Halloween, a misunderstood holiday
1)Introduction2)False Myths3)Myth 1: Halloween as a Celebration of Satan4)Myth 2: Halloween is an American Holiday5)Myth 3: Halloween as a Celebration of Darkness6)Conclusions In the previous article, we explored the ancient traditions and history of Samhain, the Irish late-summer festival. It is a liminal and transitional moment from the light part to the dark part of…
Samhain, beyond the veil
1) Origins and Meaning of Samhain Samhain (pronounced sow-in) is one of the oldest and best-known festivals of the Celtic peoples. Its name derives from the Gaelic sam-fuin, meaning “end of summer,” marking the time when the harvest was completed and livestock returned from the pastures. Originally, the festival combined agricultural and spiritual elements: it celebrated the…
Honor to the ancestors in Sardinia: Su Mortu Mortu
When the first shadows of evening embrace the villages of my beloved Sardinia, the harvests are over and the autumn days begin to shorten, an ancient ritual revives the bond between the world of the living and that of the dead.It is traditionally celebrated between the end of October and the first days of November…
Exploring Autumn Ancestral Festivals: Symbolism and Ancient Rituals
Autumn is my favourite part of the year, with its warm and enveloping colors, pumpkins, mushrooms, the darkness that inexorably advances, and nature that slowly dies, tinged with red as it prepares for its long winter sleep.A slow progression until the peak in stasis.The ancients saw this slow decline not as a definitive end but…