Why do we celebrate Pagan traditions?
Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. The Celts celebrated Halloween as Samhain, the ‘Feast of the Dead’ when the dead revisited the mortal world. The celebration marked the end of summer and the start of the winter months. All this changed in the eight century when Pope Gregory 111 designated November 1 as a time to honour all saints and martyrs. The holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the ancient traditions of Samhain into Christian ritual. This mixture of Pagan and Christian tradition permeates our lives and forms the basis of our cultural beliefs.
Social media in ancient Ireland
This feast is just one of the many Pagan traditions that have become part of our cultural heritage despite the fact that our ancestors did not have the benefit of the written word. The first written word came to Ireland with Christianity. Stories were recorded in Books and Annals, some in Old Irish, some in Latin, between the 7th and 12th centuries. Some of these books and annals are: The Book of Dun Cow; The Book of Leinster; Book of Invasions; The Book of Rights; The Yellow Book of Lecan; and many more. READ MORE
