The origins of the Modern Day Hallowe'en festival are of course, Celtic.

The ancient Irish called the festival "Samhain" (pronounced Sa-Wain), which is now the Gaelic word for the month of November, although in recent times the Hallowe'en is celebrated on October 31st.

The word Hallowe'en is of Scottish origin, and comes from "Hallows Evening".

Druids

The festival is followed by the Christian festival of All Souls, which falls on the first of November and is usually accompanied by a mid-term break for school children.

During the ancient celtic festival, all fires in homes and castles around the country were extinguished, except those of the Druids, or Holy Men.

Deities were sacrificed to the gods on these fires and the hearths of the ordinary people would be re -lit from these holy pyres.

Fireworks

The custom of lighting a Hallowe'en bonfire continues in some parts to this day and in more modern times has been replaced by fireworks displays.

The sacrifice marked the end of the final harvest period of late summer and the move into the winter season, with the storage of provisions and readying for cold months ahead.

It was believed that the gap between the living world and the spirit world was at it's weakest and interaction between these worlds was easiest at this point in the ancient calendar.

Evil spirits

It was believed at this time, souls could wander freely across the earth.

Hallowe'en was also viewed as a time when evil spirits, the devil and witches were at their most powerful.

Nowadays, the festival is characterised by decorations of this sort in their homes, with witches, broomsticks, black cats and vampires being the height of fashion for most children.

Souls of the dead

Many years ago, it was felt that the baking of pastries and cakes as an offering would help the souls of the dead.

This tradition has also carried through to modern times, with the baking of apple cakes a pastime for many mothers in preparation for a Hallowe'en party.

However, more often than not, it's the children eating the pie who receive an offering - a twenty pence piece wrapped in tin foil!

"Trick or treat"

In ancient Ireland, Hallowe'en came close to the feast of St Columba and it was traditional for some people to go from door-to-door collecting bread, money, eggs, nuts and apples.

It was felt that these offerings gave protection against bad luck.

Nowadays, this practice is known as "Trick or Treat", with the household which gives the least offering liable to have a "trick" carried out against it.

Street carnival

It was also common for children going from door to door asking for offerings to recite a particular poem;

"Hallowe'en's coming on and the goose is getting fat,
Would you please put a penny in the old mans hat,
If you haven't got a penny, a halfpenny will do,
If you haven't got a halfpenny, God bless you."

It's no coincidence that in Northern Ireland, the town in which Hallowe'en celebrations are the most prominent is Derry, with it's long association with St Columba. The street carnival has become serious business in recent years with people out of costume considered abnormal.

For further details on this year's street festival visit
http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/index_page2.htm

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