Halloween is celebrated all over the world, but not everyone knows that it is actually the ancient Irish New Year!
And it was made popular by emigrants from the Emerald Isle who moved to the United States. The ancient Celts believed: if Halloween is not met correctly, eternal darkness can envelop the earth, and the world of the dead will consume all living things …
On October 31, the whole world celebrates Halloween - a "cool" holiday, when Hollywood horror films are released on the screens, everyone disguises as vampires, witches and other evil spirits, and children ask for food, burn fires and launch firecrackers.
But for those who honor the faith of the ancient Celts, everything is much more serious. Historians believe that the night of Samhain (from Irish - Samhain, this is the ancient name of the holiday) was once the most important of the year for the inhabitants of Ireland. In Samhain, the border between the world of the living and the abode of the dead was erased, and the outcome of this terrible night depended only on the wise druids - would the sun return to earth, or would the world be enveloped in eternal darkness?
“The ancient Celts divided the year into two parts - summer and winter,” explains Irish historian Joe Conlon. “Summer began in Bealtinne on May 1st and lasted until Samhain on October 31st. After Samhain, a new year began according to the Celtic calendar. On the eve of the holiday, the druids were supposed to light a sacred fire. Without this ritual, there could be no sowing, no harvest, or any other activity next year. Eternal winter would rule over the world”.
DEAD AMONG THE LIVING
The Celts believed: just as there is summer and winter in a year, so in the world there is the abode of the living and the abode of the dead. New Year's Eve - Samhain - was an intermediate time: not summer, but not winter yet. The border between the worlds disappeared, and the spirits of the dead could wander among the living …
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“The Irish believed that Lugh, the god of light and knowledge, was the patron of the living world,” continues Joe Conlon. - In fact, de-le Loup was an ancient king who managed to unite all the Irish Celts. But there was also an underworld beyond Lou's control. It was ruled by the god of death - the terrible Dun (Dun). In addition, the Celts believed that literally side by side with them lived another race of people, which at one time did not obey the god Lu. These creatures were called fairies, and according to legend, they lived inside the hills. On the night of Samhain, all these evil spirits left their shelters and filled the living world.
“There were good and bad spirits,” Joe continues. - The spirits of deceased relatives brought goodness and good luck. But there were also evil ghosts that could cause trouble …"
The Celts believed that the spirits were attracted by light and warmth, and therefore they extinguished all the lights in their homes for the night of Samhain. Some put skulls on the windowsills, put on masks - to scare away evil spirits. And the good ones, on the contrary, tried to lure: they laid the table for them in the house, called them spells.
"This is where the trick or treat tradition is so popular on Halloween today," says Joe. - After all, if the spirit is not appeased with some kind of treat, he can take offense at the owner of the house and do him some dirty trick.
SACRED FIRE
On the eve of Samhain, the lights in the houses were extinguished, the whole country plunged into darkness … Even at the court of the Irish king, all the lights were extinguished on the Tara hill, and the gaze of the ruler of the Island turned to the neighboring hill - Trochta (Tlachtga), which is in County Meath (exactly 12 miles from the hill Tara, near the town of Atboy - Athboy, co Meath (by the way, now its name is Hill of Ward).
Trocht's Hill was a shrine to the Irish druids. Two weeks before Samhain, the druids gathered at the top of this hill and began an ancient ritual. They were preparing to light the sacred fire, which was to defeat winter.
“The sacred fire was lit in a strict order,” explains Joe Conlon. - The species of wood and special herbs that were added to the fire were very important, as well as spells and other magical actions. The King of Ireland watched the ceremony closely from Tara Hill. After all, the appearance of the sacred fire meant that the country would survive the winter and summer would return."
When the fire was lit, the druids passed the burning branch from their bonfire to the royal messenger. In a chariot drawn by three horses, the messenger carried the sacred fire - like an Olympic torch - to the Tara hill, and from it the king kindled his own fire. The surroundings of the hills were then illuminated by two flaming lighthouses, and people in the whole area were rejoicing - the ritual was a success, which means that in the new year the gods will be supportive of them!
“Trocht's Hill is visible from the five counties of Ireland! Says Joe Conlon. “From Roscommon to the Dublin Mountains, people eagerly watched its summit on Samhain night. As soon as a fire started there, it was a signal. People set fire to ritual fires in their counties and carried sacred fire to every village and every hearth. The evil spirits retreated before the flames, and a great celebration began throughout the country - winter was defeated!
ST. PATRICK messed up
But with the spread of Christianity, ancient traditions fell into decay. The church was not going to recognize pagan holidays, but at the same time it did not succeed in completely eradicating Samhain. Therefore, the preachers acted simply - by October 31, they timed a church holiday - All Hallows Eve - hence the English Halloween was formed. However, the Irish continued to celebrate their "old new year" in the traditional way, and therefore Celtic motifs associated with the spirits of the dead and fire were mixed with the Christian holiday. Irish emigrants brought just such a Halloween to America, it took root and is celebrated to this day.
But Samhain is not forgotten, and some are trying to revive the main holiday of the ancient Celts. Joe Conlon says: “For eight years now, a group of enthusiasts has gathered in Atboy, it includes several real modern druids, as well as myself and my daughter Deborah … On the eve of Samhain, we climb Trochta Hill together and light a fire there, as well as perform rituals. This is not a religious event and most of us do it for fun and to honor our country's ancient tradition."
Are they worried about the spirits of the dead?
“I didn't have to come into contact with the spirits, but in some of the pictures I took during the ceremony, hundreds - thousands appear! - small white balls. Where did they come from in the photo is unclear, but it is suggestive …"
Victor POSUDNEVSKY