Samhain 2019 | When is Samhain 2020?

What is Samhain?

Samhain is a Gaelic festival which is celebrated on 31st of October annually. The reason of this date to be chosen is marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of the winter season. There are four Gaelic festivals depending on seasons and Samhain is one of them. Also, Halloween is originated from Samhain. 

According to the legend, Samhain was based on the ground of Celtic origins. According to the belief of Celtics, the night of 31st of October is the night which takes the wraps off the distance between the living and the dead. Old traditions and rituals say that people have to sacrifice three different oblations in 29th, 30th and 31st of October. By this means, Samhain comes to the living side and brings the dead back to life. Celtics believe that after all of this an apocalypse will start. 

All of the rituals which are used in Halloween are actually based on this legend which was written in ancient ages. For example, the original purpose of masks, which are used in Halloween at the present time, was disguising for hiding from Samhain. Celtic people believed that if they put this masks on them, they can hide from Samhain’s eyes. The candies put in front of the doors were for eating Samhain’s fill and the pumpkins were marking Samhain’s follower’s houses. To sum and the substance of it is all the rituals of Halloween are based on the Samhain origins. 

At the present time Pagans and some people who want to carry on the spirit of Samhain, still celebrate Samhain. For Pagans, Samhain is a time and ritual to honor the forgotten dead. 

When is Samhain?

Samhain in 2018 will start on Wednesday, October 31 and it will end on Thursday, November 1st

 

Dates for Samhain from 2019 to 2025

  • Samhain 2019 - October 31, 2019 - Thursday
  • Samhain 2020 - October 31, 2020 - Saturday
  • Samhain 2021 - October 31, 2021 - Sunday
  • Samhain 2022 - October 31, 2022 - Monday
  • Samhain 2023 - October 31, 2023 - Tuesday
  • Samhain 2024 - October 31, 2024 - Thursday
  • Samhain 2025 - October 31, 2025 - Friday