The Irish Tradition of Halloween or Samhain Eve

        Derived from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of the long bright days of summer and the drawing in of winter. On this night, the ancient Celts and Druids believed that the space between the spirit world & the earthly world, became blurred, allowing the spirits & ghosts of the dead, to roam among the mortals.

       People disguised themselves by rubbing soot on their faces, wearing masks and costumes in order to avoid being recognised by the spirits. They carried Jack-O-Lanterns, which were large white turnips, carved & hollowed out, with a candle burning inside – to light up the darkness. Bonfires were built and lit in the centre of the village, to bond villagers closer, and were thought to have healing and protective powers to keep evil spirits at bay. Ancient tradition also dictated that a spare chair and a place at the table be kept on this night for any returning spirit of the house. Traditional Colcannon and Barn Brack were served in most houses. Charms were wrapped and placed in the Colcannon and Barn Bracks, so if you were lucky enough to get the charm in your serving, then your future was strongly implied. A ring implies an impending marriage, a coin predicted wealth, a thimble signified spinsterhood, a button meant bachelorhood, and a pea signified poverty.  Liquid refreshment was part of the socialising too with a nip of Poitin, bottled stout and home pressed juices (for the young ones).

                 Ireland of the 50’s & 60’s saw many changes to most ancient traditions. Halloween became a night of fun, devilment and craic for most households. The village bonfire remained, but became much bigger and drew larger crowds of participants. The festivities of the night turned more social & not so dark & less spiritual. Halloween became a night of fun, games, dressing up, performing songs and music, socialising and craic. In households with children, many of the traditional games remained. Games like snap apple – bobbing apple, and numerous new home based activities. Meanwhile the older children dressed up in costumes and went out in the vizards (face masks). They went from house to house and were usually let inside, where they would individually and collectively sing songs & play music on melodeon, fiddle, tin whistle & bodhran, for which they would receive apples, nuts and occasionally money. In later years those groups reorganised by mixing with adults and performed house to house, pub to pub and only for money, all going to a local charity.

        During those times Halloween also became a night of devilment, where groups of the older children played pranks on local residents. It usually started as a dare, one youngster would knock on a door and the rest would all run away, hoping the perpetrator would get caught. They would sometimes push firecrackers through a letterbox to scare the entire household.

         Halloween has many weird, funny, dark and wonderful traditions attached to this very ancient Celtic/Irish cultural festival. As I was lucky enough to be around during the 50’s & 60’s, and experienced and participated in most of the activities of the night, my photograph ‘A 50’s Halloween’ was created from first-hand knowledge.

I hope you enjoy it and it contributes to your understanding of Halloween and maybe -   takes you back in time, giving you a glimpse of  50s Ireland and a hint of our spiritual & cultural past.