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What is Samhain: The origins of Halloween and its traditions - including turnip carving
Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival, inspired Halloween customs like pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating, which gained popularity in North America during the 19th century.
- On October 31st, Samhain marked a time when the veil between living and dead was thought thinnest, providing the foundation for Halloween traditions in Ireland and Scotland.
- In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints' Day, making October 31st All Hallows' Eve that absorbed Samhain customs.
- Carving lanterns began with turnips, the original carved lanterns, before Irish and Scottish immigrants adopted pumpkins in North America, and Celtic `souling` and `guising` evolved into trick-or-treating.
- The 19th-century migration of Irish and Scottish immigrants to North America transformed Halloween into a largely secular, family-focused celebration.
- Are you celebrating Samhain this year? Modern pagans and Wiccans observe it as a sacred festival, while costumes and door-to-door customs persist in Halloween traditions in the United Kingdom.
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution89% Center
Bias Distribution
- 89% of the sources are Center
89% Center
11%
C 89%
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