Blessed Samhain bougie brujas babies 👻 Tonight, we’re talking Halloween! While it goes by various names from “Hallow’s Eve” to “The Devils Birthday” in disapproving religions, its roots lie in the rich celtic tradition of Samhain. Samhain is the ancestral precursor for the annual modern day Halloween celebration. In honor of my Irish heritage, I’m bidding farewell to the harvest season with an article that delves into the history of Halloween and offers guidance on how to embrace Samhain as a person of color (POC) with an ethnically intersectional identity. Trust me, its origins are far from spooky 🍂 Halloween isn’t all about facing demons and dancing with the devil like the myths/legends that Christian rhetoric propagandizes. It encourages you to embrace your shadow self as we bring in “the dark half of the year,” a period when days grow shorter and colder due to the Earth’s axial tilt away from the sun. Because we tend to spend more time inside the house this time of year, Samhain asks you to also spend time looking inside yourself by doing your shadow work. Halloween isn’t all about ghost and ghouls lurking in the shadows, candy, or silly costumes. The true history of Samhain challenges you to remove any mask you may be wearing, and examine your authentic self beneath it. It has you confront your inner demons, not cower from them. Through this intense process of shadow work, one can ultimately emerge into the light of self-discovery. Light or shadow work doesn’t rely on gimmicks or tricks; it’s all about taking that initial leap and jumping into the journey. With consistent effort and dedication, the rewards can be quite a treat— one as sweet as this article. So grab the candy you scored during tonight’s trick-or-treating (for the kids, of course), or get your next day half-off Halloween candy haul, and let’s dive right in! What is Samhain? Samhain, pronounced “sow-in” or “sah-win,” originated with the Celtic people. It was most popular amongst the Druids, the bourgeoise of ancient Celtic society, as they threw sumptuous parties to celebrate. Samhain celebrations occur at the midpoint between the fall and winter equinox, between October 31st and November 1st (sometimes it extends until the 2nd, if celebrated alongside with Souls Day). This is the Irish version to the “Day of the Dead” aka “Dia de Los Muertos.” On this day, you honor your ancestors by making them alters, reminiscing their stories, or looking at their photographs. And even though Samhain represents death and nostalgia, it also equally embraces rebirth and change. Moreover, Samhain marks the end of the spooky season, and beginning of chilly season. It is deemed as the most popular of the four quarterly Gaelic festivals that bring in each season. The other 3 holidays include: Imbolc (winter to spring), Bealtaine (spring to summer), and Lughnasa (summer to fall). Samhain is practically considered the New Year, and it’s a way for witches to welcome in winter. Celebrators of Samhain also believe that on this day, the barrier between the spiritual and physical world is broken. Because of this broken border, spirits can freely roam the 3D realm for up to 48 hours. People would leave food offerings in fields to welcome in fairies, Gods, and ancestors, and they would dress up in animal skins and mask to ward off bad spirits. Where does Samhain come from? In ancient Samhain culture, hearth fires would be lit in family homes while they went out to collect the last of the falls harvest. Afterwards, the townspeople would join the Druids for a fire lighting ceremony that involved a wheel representative of the sun. The wheel would cause friction and catch fire as people gathered around it to sacrifice cattle as an offering or say prayers to their gods. When all is said and done, they each take a piece of flame from the communal bonfire home with them to relight their own hearths. Traditional celebrations of Samhain also were used to honor military soldiers, and for townspeople to introduce themselves to the royal monarchal court. Furthermore, it was common practice to feast all you can eat (and drink) on Samhain/Halloween! They didn’t just get candy wasted— they got got wine wasted. They had Henny and margaritas to go with those Hershey’s and M&Ms. They practically had Saint Patties day like— twice a year. So if it’s anything the Irish can do, it’s get lit (I am my grandfathers granddaughter. That is all I’ll say haha). It’s literal too considering all main holidays incorporate rituals of flames and fire. So in a way, having Halloween could kind of be like celebrating New Years Eve, Day of the Dead, Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day, AND Christmas (if the gifts were candy!). 6 holidays in one doesn’t sound so bad, eh? Other fun facts 🧙🏾‍♀️ 🎃 The History of Halloween is over 2,000 years old. 🎃 Prior to carving and hallowing out pumpkins, people carved turnips. 🎃 Some people catch a brides bouquet— others bob for apples. They used to say, first one to catch an apple while bobbing for them will be the first one to marry! 🎃 Some other names for Halloween include: The Hungry Ghost (Teng Chieh)/Qing Ming Festival in China, Halloween auf Deutsch in Germany, Chuseok in Korea, Dia de Los Muertos in Latin America , and Zaduszki in Poland. 🎃 England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Northern France, and the Isle of Man is where Samhain was primarily practiced. 🎃 It’s the 2nd largest commercial holiday in the country, raking in $9 billion annually (an average of $92 a person) As Halloween continuously becomes more commercialized (and colonized), I want people to remember the culture and history behind the holiday. Moreover, I want you to also make this holiday your own, especially if you’re a POC (and one with Celtic roots like me!) who wants to learn how to incorporate your intersectional identities with Samhain. So, here’s how! How to Celebrate Samhain as a POC … Continue reading The History of Halloween (+ How to celebrate Samhain as a POC) 🎃🍫