Happy Halloween!!

Today is Halloween. Before Halloween was created as the spooky October holiday, Ireland celebrated Samhain. According to Irish mythology, Samhain (like Bealtaine) was a time, when the ‘doorways’ to the other world opened, allowing supernatural beings and the souls of the dead to come into our world, but while Bealtaine was a summer festival for the living, Samhain was essentially a festival for the dead.

It also signals the end of the grazing season and traditionally farmers would bring their animals to market at this time. The harvest also had to be completed by this date. It has it’s roots in an old Irish tale that says if any crops are left out after November 1^st they may be spoiled.

Trick-or-treating is a recent Halloween custom for children and adults in many countries. Children in costumes go usually with their torch from house to house, asking for treats with the sentence “Trick or treat’. ‘Treat’ means some sweets e.g. chocolate, although in some cultures money is used instead of goodies.

We hope you enjoy a Happy Halloween!

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