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Samhain
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Wiccans celebrating Samhain
The thousand-year-old history of Halloween
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Wiccans celebrating Samhain
Wiccans celebrating Samhain Practitioners of Wicca, the largest modern Pagan religion, celebrating Samhain, in Glastonbury, Somerset, England, November 4, 2017.

Samhain

ancient Celtic festival
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Also known as: Samain
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Celtic:
“End of Summer”
Also spelled:
Samain
Related Topics:
Wicca
Halloween
November
See all related content

Samhain, in ancient Celtic religion, one of the most important and sinister calendar festivals of the year. At Samhain, held on November 1, the world of the gods was believed to be made visible to humankind, and the gods played many tricks on their mortal worshippers; it was a time fraught with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural episodes.

The thousand-year-old history of Halloween
1 of 2
The thousand-year-old history of HalloweenHalloween has roots in the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, which was observed in ancient Britain and Ireland on November 1st.
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The scary story behind “trick or treat”
2 of 2
The scary story behind “trick or treat”Don't even get us started on the history of candy corn.
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Sacrifices and propitiations of every kind were thought to be vital, for without them the Celts believed they could not prevail over the perils of the season or counteract the activities of the deities. Samhain was an important precursor to Halloween.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Meg Matthias.