins of this celebration are slightly different. Samuin, which is now more commonly referred to as Samhain, was a celebration focused primarily on the needs of herders in the countryside. The beginning of the winter was the time when shepherds would bring their flocks back home from the pastures.
Often celebrated on November 1st, Samhain is a holiday rich with cultural and historical significance. Though the celebration of this holiday has been infrequent over the centuries, modern pagan groups have taken up the torch and continue to honor the event by engaging with the symbols and stories associated with it.
Pastoral Beginnings
According to academics and scholars, this holiday was one of four seasonal celebrations that took place over the course of the year. As Samhain was associated with the start of winter, so each other holiday was also associated with the onset of a season. Since a vast majority of the Celtic people were shepherds, they were most concerned with the holidays that impacted the way they guided their animals. The festivals that took place then would often usher in a time when shepherds would all return to their homes and families for the winter and meet with other tribe leaders.
Due to the treacherous conditions that could be brought about by the winter weather, Samhain also marked the end of the open trading season for much of Ireland. It was a time to share stories, teach the young, and prepare for a harsh and bitter cold. In the earliest days of celebrating this holiday, a majority of Celtic people relied on oral tradition to pass along stories. This meant a great deal of information was never written down and instead told from one generation to the next through word and song.
Mythology and Lore
By the time Christianity had gained prominence and began spreading across Europe, the Celts had gotten into the habit of writing down their stories and traditions. The influence of Christianity can be seen in the way the stories surrounding Samhain were recorded. The most popular documents on Samhain come from the Middle Ages and were written by Christian monks. These papers explain Samhain marked both the start of the winter and a time when portals to the land of the dead would open across the land.
According to lore, the city of Tara was set on fire every Samhain by a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who are believed to be the ancient gods and goddesses of Celtic mythology. This particular deity was known as Ailen the Burner, and he prevented the people of the city from stopping his flames by putting them all to sleep with a magical lute. When the traveling adventurer known as Fionn visited Tara during Samhain, he was able to devise a plan that helped him to best Ailen and save Tara from the annual inferno.
Common Customs
Since the festival marked the start of the winter and bringing the animals back home, many of the traditions involved centered around selecting which animals to slaughter for food. The events would also include copious amounts of drinking, meetings about how to handle the coming winter, and plenty of games to keep people entertained. Though the winter was a harsh and serious time, many used Samhain as a chance to engage in a bit of fun beforehand.
Though not observed as it once was, the tradition of Samhain still continues in some circles. Some of its origins might have been lost to time, but what remains paints a clear picture of life long ago.