Halloween is celebrated on October 31st and has its roots in the Irish feast of Samhain. This Celtic festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
Samhain was a time when the boundaries between the world of the living and the dead were at their thinnest. It was when spirits were able to return to Earth. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off malevolent spirits. This practice later evolved into modern Halloween traditions.
In ancient Ireland, people also believed that offerings of food and treats left outside their homes would appease the spirits and protect them from harm.
As Christianity spread, November 1st became All Saints’ Day. The night before, October 31st, became All Hallows’ Eve, eventually transforming into Halloween.
Modern celebration of Halloween involves costumes, trick-or-treating, and festive decorations. However, it still retains some of its ancient customs and beliefs, connecting us to Ireland’s rich and mystical past.
Halloween is celebrated all over the world but today, one of the biggest Halloween parties is held in every year in Derry.