Tá Oíche Shamhna ag teacht go luath – Halloween is coming soon.

Mí na Samhna - the month of November, so Halloween is the eve of November, based on an ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. It was celebrated by the ancient Celts to mark the end of summer and the fruits of Autumn.

They believed that on the night of the 31 October, Halloween, the line between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred, so ghosts could cross into this world. To protect themselves they used light, mainly bonfires, and disguised themselves, often as animals, to scare away the evil spirits.

Today Halloween is celebrated all over the world, taken abroad by the Irish as they travelled. 

Here are a few key words and phrases for Halloween:

• cailleach gránna – an ugly witch
• masc caillí – witch’s mask
• púicín - blindfold
• gléasta suas – dressed up
• hata biorach dubh – pointed black hat
• crann scuaibe – broomstick
• úlla – apples
• cnónna – nuts
• milseáin – sweets
• bairín breac – barm brack
• fáinne – ring
• taibhse – ghost
• scannán uafás – horror film
• ag insint scéalta – telling stories
• eagla an domhain – very frightened
• brionglóid – dream
• tromluí – nightmare

Here’s a little Halloween poem/song. Have a go at translating it!

• Oíche Shamhna a bhí ann.
• Chnag sí ar an doras.
• Cailleach gránna
• Ag caitheamh hata biorach.
• Bhí cat ina lámh aici
• Is scuab ar an talamh
• Agus seo a chan sí dom:
• Oíche Shamhna shona duit
• Tabhair dom bainne do mo chat.
• B’fhearr liom féin píosa bairín breac
• Is cnónna moncaí leis.
• Bain sult as an oíche – enjoy the night!
  

Beir bua,

Terri