"Halloween in Irish Folklore" by Irish Archaeology

"Halloween in Irish Folklore", a blog, by Irish Archaeology, filled to the brim with excerpts, and well worth the reading:

"These folklore accounts detail some of superstitions and festivities which once surrounded Halloween in Ireland. They are based on information supplied by schoolchildren to the Irish Folklore Commission in the late 1930s."

Halloween by Dúchas.ie

A downloadable presentation:

"From earliest recorded history in Ireland, Halloween (All Hallows Eve), or Oíche Shamhna was considered a turning point in the calendar. 

Samhain (November 1st), meant the start of winter, when cattle were brought down from summer pastures, tributes and rents paid, and other business contracted.

Samhain, marks the close of the season of light and the beginning of the dark half of the year, and was therefore perceived as a liminal moment in time when movement between the otherworld and this world was possible. ... "

Samhain

Why the long silences?

Sorry folks, but a lot of my time these days is taken up either studying Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic), catching up on long overdue reading on topics of interest to my faith, or dealing with normal life issues.

I may get back to writing a few reviews, or updating here from time to time during vacation times, but it will be quiet for a while longer, I'm sure.  I'm reluctant, however, to let the page go and prefer to wait to see how things develop.

Be well.

It's that time of year - again

"Autumn, The Hermitage, Scotland"  by Picture Girl

Upcoming Competition

The anthology, Pagan Paeans has sold well in the last few months between Cafe Press and Féile Draíochta.   Thanks to our generous contributors we now have enough to offer a decent prize for the Yule Competition!

So watch this space for details of how to enter!

You could win a gift voucher for Amazon, and a free copy of the new collection “IN and OUT” by Inga Brigitta.

Book Giveaway: Pagan Writers Presents – Samhain

The Pagan Writers Community are giving away a copy of their upcoming anthology, "Pagan Writers Presents – Samhain"

Go to the PWC blog to post a comment, as entries close later today.