Irelands' Oldest Holiday - Halloween
Really Samháin
Ireland is paganistic in tradition and so on.
That's why we have places like Newgrange etc. But we can also see this concept within our national holidays and ghaeilge names we give them a mighty fine example would be Samháin or oíche Samháin meaning today's' equivalent to Halloween. Was once huge in Ireland. We lit bone fires and walked between them for purification rituals. We can see how this has been turned into the modern day bonfire at Halloween. We also have dressing up or what was known as Guising so children and adults could walk amunst the evil not being noticed for fear of their human pure souls; and we also shaped turnips in scary faces to scare people away we now use pumpkins but we did once use turnips. the illuminated scary face would frighten evil spirit away, these spirits which passed the vail for revenge or fun; and the light from the lantern would bring our ansesters to us for one night in dreams to warn or guide us in our pursuits.
Ireland is paganistic in tradition and so on.
That's why we have places like Newgrange etc. But we can also see this concept within our national holidays and ghaeilge names we give them a mighty fine example would be Samháin or oíche Samháin meaning today's' equivalent to Halloween. Was once huge in Ireland. We lit bone fires and walked between them for purification rituals. We can see how this has been turned into the modern day bonfire at Halloween. We also have dressing up or what was known as Guising so children and adults could walk amunst the evil not being noticed for fear of their human pure souls; and we also shaped turnips in scary faces to scare people away we now use pumpkins but we did once use turnips. the illuminated scary face would frighten evil spirit away, these spirits which passed the vail for revenge or fun; and the light from the lantern would bring our ansesters to us for one night in dreams to warn or guide us in our pursuits.
Pumpkins or Turnip carving !!!!
Carving pumpkins is a tradition nearly all over the world. WE the inventors of Halloween originally used Turnips.
The old story was that jak made a deal with the Devil and that when he died he was allowed to walk on our earth in a ghost form but he could only see darkness. So god gave him a turnip and the devil an ever-burning ember from hell. To help him light his way through the abyss.
That is the Christianized story.
From what I know the Turnip was carved into an evil face to scare away evil spirits that passed the vail on Samháin. also the light from the turnip now pumpkin drew your ancestors closer to you for protection.
We started using pumpkins when the Irish emigrants used the coffin ships during the great Irish fammine.
They could not find Turnips a 'plenty but found Pumpkins instead.
So light up a jack o lantern and pray for the dead this Halloween and see what visions you may encounter in your dreams.
Carving pumpkins is a tradition nearly all over the world. WE the inventors of Halloween originally used Turnips.
The old story was that jak made a deal with the Devil and that when he died he was allowed to walk on our earth in a ghost form but he could only see darkness. So god gave him a turnip and the devil an ever-burning ember from hell. To help him light his way through the abyss.
That is the Christianized story.
From what I know the Turnip was carved into an evil face to scare away evil spirits that passed the vail on Samháin. also the light from the turnip now pumpkin drew your ancestors closer to you for protection.
We started using pumpkins when the Irish emigrants used the coffin ships during the great Irish fammine.
They could not find Turnips a 'plenty but found Pumpkins instead.
So light up a jack o lantern and pray for the dead this Halloween and see what visions you may encounter in your dreams.