Are you in Ireland or Scotland? Then lucky you! Celebrate Hallowe’en where it all began.
If you’re looking for a way to immerse yourself in local traditions while improving your English, a fantastic way to do so is by speaking with locals and learning more about their traditions.
The annual autumn celebration, which can be written both as “Hallowe’en” or “Halloween,” originated as the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain (or Samhuinn) where it was believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the spirit world dissolved.
In modern times, for many countries around the world, Halloween is more associated with costumes, candy and spooky thrills.
But! If you’re lucky enough to be in the countries where the tradition originated, perhaps you may be curious to learn more through their modern celebrations:
SCOTLAND
Scotland’s Samhuinn Fire Festival is a modern re-imagining of an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of summer and the birth of winter. The event is organized by the Beltane Fire Society which describes Samhuinn as "A night where the veil that splits both worlds grows thinner, a night where spirits can touch the souls of the living. A night to reflect on the year gone by and to look forward to the one to come." Since the spectacle is held in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park, spectators can expect to be regaled by outdoor theatre performances, fire shows, acrobatics, drumming, and costumes of otherworldly creatures.
IRELAND
If you’re in Limerick, Ireland; you can learn more about Samhain and the local culture through the three-day event, Samhain: Limerick's Hallowe’en Festival. The Lumen Street Theatre organizes this event from the 27th to the 29th and celebrates Irish culture with a focus on Limerick heritage and traditions surrounding Hallowe'en. Central to the event are the core elements of community involvement and public participation. Samhain celebrates and showcases the medieval quarter of Limerick City.
Bring your friends and immerse yourself in this festive tradition. Learn from the locals, get your face painted, make lanterns and masks, and enjoy some good ol’ Irish storytelling. If you want to make a mask before you go, check out their tutorial on mask-making.
Now that you have a tiny taste of the origins & modern celebration of Halloween, can you tell us where else it’s celebrated? Is this a tradition celebrated in your home country? Will you participate or wear a costume this year? Tell us all about it in our Forums.
Happy Hallowe’en!
Iya