The roots of Halloween can be found in an ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. According to legend, during the three days of Samhain (October 31 to November 2), the Celts would attend great feasts, sit around huge bonfires that lit up the night sky, and perform various rituals designed to salute or placate their gods and the other moody and unpredictable beings that lived alongside them. No one is sure exactly when Samhain was first celebrated. But it is at least 2,000 years old and likely extends back even farther into early Celtic history. The word Samhain is actually pronounced “sow in,” and it means “summer’s end” in the Irish language. In the Celtic context, however, it was observed to mark the transition between autumn and winter, when the sun would finally depart for the majority of each day and the plants would all die, only to be reborn again the following spring. The traditions of Samhain were closely connected to the annual harvest and storage of crops, and to the slaughter and butchering of cattle that had spent the previous several months fattening up on pastureland. Both were so essential to their survival that the Celts felt obligated to honor the deities that provided them with the food sources they needed to make it through the long, hard winters. Image from Púca Festival in Ireland. Courtesy of Púca Festival Read moreSection: NewsGeneralReligionsFolkloreMyths & LegendsEuropeAncient TraditionsPreviewRead Later