Samhain

October marks one of my very favorite times of year. Not only are the mornings chilly, the weather beautiful and clear, but the mosquitoes are in their last throes and All Hallows' Eve is upon us. The history of Halloween goes back many centuries, possibly beginning with a pagan holiday called Samhain. Samhain (pronounced sow-en) is one of four ancient Gaelic seasonal festivals and marks the end of the harvest season. In the 9th century, the Roman Catholic Church shifted All Saint's Day to November 1st, thus renaming October 31 as All Hallows Eve, and later on, Halloween. 

During Samhain, it was believed that both good and evil spirits were able to cross over and visit the world of the living. Deceased family members were honored and given a seat at the table during feasts. Conversely, precautions had to be taken to keep evil spirits away, so people wore disguises, carved turnip lanterns and lit special bonfires to help guide spirits back home. 

This turnip jack-o-lantern has a creepy-ass face, am I right?


In addition to the ghosties, those who celebrated Samhain had to worry about the freakin' fairies as well. The fae were also more active, causing mischief and even kidnapping humans. Superstitious folks would carry iron or salt, and fairy mounds were avoided.  

I've read more than a few YA books that capitalize on the lore and general creepiness that is Halloween, certainly with varied levels of success. I even read one where the alter love interest was this weird dude named Sam. I can't remember what happened in that book, but yeah, it pretty much sucked. It's like a YA trap, something us aspiring authors just can't resist, like school dances and mean girls. It's 'cause it's what we like to read about, too.

Halloween has changed a lot in the last 100 years. Even in the time since I was a kid, it's become so much bigger and more commercialized. If it didn't have such a dark stigma attached to it, I think it would be more celebrated than Christmas by now. But most people don't know or appreciate the history. So seriously, honor your loved ones that have passed when Halloween comes around. And watch out for fairies. We all know they're freakin' evil.

Jess


“I was born on the night of Samhain, when the barrier between the worlds is whisper-thin and when magic, old magic, sings its heady and sweet song to anyone who cares to hear it.” 
― Carolyn MacCullough, Once a Witch