Samhain, the name for the day of the dead, or known as Halloween to most now. The Celtics often celebrated Samhain for welcoming in the Harvest of the crops and bringing the dark half of the year to fruition. On Samhain, the boundaries between Midgard and the underworld are at its thinnest. Some celebrate by having a feast for the dead. People brought food to share among their friends, even setting a plate at the table for their ancestors. People dressed up usually wearing animal heads and skins of slain animals, told each other fortunes and celebrated around a huge bonfire. After the celebration, they would bring back to their homes the flame from the bonfire to relight their hearth to protect them and keep them warm for the upcoming winter. 

For me growing up, I celebrated Halloween by going out Trick or Treating every year, dressed up as different things. With it being Florida, we rarely stayed out too long as it was too hot usually. From now on, I now Celebrate Samhain with a new passion. As family members grew older and passed away, I now take this time to remember them.

Citations:

“Religions – Paganism: Samhain.” BBC, BBC, 19 Oct. 2011, https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/samhain.shtml.