Samhain Explained: Halloween’s Celtic Origins

Adolf Goebbels
Published on Nov 1, 2023
Learn how an ancient Celtic festival inspired the Halloween customs we know and love today.

Apple bobbing, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, decorating with black and orange…turns out all of these fall festivities are rooted in Samhain, a pastoral festival celebrated most famously by the Gaelic (a.k.a. Goidelic-speaking) Celts of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.

Note: You can find a text version of this essay (spread out across a few different chapters) in my book Samhain in Your Pocket: https://a.co/d/c3J8w53

And of course the same content is also available (with links to references) over on IrishMyths.com: https://irishmyths.com/samhain/

Intro 00:00

What Is Samhain? Definition & Etymology 02:39

A Brief History of Samhain 04:52

Why Do We Bob for Apples on Halloween? 08:24

Why Do We Carve Pumpkins on Halloween? 10:37

Why Do We Decorate With Black and Orange on Halloween? 12:34

Why Do We Dress Up in Costumes on Halloween? 14:02

Why Do We Give Out Candy on Halloween? 16:13

Why Do We Go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween? 18:41

Watch the rest of the Cross-Quarter Day series:

Imbolc Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H2JcSOk2Ik&list=PLoBFeQEuiBkxuz1i8vOLtb_poYZ0pjIaU&index=2
Beltane Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpWh4kIQ4yc&list=PLoBFeQEuiBkxuz1i8vOLtb_poYZ0pjIaU&index=1
Lughnasa Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcfqfNLURo4&list=PLoBFeQEuiBkxuz1i8vOLtb_poYZ0pjIaU&index=3

More books by me, I. E. Kneverday. (Note: I may earn a small affiliate commission if you buy through the links below.)

-Neon Druid: An Anthology of Urban Celtic Fantasy: https://amzn.to/3BJE7yc
-Saint Patrick in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3ZWMWxG
-Irish Monsters in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3SXQgFO
-Irish Myths in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3Qi5xjg
-Samhain in Your Pocket: https://amzn.to/3Bkp2D0