top of page
The Irish Voice

Why not head to Ireland at Halloween?

Updated: 5 days ago


HALLOWEEN in Ireland stands apart from celebrations elsewhere due to its rich tapestry of ancient traditions and customs that have survived for centuries. At the heart of these practices is Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.


Celebrated, they say, on October 31, Samhain was the time when, in the ancient beliefs of the Celts, the boundary between the living and the dead was at its narrowest, allowing spirits to roam freely among the living.


When the nights grow long and dark in Ireland, and the days of summer start to seem like a memory, you can sense the atmosphere of the ancient Celtic landscape—the dark countryside, the wild winds and the roaring rain—and begin to understand how flickering shadows from the hearth might spark the imagination.


More modern traditions have enhanced Halloween in Ireland, while the cultural understanding of it developed as the ancient festival lingered and was transformed in a Catholic country, leading to a celebration which is rich and diverse.


Dr Kelly Fitzgerald, head of the School of Irish, Celtic Studies, and Folklore at University College Dublin, emphasises that the history of Halloween in Ireland is layered. Each group of people that has inhabited Ireland has contributed to the narrative through myth, history, and religion, creating a rich cultural tapestry that defines modern Halloween—and leading to a surge of tourists making their way to Ireland to enjoy a unique celebration, which around the world is more and more homogenised and commercial.


An illuminating time

One of the most significant aspects of Samhain was the lighting of bonfires, and this tradition continues right up to the present day, with celebrations centred on these great fires at various spots around Ireland. These bonfires served as protective beacons against malevolent spirits believed to mingle with the living. Local communities would gather around these massive fires, sharing stories and celebrating the transition to winter. In some areas, it was customary to extinguish the hearth fire at home and relight it from the bonfire, symbolising renewal and good fortune. Today, festivals like the Púca Festival in Athboy and Trim, County Meath, continue this tradition, featuring ceremonial fires that symbolise bridging the gap between this world and the next.


More recognisable as a part of Halloween is the Irish tradition of carving Jack-o’-Lanterns—though early Irish settlers used turnips instead of pumpkins. The tale of a blacksmith named Jack, who tricked the Devil and was condemned to wander the earth with only a hollowed-out turnip to light his way, has been passed down through generations. This custom has evolved over time, with pumpkins becoming the favoured choice in America, but the original Ghost Turnip remains a cherished artefact in Irish folklore.


Games associated with Halloween, like apple bobbing and ‘snap apple,’ also have roots in ancient harvest traditions. These activities were not merely for entertainment; they were believed to predict the future. For instance, the first person to successfully bite into an apple while bobbing in water was thought to be the next to marry. Such fortune-telling games enriched the communal spirit of the festivities, intertwining playful competition with deeper cultural significance.


Food and festivities

The traditions drawing visitors to Ireland aren’t just limited to Halloween fun, though, the culinary inheritance of the ancient festival of Samhain also makes its presence felt. Traditional foods, such as barmbrack and colcannon are well-known around Ireland as October draws to a close each year. Barmbrack, or Bairín Breac, is a sweet bread that often contains hidden symbols, each representing a different fate. A ring might signify impending marriage, while a coin might predict wealth or a rag could warn of poverty. Similarly, Colcannon—a dish made from mashed potatoes, kale, and onions—also contains hidden tokens as portents of good or bad.


Costumes and the act of disguising oneself are also integral to Irish Halloween traditions and celebrations such as those in Derry feature all manner of costumes and characters. Historically, people dressed in costumes to conceal their identities from wandering spirits, and the tradition of the ‘Wren Boys,’ who would don masks and costumes and go from house to house singing, is reminiscent of modern trick-or-treating. In some areas, such as Inis Mór in County Galway, locals still maintain the unusual tradition of remaining silent while masked, only communicating through written orders in pubs, enhancing the eerie atmosphere of Halloween night.


While literary influences like Bram Stoker’s Dracula have shaped modern perceptions of Halloween, they also connect back to Ireland's folklore. Stoker’s legacy is celebrated annually at the Bram Stoker Festival, held in Dublin, where fans can delve into the gothic elements that intertwine literature with Halloween culture.


Cultural crossover

The journey of Halloween from Ireland to America in the 19th century marked a significant transformation of its traditions. Irish immigrants carried their customs with them, adapting them to their new environment. The shift from turnips to pumpkins for carving Jack-o’-Lanterns is just one example of this adaptation. In contemporary America, the celebration of Halloween has become a commercial phenomenon, yet its roots remain embedded in the customs brought over by Irish settlers.


In modern Ireland, the spirit of Samhain and its ancient traditions still resonate. From bonfires to fortune-telling foods, the essence of old Celtic practices is woven into contemporary Halloween celebrations. The annual Púca Festival (above) and Derry Halloween Festival provide opportunities for locals and visitors to engage with these traditions, offering a glimpse into Ireland’s mystical past.


Some old haunts

Beyond Halloween, Ireland is a land rich in haunted sites and ghostly tales, meaning even those visitors who miss the Halloween festivities can get a taste of Ireland’s spooky past throughout the year. Ghost Tours are common, such as the Ghostbus in Dublin which takes visitors through the city’s most haunted spots, complete with actors recounting tales of the supernatural. Kilkenny Ghost Tours and Belfast’s Titanic Dock also offer unique experiences for those interested in Ireland's haunted heritage.


If you’re looking for a truly spine-chilling experience, a visitor might visiting Oweynagat, known as the ‘gate to hell,’ a site so atmospheric that the ancient stories of Ireland come alive whether it is Halloween or not.


Born of an ancient tradition from the Celtic past, Halloween in Ireland is not just a celebration; it is a vibrant tapestry woven from ancient customs and modern interpretations. Whether through community gatherings, traditional foods, or ghostly tales, the spirit of Samhain endures. Embrace the traditions and explore the haunted landscapes, and you’ll find that the essence of Halloween in Ireland is truly unlike anywhere else in the world.


For more information on Halloween in Ireland, visit: www.ireland.com


TOP PIC: MICK O'NEILL


Recent Posts

See All

Yorumlar


Yorumlara kapatıldı.
bottom of page