The History of Halloween | Samhain

[@OlafMetal]

Oh I loved this video so much! I was raised Jehovah's Witness and constantly heard about the pagan origins of Halloween, but nobody had ever bothered to explain what those origins actually were (they would probably have got it wrong anyway). Halloween is my favorite holiday now that I'm out of the congregation and I find this topic extremely fascinating. Thank you!

[@clffliese26]

I recommend Ray Bradbury's book The Halloween Tree. Bradbury describes most of the origins of the holiday.

[@MsArri81]

Hello! I am a fellow EX Jehovah's Witness as well and I also am really fascinated with the history behind Halloween. Growing up with it being labeled a Pagan holiday and satanic without much explanation just made me more intrigued with the pagan beliefs, the paranormal, macabre and occult type topics. I never got to experience trick or treating and decorating for this holiday but since becoming a parent, my child is able to experience everything I missed out on! I love how the lady of the Library really delves into the meat of this topic and gives a wonderful history!

[@thehistoryandbooknerd8979]

As someone with J.W. Relatives, I’m so happy you got out of there!!!! It’s a horrid cult that does nothing but tear families apart - I hope you have a wonderful Halloween! ❤🎃👻

[@michellemercado9038]

​​@@MsArri81 Ex JW too and I too was so curious about this types of topics myself since, we weren't really allowed to learn about them from sources other than the publications. I married a non JW (October 31st of course)and we have halloween decorations around our home year round! We were told we wouldn't be happy out of the religion and I've met many many that seem to prove otherwise too! Sending hugs!

[@TracyD2]

Have fun!

[@robo5013]

Halloween is my favorite holiday as well. My wife and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary this Halloween.

[@CinziaDuBois]

Congraulations

[@0GothicSiren]

@@robo5013 Halloween is definitely the best holiday🖤🎃💀

[@Erinba]

My beloved grandmother died on Halloween last year. But I do secretly indulge in the idea that this is the day we are closest to the other side …. This is important for me… will be a different all hallows Eve for me as all going forward will be ❤

[@weeping.angel27]

Halloween/Samhain is my favorite time of the year as well!! It's a great time to do spells to let go of the past and communicate and honor our ancestors!!😊😊😊😊

[@memyselfandi8544]

All culture is based on witchcraft. You will be loved by the whole world. Your destiny will be there’s.

[@AmericanDreamer]

make sure those really are your ancestors ..

[@GamerIntelligence]

Who's your ancestors? Slave masters? Greek conquerors like Alexander? Zeus?

[@weeping.angel27]

@@GamerIntelligence why ??

[@weeping.angel27]

@@GamerIntelligence that sounded so weird asking me that...

[@JeremyBowkett]

Lady, my dearest Lady of the Library: I'm so glad you returned to your original, conversational format for this. The time between Thanksgiving and Samhain/Halloween is my favourite time of year. Blessings!

[@ParaplegicKeanuReeves]

Who talks like this? Lmfao.....

[@tss3393]

​@@ParaplegicKeanuReevesThe guy who's name-dropping the name of the channel.

[@LogarCreed]

@@tss3393 Respect! Happy Devils Night for the 30ths and Happy Halloween/Samhain on the 31st.⚱🇨🇦⚰

[@criomic]

it's interesting how the celtic samhein and finnish kekri are almost identical celebrations! it's still celebrated here today, but sadly after christianity arrived here, kekri was converted into christmas and a lot of the old pagan holidays were shunned. these days a lot of the traditions we used to celebrate on kekri have become a part of our christmas traditions (like burning a kekri goat)!

[@SombreroPharoah]

You're Christmas' get incindiary goat effigies? We have been sorely lacking in this country.

[@matildas3177]

@@SombreroPharoah a fun tradition we've got in Sweden that's accidentally similar to this is the burning of one yule goat. Every year cities in Sweden build yule goats, some small and some large, and in Malmö a particularly large one is built. This specific one is then eventually burnt down, despite being under heavy guard to keep this from happening. I think the longest it's lasted was four days or so. To be clear, it's a modern tradition with no historical ties that's actually quite illegal.

[@SombreroPharoah]

@@matildas3177 thays so cool! Howcome they guard it to prevent the burn, only to then burn it? Or is that part of the tradition itself? This Is such a cool thing, I'm definitely looking ore into why's and whne it came about. I looked at some pictures and videos, and that's such a beautiful tradition! Food and drinks around a bonfire is so nice, let alone effigy fires. the closest we have is a skeleton headed horse that knocks door to door singing songs that are ultimately threatening misfortune lest you feed the horse alcohol. Which honestly, I'm all for it.

[@lucianaromulus1408]

All Indo European Paganism is similar, we share many holidays, just celebrated slightly differently

[@faust8218]

​@@lucianaromulus1408 Yeah, except Finns aren't indo-European, but a Uralic people.

[@robgau2501]

I love October. My Scorpio birthday and Halloween exactly a week later always made my birthday as a kid a Halloween themed birthday. And, in Texas, it started to cool down and turn beautiful. Not anymore. Now we can even have a hot Christmas. 😢

[@CinziaDuBois]

Also a Scorpio! I'm five days after Halloween.

[@chunellemariavictoriaespan8752]

😅 Not needed but I wanna dip😅... Six (6) days after Halloween... ALWAYS with the scheduled exams😂😂😂 I am excited everytime All Saints day and All Souls Day come around but by God when I return to school, I get my exam sheet. "Happy Birthday to me"... At least I get a gift whether I pass or fail (since I had an experience of having a scheduled Calculus exam, of which I am worst of)😂😂...

[@michaelmartin5177]

Mine is 5 days before

[@RishPanjeetJr]

Scorpios unite!!!!

[@victoriaflores.]

i’m the day before

[@Starchaser63]

My sister was born on Halloween. I was born on 21st November 2 years later..we both adore this time of year and can both read each others minds both being of the Scorpio ♏ star sign.

[@clffliese26]

You should read The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury. It's a wonderful book and tells more of the history of Halloween than I've ever read. Bradbury wrote the book for younger readers so the book is easy to read and the first time I read it, I got through it in a couple of days.

[@jaciimiller4773]

This is the story that originally got me into Halloween as a little girl. Such a banger.

[@nbell63]

(I like that the dogs want to show support in your endeavour, even if said endeavour is "talk to dog that isn't there"). ❤😊

[@QUIRK1019]

I love this channel so much. Your library is so cozy, and your narration is so beautifully sophisticated. It's fun just to be a subscriber and fan.

[@CinziaDuBois]

Thank you so much!

[@alexm.7295]

Interesting similarities to Dia de los Muertos, the veil between the living and the dead..honoring ancestors..I love it! I always learn something new when I watch your channel

[@alexjeffrey4093]

I hope you discuss the visiting customs that originated trick-or-treating- the continuation from Guising (Scotland, Wales and Ireland), Souling (Northern England), Hop-tu-Naa (in the Isle of Man) and Skekling (in Shetland) to trick-or-treating is genuinely fascinating. I can send you a copy of a traditional Souling Play, as well as lyrics from Souling songs from northern England if you want!

[@loretta7851]

Fascinating

[@holyfreak86]

Love how your dogs always want to participate in your videos!😅😘

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

For me Halloween is 24/ 365. I loved learning more about this beloved holiday. Thank you very much!👻💀 You certainly earned my subscription!

[@purpletalons7682]

Halloween is the most wonderful time of the year. I am a Wiccan. So this time of the year is when I feel the most alive. My yard is decorated in Halloween year round.

[@missawndr3395]

most underrated channel everrrr, I learn so much from this queen ✨

[@liamroberts2576]

As a witch who still celebrates this holiday thank you so much for being respectful and well informed as always beautiful! ❤

[@NormanLor]

WE GO ALL OUT WITH OUR "HAUNTING" AND NOW ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS FORWARD TO BLASTING SCARY SOUNDS AND OUR EFFORT IN OUR HAUNT!! THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO AS IT'S MY FAVORITE NIGHT OF THE YEAR AS WELL!!

[@Garyromes]

My best friend that I live with celebrates Samhain every year, it's nice to hear even more history on it, on top of what she's already told me 😊❤

[@MikkiProductions204]

Interesting origin and history of Halloween! Only in the past decade Halloween has become more popular in Australia, especially with dressing up and Trick or Treating which is definitely fulfilling my Hocus Pocus dreams 🎃

[@lucianaromulus1408]

I'm surprised it's not more popular there given the majority of its population has Celtic roots

[@NYKgjl10]

Like you, I love Halloween for many reasons, movies of course and horror/suspense book novels being my two.

[@richardd7614]

Always learn something new here. Nice to see the spooky season being covered.

[@Isrjisoneavalable]

I’m loving this video! Am an Irish storyteller (and now a teacher) who loves Halloween. I thought I knew most of the origins of Halloween and Samhain, but this video has reminded me of things I’d half forgotten and even brought shown me a few gems I didn’t know!

[@brandyjean7015]

I didn't know before this that you resided in Scotland dear Lady. I had a Great Grams who was proudly Clan Armstrong. My doggos are listening to this tale with me.

[@rickyourhere9777]

Each video of yours is a treat. Easy to listen to yet very informative.

[@sapphics4hozier]

im scottish and have been trying to learn more about our celtic traditions !! ive heard of this and even took part in some traditions but this video helped me learn more information !! thank you for posting this

[@Jay-n262]

Holloween has always been my favorite holiday too.

[@sage1682]

Im Apache but was raised mostly Pagan, my mom celebrates all the holidays and Samhain is my favorite next to Beltain, its like a mini thanksgiving and we feast and pass the mead horn, honoring our ancestors and the gods. We put a plate of food in the fire for sacrafice. I always pour out some mead in the fire for my late father. The pagan culture online or from select others feels disingenuous and like a way for chicks to be dark and edgey but never celebrate the holidays or aknowledge their ancestors at all. Im happy theres more education coming out awesome channels like this one❤

[@SorVanna]

It's also very similar to day of the dead in Mexico, and I find all of it fascinating. Happy Samhain!

[@theCommentDevil]

Halloween parties are the best parties of the year

[@dubhanr]

You should look out for videos of Derry this year it has the biggest halloween party on the planet, the festival lasts the whole week culminating with a parade & firework show on Halloween night & basically anyone going into the city has to be dressed up

[@jeffwalker6815]

To be fair, if a corpse asked me to go drinking, I probably wouldn't resist very hard.

[@kirkhensley5870]

Glenn Danzig's heart just started beating harder because of this fine lady. Where is a movie of this story? If I were a director, I would be thrilled to be at the helm of this thing!

[@Isrjisoneavalable]

In the story I know of Nara and the Corpse the lake of fire and lake of water appear to protect the families from the dead man entering. These families have observed the tractional -and very practical- evening protection rituals. The house with the lake of fire have made sure their harth was banked so the fire wouldn’t go out at night but would remain small enough not to burn down the house. The house with the lake of water have thrown out the “foot water” (water used to wash your feet when you enter, also any other body part) before going to sleep. These rituals would keep you safe from supernaturals as well as just being good household habits. There were observed in some form in rural Ireland pretty much till the wide spread introduction of electricity. There bad icky a whole genre of tales to remind people to do these things (Night of the Horned Women is my favourite).

[@CinziaDuBois]

love this, thank you for sharing!

[@Ard-mhacha-abu]

Very well narrated. Happy Halloween 🎃 👻

[@yulebones]

I've never heard this story before! Thanks for filling out my knowledge about Samhain. I'm excited at the prospect of more videos than usual this October, regardless of length!

[@emilyforkin34]

Fun fact, Samhain is also the irish word for the month of November

[@darthmada9574]

Hey! Glad to see you pop back up in my feed! I haven't seen your videos being recommended in my feed in some time now. Hope all is well! :)

[@greenjello]

Came for the "boob armor" video, stayed for the incredible content I discovered in your channel! I have already watched several of your videos by now and you have earned another subscriber! Thanks for creating and posting these entertaining and informative videos! I appreciate it!

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

I can see Cinzia being this library witch with her doggos being her familiars instead of cats. Hehehehe. Happy Spooky Season!

[@Moss-and-Bees]

Any animal can be a familiar!

[@spookiBB]

Happy Halloween! Can't believe I got to see this video right when it was posted 🎃🎃🎃

[@mikemahaffey9121]

Excellent video. Never heard this particular tale before. Looking forward to the rest of your Samhain videos.

[@mezmarionybarra]

YESSSSS ❤❤❤ In our household the phrase, in your best "Lady of the Library " voice is a thing now,😊😊😊 I love your shares❤ Thank you for All your Wonderful Artful Work.❣️❣️❣️

[@robcreel4257]

I too am love the Halloween season. Actually the whole of October is my favorite time of year. Great story! I could have listened to more stories. I appreciate your pronunciation of Samhaim too btw. Thanks for posting this.

[@internetfox]

enjoyed this, thank you! you're so great at creating the right ambiance!

[@CrisSelene]

I love Samhain but this is the first time I've heard the story of Nera (I hope I spelled that correctly). Thank you for another interesting video

[@Browncathartic]

Thank you so much for sharing the history of Halloween! I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the tradition of “dumb suppers” and giving gifts to those on the other side! Immediately, I thought of the Mexican holiday, “dia de los muertos” where the practice is similar. Families celebrate their relatives and ancestors who’ve passed with cakes, candies, & food as well as decorated burial sites.

[@impatchouli2680]

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday as well! Really enjoyed the video thank you!

[@shawnvine4918]

I quite enjoyed the video. Some interesting details about Halloween's history. I also wanted to comment on the background of the video. It's great to see such a lovely collection of books, that look like they are in use, rather than just for aesthetic purposes. As you said, books save lives, so keep reading. Thanks.

[@davidponseigo8811]

I adore your pup , I had a Pom that looked almost identical but my little one had epilepsy and passed away, give yours a hug and pet for me.

[@markwarrensprawson]

And lo and behold, it was a happy ending indeed. One replete with loads of prize cattle, a wife (who'd been delivering wood on his behalf to the sidh king all the time Nera was away - a keeper for sure) and son, the complete defeat of the sidh, sidh booty including magical bits of pomp, and the return of Nera with his new family to the newly unoccupied sidh lands where they'll live on surrounded by fairy bliss until doomsday comes along. Sounds like the wicked Halloween party we all wish we might one day have, but will probably have to dream up timeously as we shuffle off this mortal coil. Such a bewildering array of choices. But the subconscious probably has the reigns of that horse in any case. This one should stick, though. Thanks again!

[@gota7738]

In welsh it's name is Calan Gaeaf! It's one of the three Ysbryd Nos which had similair stories about the supernatural.

[@bernardmulligan5504]

This is the video I've been waiting for. Thank you!

[@AlexiPinkSin]

This is the first time I have seen one of your videos. I am doing research for my podcast for the Samhain episode and this video was amazing!! I had to subscribe to your channel immediately

[@ronaldmccomb8301]

Great video! Your style is definitely tailor made for this season. Don’t worry, I’ll still watch during the other pitiful seasons.

[@AmyKozerski]

But did they escape the prophecy? Did the woman escape the otherworld?

[@coyotedelamancha]

Exactly what I was wondering. Perhaps the story doesn't say?

[@InThisEssayIWill...]

I was trawling through the comments to find out the same thing.. too bad we don't know

[@kristinchilders8052]

I looked it up. Yes! In some versions it took him a year but he did go back for her and their child. His people defeated the Sidh and the two ran off together living in the fairy wood

[@Sequoya]

Great episode! I’ve been listening to your podcast and just finished the last one. I love your storytelling and dark history.

[@TC-sr1qf]

I'm not naturally interested in spooky things, but I really enjoyed your history lesson and story telling. Thanks : )

[@afabfemboymusic]

happy Halloween!! 🦇👻

[@IamGrief887]

I've long maintained that the greatest failing of the Librarians is the desire for recognition in a compartmentalized circle which is maintained primarily by anonymity. Cleverness is not always a virtue.

[@dalemorris7014]

Great video! Halloween is my favorite holiday and was supposed to be my birthday! Thank you for posting.

[@VedicaArya]

In certain southern parts of India we have a tradition during this time of the year closer to Halloween, we prepare a feast which is first served to the crows (we believe our ancestors come to us as crows and the veil is at the thinnest) and then we enjoy the food.

[@angstymedusa]

I Love spooky season, and I'm really looking forward to your videos. Also your dogs are so cute ❤

[@judid8657]

So excited for these videos!!!

[@tylerreed7615]

I was super excited for this video and you absolutely delivered ❤ I love Halloween, not the dressing up and the candy but the folklore and traditions. Look forward to the next one 😁

[@mch12311969]

This is an absolutely fascinating video. I knew none of this, other than the lifting of the veil. I look forward to watching more videos on the subject.

[@lesliemoiseauthor]

Lucid as always! "Don't worry, dogs." 😂

[@BigBandelero]

I actually enjoyed that a lot more than I expected. Love your presentation.

[@LukeDodge916]

Those dogs are awesome. And great video on one of my favorite subjects. Halloween is the most wonderful time of year...

[@brandyjean7015]

I'm glad that Neara was at least fond of the woman he had impregnated.

[@SomasAcademy]

What sources did you use for this video? I made my own video about Samhain and Halloween last year, and my research suggested that basically nothing was known about historical Samhain traditions, so I'd be interested to read further if we actually do have records of some of these practices.

[@kimsdharma]

These are literary myths. King Ael was a historical figure - a pretty significant one.. Happy reading!

[@SomasAcademy]

@@kimsdharma I'm more asking for sources about the practices - flaming wheels, leaving food out and doors unlocked, that sort of stuff - not the stories.

[@jamesomeara2329]

Isn't part of the issue that the pre-Christian sources are incomplete, hence we have an odd blending of folk history with folktale for what we know?

[@SomasAcademy]

@@jamesomeara2329 Yes, based on what I read there's basically nothing from pre-Christian sources, since the Irish didn't have writing until after Christianization and their neighbors didn't record much about their traditions. That's why I'm curious what sources Lady of the Library is using, because I'd like to see whether it's an ancient source my own sources didn't know about, or if it's just a more recent thing being projected back onto Samhain (which is quite common, a lot of modern Halloween traditions get attributed to Samhain without any real evidence).

[@kimsdharma]

Folk history, folklore, archeology, literature. Not necessarily in that order.

[@carolinerooney4866]

Meadhbh of Connacht - what a wild lady…goes down as the most power hungry of the old Irish royals

[@NatalieAuroraS]

Another great video. Thank you for making me that much more excited about Halloween.

[@toomiepal]

Thank you. I'm looking forward to your future Halloween videos. Best wishes for more October!

[@rksnj6797]

I really enjoyed this video! Thank you so much for making it!

[@Jango1989]

What an excellent video! Thank you for making it!

[@TheChurlishBoor]

Ahh... So that's where Tolkien got his creepy Barrow wight stuff from. Groovy.

[@bythecliff]

Around the same time as Halloween, India celebrates Diwali. Now the night of Diwali is dedicated to the Goddess Kali (the fierce form of the divine Mother in Hinduism, who is adorned by a garland of human skulls). This night is also called Bhoot Chaturdashi, Bhoot meaning ghosts. It is believed that on this night, spirits like bhoot, pret, pisach are at their strongest.

[@romanovrex]

Great video, and really liked the dream sequence.

[@michaelpjeffries1521]

A couple hundred years after our hometown was excommunicated by pope my ancestors departed for Salem New Hampshire. Hung around for a bit then dispersed.

[@CaptainLeif161]

The story about the hero carrying the dead man reminds me of the old story "TEIG O'KANE (TADHG O CÁTHÁN) AND THE CORPSE"

[@winterburden]

Thanks for this neat Samhain video Cinzia!

[@Elvertaw]

Thanks! And continue the excellent work!! How’s your phd going, anyway?

[@CinziaDuBois]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it

[@danielalfred5063]

Amazing!! I was in Ireland 20 or so years back and was right in the middle of Samhain That was a fabulous story and you told it well. P.S. Never knew this, thank you.

[@drjackdaw6627]

Absolutely fabulous video, thank you

[@danielrose7052]

I just discovered you here today and I subscribed before the video was even halfway through. Thank you for wonderful work and NEVER apologize for being a Halloween nerd ... Lol.

[@richardmyhan3369]

Yet another enlightening and entertaining video. I'm really surprised that I hadn't heard this story before. Thank you for sharing it with us. 😀😀

[@milaces1323]

Yes! So excited for this video 😊

[@strawheartmila106]

Came across this video today! Loved it!!Just subscribed!! ❤

[@andrewwilson5104]

I remember a scene from Halloween 2 were Michael drew Samhain on the wall so Michael does have some connection to samhain

[@lilym1797]

Love the celtic story! I'm trying to find out more about halloween this year and I really don't know any celtic/pagans myths, which is Halloween/ the UKs oldest histories!

[@tetsubo57]

Halloween is my wedding anniversary. Nineteen years this year.

[@CinziaDuBois]

Congratulations!! The best wedding day date

[@andrewzimmer9161]

Everyone's got that *one* dead aunt who just has to hear all the gossip and won't let grandma talk to the kids.

[@kelsey5846]

Now I'm curious what happened to him and his lover after he warned the King!! Great video, thank you!

[@brigidspencer5123]

October with the changing the colour of the leaves, Hallowe’en now Halloween has always been my favourite time of year. The Christian Church appropriated many pagan traditions and even built their churches on former pagan meeting places since the pagans were already worshipping there.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

'The Christian Church appropriated many pagan traditions'. Such as?

[@apzzpa]

so fulfilling. thank you

[@MargaretMajerowski]

Really enjoyed this. Doing a deep dive of samhain these days🎃🎃🎃

[@DebbysWitchyVlog]

Best wishes for Nanorimo month!❤

[@archeewaters]

great story! i enjoyed listening to it. have a happy halloween. :) it's my favourite season...

[@angstymedusa]

That's interesting about Queen Victoria popularizing Halloween. In the US there are some religious groups that don't celebrate Halloween because they think it's either satanic, pagan or Catholic but it's good ol' Queen Vicky who's responsible for this 🎃 🎃 🎃