8 | Steel Notes Magazine steelnotesmagazine . com | October 2014
1 Etymology
The word Halloween or Hallowe ’ en dates to about 1745 and is of Christian origin . The word “ Halloween ” means “ hallowed evening ” or “ holy evening ”. It comes from a Scottish term for All Hallows ’ Eve ( the evening before All Hallows ’ Day ). In Scots , the word “ eve ” is even , and this is contracted to e ’ en or een . Over time , ( All ) Hallow ( s ) Eve ( n ) evolved into Halloween . Although the phrase “ All Hallows ’” is found in Old English ( ealra hālgena mæssedæg , all saints mass-day ), “ All Hallows ’ Eve ” is itself not seen until 1556 .
2 History
2.1 Gaelic and Welsh influence
An early 20th-century Irish Hallowe ’ en mask displayed at the Museum of Country Life .
Today ’ s Halloween customs are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic-speaking countries , some of which have pagan roots , and others which may be rooted in Celtic Christianity . Indeed , Jack Santino , a folklorist , writes that “ the sacred and the religious are a fundamental context for understanding Halloween in Northern Ireland , but there was throughout Ireland an uneasy truce existing between customs and beliefs associated with Christianity and those associated with religions that were Irish before Christianity arrived ”. Historian Nicholas Rogers , exploring the origins of Halloween , notes that while “ some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona , the goddess of fruits and seeds , or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia , it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain ”, which comes from the Old Irish for “ summer ’ s end ”. Samhain ( pronounced sah-win or sow-in ) was the first and most important of the four quarter days in the medieval Gaelic calendar and was celebrated in Ireland , Scotland and the Isle of Man . It was held on or about 31 October – 1 November and kindred festivals were held at the same time of year by the Brittonic Celts ; for example Calan Gaeaf ( in Wales ), Kalan Gwav ( in Cornwall ) and Kalan Goañv ( in Brittany ). Samhain and Calan Gaeaf are mentioned in some of the earliest Irish and Welsh literature . The names have been used by historians to refer to Celtic Halloween customs up until the 19th century , and are still the Gaelic and Welsh names for Halloween .
Samhain / Calan Gaeaf marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or the ‘ darker half ’ of the year . Like Beltane / Calan Mai , it was seen as a liminal time , when the spirits or fairies ( the Aos Sí ) could more easily come into our world and were particularly active . Most scholars see the Aos Sí as “ degraded versions of ancient gods [...] whose power remained active in the people ’ s minds even after they had been officially replaced by later religious beliefs ”. The Aos Sí were both respected and feared , with individuals often invoking the protection of God when approaching their dwellings . At Samhain , it was believed that the Aos Sí needed to be propitiated to ensure that the people and their livestock survived the winter . Offerings of food and drink , or portions of the crops , were left for the Aos Sí . The souls of the dead were also said to revisit their homes . Places were set at the dinner table or by the fire to welcome them . The belief that the souls of the dead return home on one night or day of the year seems to have ancient origins and is found in many cultures throughout the world . In 19th century Ireland , “ candles would be lit and prayers formally offered for the souls of the dead . After this the eating , drinking , and games would begin ”. Throughout the Gaelic and Welsh regions , the household festivities included rituals and games intended to divine one ’ s future , especially regarding death and marriage . Nuts and apples were often used in these divination rituals . Special bonfires were lit and there were rituals involving them . Their flames , smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective and cleansing powers , and were also used for divination . It is suggested that the fires were a kind of imitative or sympathetic magic – they mimicked the Sun , helping the “ powers of growth ” and holding back the decay and darkness of winter . Christian minister Eddie J .
8 | Steel Notes Magazine steelnotesmagazine . com | October 2014