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nThe door to thenOtherworld is open tonight…and so the fairies and the dead canncommunicate with us…
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Suchnis the mythological belief about this Celtic or Gaelic festival—andnthe aspect of the festival that influenced All Hallows’ Day (alsonknown as Day of the Dead) and All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween). n
Suchnis the mythological belief about this Celtic or Gaelic festival—andnthe aspect of the festival that influenced All Hallows’ Day (alsonknown as Day of the Dead) and All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween). nn
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nThenmore practical side of Samhain is that it marks the beginning ofnwinter in Gaelic Ireland. It celebrates the harvesting of crops, butnit is even more a special day for herdsmen: It marks the leading ofncattle back from their summer pastures and, often, the slaughteringnof animals for winter. n
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SomenCeltic customs of Samhain included lighting bonfires on hilltops,neating a special Samhain feast—and setting a place at the table fornthe souls of dead relatives—and leaving offerings of food at thendoor for the fairies. Turnip lanterns were believed to offernprotection from otherworldly beings, and they were left in windows orncarried by travelers. Another kind of protection from the fairies wasnwearing masks or costumes, which were thought to confuse the fairies.nThis custom was called “guising.” Going from house to housenbegging for food or other gifts for the Samhain feast was anotherntradition in some parts of Ireland.
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nCannyou see how these traditions led to modern Halloween customs?
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nMr. Donn has gathered some websites about Samhain.
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nBynthe way…
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nWhilenI was reading about Samhain, I got mixed up reading about the Celtsnand the Gaels and the Druids. Were these different names for the samenpeople? I looked up the three terms:
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ThenCelts were an ancient people from Central Europe. They spread tonWestern Europe and especially settled in the British Isles.
ThenCelts were an ancient people from Central Europe. They spread tonWestern Europe and especially settled in the British Isles.n
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nGaelsnwere a particular group of ancient Celts who settled in Ireland,nScotland, and the Isle of Man. The modern Gaelic language is one ofnthe two official languages of Ireland (the other, of course, isnEnglish). n
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nDruidsnwere priests of the ancient Celtic religion.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve)
Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve) n
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nHalloween coincidences
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