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Irish Halloween Traditions

Written by Ciaran Vipond on Oct 11, 2022 | 12 Comments

Did you know that Ireland is the home of Halloween? Learn more about Halloween, the Celtic origins of this spooky festival, and what ancient traditions continue to this day both in Ireland and worldwide.

The Home of Halloween

Many of today's familiar Halloween customs draw from over 2000 years of Irish history, culture and tradition. All Hallows Eve, celebrated each October 31st draws its origins from the Celtic festival Samhain. To pronounce Samhain say "Sow-when" like the word "sound" without the d and you should have it!

Samhain

Samhain is an Old Gaelic word that some say means “the end of summer.” Others think it draws its roots from the Proto-Celtic for "assembly." Either way, Samhain was one of the four big festivals in the old calendar along with Imbolc, Bealtaine, and Lúnasa. This was one of the biggest events of the year.

For our ancestors, Samhain was a festival marking the end of harvest season, the beginning winter, and the coming of the new year. They believed that on Samhain, with the turning of the year, the division between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, making it easy for spirits to roam the world of the living. Spooky stuff!

Fires and Disguises Keeping Spirits at Bay

To keep these spirits in check and to hide their identity from any menacing sprites that bore them ill will, people would hang up charms and crosses, dress up in masks and cunning disguises, make spooky lanterns and light large fires. We can see echoes of many of these traditions today.

Both the young and young at heart dress up on Halloween in Ireland and around the globe. People also decorate their houses although these days it is to welcome goulish visitors to the door rather than keep them away. And in Ireland, it is still commonplace to have huge Halloween bonfires!

Young people in Ireland work for weeks collecting materials to build the biggest bonfire. The fire service has one of it's busiest nights of the year on Halloween and although traditional, this sometimes dangerous practice is being actively discouraged.

Pumpkin Carving

A much safer form of Samahin fire is the carving of lanterns. Carving pumpkins is an American Halloween tradition that has been enthusiastically adopted in Ireland in the last few years.

But Ireland didn't have pumpkins until very recently. So originally it was Turnips that were carved into spooky lanterns to scare off spirits or find your way on a dark Samhain eve! Carving a turnip is very tough going! Irish immigrants in America wisely switched to the much more impressive and easy to carve pumpkin to continue this tradition. These days It's rare to find a carved turnip in Ireland, but they are certainly terrifying!

Scary Stories

The Irish have a tradition of storytelling recognised the world over. And there are plenty of spooky tales that get shared around Samhain. Tales of michevious fairies and spirits like the Puca, the dreaded Banshee and even vampires abound. Many of the colorful cast of characters that we associate with Halloween got their start or were made famous through Irish ghost stories.

The Irish Fortune Cookie - Halloween Barmbrack

The druids were also thought to be able to predict the future and tell fortunes. With Samhain marking the Celtic new year, many wanted to see what the year ahead would hold for them with divination games common on Samhain eve. This tradition continued down through the centuries with games like snap-apple played to tell your fortune.

There are plenty of ways this fortunetelling is still practiced in Ireland today and snap apple remains a common party game, but the tastiest and our Samhain fave is Barmbrack (bairĂ­n breac in Irish).

You can find all the details of this tasty tradition complete with a recipe in our Traditional Barmbrack blog.

Get your Barmbrack Recipe

But be warned - You may find some strange objects in your slice of Barmbrack. And if you do, your future for the coming year is foretold:

  • Find A Pea: Bad Luck! You will definitely not marry for another year
  • Find A Coin: Congratulations! You will enjoy great fortune in the coming year
  • Find A Matchstick: Oh Dear! In the next 12 months your love life will be filled with strife
  • Find A Rag: Also Not Good! You will have ill fortune this year
  • Find A Silver Ring: Good News! You will be wed before the year is out

Nowadays, it is unusual to have a Barmbrack that contains all of the above objects. But the ring still remains, with small toy rings in shop bought Barmbrack. And it is perfect treat with a cup of tea for dark, damp and blustery evenings so typical of October in Ireland.

Continuing Celtic Traditions

This Halloween, why not carry on a tasty Irish tradition by making your own Barmbrack and sharing it with friends and family? We have plenty of Sterling Silver Irish Rings to bake in your cake. But we do advise wrapping the ring in grease proof paper first and biting with care to protect your teeth!

Irish Rings for Your Brambrack

Considering this tradition? We're sure you'll find the perfect ring for your Brambrack in our range of sterling silver, Irish made pieces.

Celtic Knot Ring
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+ 2 OPTIONS
Celtic Knot Ring
$195.00
(111)
Antique Trinity Knot Ring
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+ 4 OPTIONS
Celtic Love Knot Ring
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+ 12 OPTIONS
Celtic Love Knot Ring
$290.00
(34)

Protection for Samhain

Or perhaps you would like a lucky talisman to feel protected this Samhain eve? Our Celtic crosses are sure to do the trick.

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Ciaran Vipond

Ciaran Vipond

My Irish Jeweler

Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!

I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!

Comments

Kathleen Mcginness

Came here to.learn about all hallows eve traditions and I got a family history lesson...about the bloody hand of ulster. My grams was Mary oneil and the bloody hand is on our family crest. Love learning about our history

Jane ChadwickKathleen Mcginness

Thank you for your wonderful note Kathleen. We always love to hear from a fellow lover of history. The O'Neills have a long and storied history - fantqstic that you know about those family connections.

Kirk Neely

I enjoy these writings. What is the story behind the red hand of Ulster? I have been told that it is a part of our family history. Thank you.

Jane ChadwickKirk Neely

Hi Kirk, thanks for reading and great to hear you enjoyed. The story behind the red hand of Ulster is a little gruesome and fits right in with Halloween! The story goes that their were two chieftains racing to lay their hand on a distant shore to claim new territory. Seeing he was going to loose the race, one of the chiefs chopped off his hand and threw it to the shore, leaving a bloody handprint and claiming the land as his own! In some tellings this chief is an O'Neill, fitting with the O'Neills being the first Irish family to use the red hand in their heraldry. Today there are families all over Ireland that have this symbol in their heraldry so it may well be part of your family history too! Happy Halloween!

Jack

Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the history lesson. You know I’ll have to try carving a turnip now. I will definitely share the history of Samhain with my grandchildren. We’re making plans to visit Ireland again. Thanks Liz!!

Liz MaguireJack

Our pleasure, Jack! Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. We are always delighted to hear from friends like yourself. Next you're in Ireland let us know we'd be only too happy to put the kettle on for you. All the best!

Michelle Tran

I love anything Irish

Liz MaguireMichelle Tran

Thanks Michelle, we're so glad to hear that and appreciate your reading! All the best, Liz

Eileen

really enjoyed the samhain story, did not know bout the carved turnips, but i have some and will give it a go,as i celebrate this festival also the old way and iam dressing up as a witch,

Liz MaguireEileen

That's brilliant, Eileen! Hopefully, you enjoyed a fun and festive Samhain -- it certainly sounds like you were well sorted for the celebrations! Cheers, Liz

Sue

I love your informative stories about the history of Ireland !!! Please continue to do so !

Liz MaguireSue

Hi Sue, Thanks so much for your kind words! We're so glad that you're enjoying the blogs. It's fantastic to hear from readers like yourself -- your energy and enthusiasm make it worthwhile! Cheers, Liz