Communication with the dead was more possible on All Souls Day, in both good and bad ways, and one had to pay homage while also taking the necessary precautions against any spirits who may have less than good intentions. November 1st marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year, and the celebration began on October 31st.

Note too that All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Eve, Hallow from the word in Roman which means “sanctified” was eventually considered a very holy day in the church for people of the Anglican, Episcopalian, Catholic and Lutheran faiths, while still being a Pagan holiday during which time fairies were more prevalent as well, including The Snow Goddess “Feile Moingfinne.” Not only did people attend mass, which was a solemn rite, but they would also dress up in frightening costumes to scare off the dead spirits who perhaps did not wish them well.

The practice was to go from house to house in your frightening costume (after a mass or celebration of some kind) and collect Soul Cakes as protection and as part of a celebration. The celebration generally lasted about three days and, again, marked the cycling of another year.

I recently read that contrary to what many have believed, there is no archeological evidence that Samhain was ever the name of a deity, but is as noted above, the meaning of the words put together. More simply, Samhain can be thought of as “Summer’s end.”

Samhain, All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, Hallow E’en, Feast of the Dead, Hallowtide are just a few of the names that have been used for All Saints or All Souls Day. The American Halloween is likely an abbreviation of the Irish Hallow E’een, or Hallowed evening, though note that any real symbolism that the holiday usually held seems to have vanished. Few people know that regardless of which faith you were, Pagan or Christian, it was a solemn day marked by solemn rites and real practices.

The festival of the dead was eventually incorporated into Christian ritual and church services were long, the celebration itself was long and serious, and there were those in every family who believed they could communicate with the dead relatives or all the dead dears, while at the same time knowing that it was vitally important to be protected against any evil spirits that may exist or be around. Dressing up served a real purpose, which was to ward off these spirits, like the collecting of soul cakes, which likewise warded off any evil spirits or hungry ghosts who did not wish us well.

With this thinning of the space between the living and the dead, witches and fairies were believed to have been seen flying in the sky and bonfires were lit to ward off any evil spirits. Superstition was high on All Saints Day and many souls were meant to help you determine your future; to this end, apple peelings were tossed over the shoulder or nuts thrown into the fire, both methods of divining the future, and especially for young people to divine when and to whom they would be married.