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The Roots of Halloween
‘An excellent and comprehensive exploration of this fascinating subject.’ - Philip Carr-Gomm, author Druid Mysteries
‘Samhain was the entry point into winter, a time of hardship, cold and hunger … It was also a time of introspection, of communing with the dead and the otherworld – themes that have somehow survived, albeit distorted, into the modern era.’
The modern celebration of Halloween is derived from the ancient festival of the dead known in Ireland as Samhain. It is from Ireland that we have inherited most of our Halloween traditions, mainly through the diaspora. Delving into the ancient past, this book uncovers the history of this festival in Britain, Ireland and Brittany, including the forgotten goddess Tlachtga and the sacred temple of the Druids in Co. Meath, where the first Halloween fires were lit.
An excellent and comprehensive exploration of this fascinating subject.
Philip Carr-Gomm,
"After reading this book you will come away with a much deeper understanding of Samhain, its meaning and where it comes from."
"An excellent book, the authentic source of the author’s research is obvious (as well as usefully noted in a bibliography) and he has shared this material in a very accessible and interesting way. Samhain has something of interest for everyone whether you know little about its origins, celebrate every year or are purely interested in a historical rather than spiritual context."
"All in all, it is a book that does not leave any stone unturned and it was a joy to discover the history behind one of the most popular sabbats."
"A pleasant read with extensive detail, making it a very good introduction to the festival in Ireland, with some lovely complementary illustrations by Elena Danaan."
27th September, 2024 in Folklore
Prepare for spooky season by learning more about the historic origins of Halloween. Extracted from the new book Halloween Folklore and Ghost Stories out this Autumn. What is Halloween? First, the name. The general presumption is that the word ‘Halloween’ is simply a shortened for…
7th September, 2021 in Society & Culture
Halloween is one of those annual celebrations that we just accept as part of the year, like Christmas and Easter, often without question – it is just something that happens at the end of October. However, much like Christmas and Easter, Halloween is specifically placed at a time…
17th July, 2019 in Local & Family History
Kerry is the most westerly county of Ireland, in the far south west and it has long played an important role in Ireland’s history. Although humans arrived in Ireland some six thousand years earlier, the earliest clear evidence of farming in Ireland was found at Ferriter’s Co…
