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Today we offer you a topical illustration as it is related to this Halloween which is celebrated every year on October 31st.

A return to Celtic origins

As you know, Halloween is a Celtic festival. Moreover, it was directly inspired by the ancient festival Samhain Born on Irish soil 2,500 years ago. Always held at this important moment in the Celtic calendar, Samhain marks the end of the harvest and the transition to the “dark season” as they called it back then.

On this particular day, the veil between the world of the living and the dead thinned, allowing spirits to freely enter the world of the living. It is precisely this belief that formed the basis of many of the modern Halloween traditions we experience today.

But the Samhain festival was not only that. It was the occasion for feasts and rituals led by Druids. To protect themselves from evil spirits, the Celts lit a large sacred fire with purifying and protective powers. To do this, they first extinguished all other fires and then rekindled them from this common flame. There was also this tradition of dressing up and wearing masks to scare away evil spirits. A tradition passed down through the centuries.

Each year, Ireland celebrates this heritage with more festivals than any other country. Three of them are today a reference beyond the island's borders:

• The Smoke festival : It offers to immerse yourself in the Celtic folklore of Samhain with grand shows and traditional rituals held for the occasion at various places in the country steeped in history.
• The Derry Halloween : Here we are in Northern Ireland. The event transforms the walled city into an open-air theater with spectacular parades and impressive art installations.
• The Bram Stoker Festival : It takes place in Dublin where we pay homage to the author of “Dracula” while celebrating the gothic spirit of Halloween.

All these festivals offer visitors an authentic Halloween experience, where ancient traditions and modern celebrations mingle in a festive and mystical atmosphere. To experience at least once…

> Information: www.ireland.com