Read on Twitter
CELTIC HALLOWEEN TRADITIONSAn Animal Crossing thread!
1 | Not many know this, but Halloween began as a pagan festival called "Samhain" [sow-in] in Ireland over 1000 years ago! In Irish, Halloween is known as "Oíche Shamnna" [ee-ha how-nah] The name Halloween is taken from "All Hallow's Eve", the day before All Saints Day
![1 | Not many know this, but Halloween began as a pagan festival called "Samhain" [sow-in] in Ireland over 1000 years ago! In Irish, Halloween is known as "Oíche Shamnna" [ee-ha how-nah] The name Halloween is taken from "All Hallow's Eve", the day before All Saints Day](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ElsS2tgXEAYLhHU.jpg "1 | Not many know this, but Halloween began as a pagan festival called \"Samhain\" [sow-in] in Ireland over 1000 years ago! In Irish, Halloween is known as \"Oíche Shamnna\" [ee-ha how-nah] The name Halloween is taken from \"All Hallow's Eve\", the day before All Saints Day")
2 | But Why?
Celts would celebrate new year on November 1st. This day marked the end of the harvest and the harvest and the beginning of a darker, colder winter. This time was also associated with death, and on the night of 31st October, ghosts and spirits returned to earth
Celts would celebrate new year on November 1st. This day marked the end of the harvest and the harvest and the beginning of a darker, colder winter. This time was also associated with death, and on the night of 31st October, ghosts and spirits returned to earth
3 | Bonfires
To commemorate the event, druids built huge bonfires (bone + fire), where people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to Celtic deities. When the celebration ended, they re-lit their hearth fires from the holy bonfire to protect them during the winter.
To commemorate the event, druids built huge bonfires (bone + fire), where people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to Celtic deities. When the celebration ended, they re-lit their hearth fires from the holy bonfire to protect them during the winter.
4 | Costumes
During these celebrations, people wore costumes (usually animal heads or skins) and attempted to tell each others fortunes. The idea was that any evil spirits would let them go free from harm because they would mistake the person for a spirit!
During these celebrations, people wore costumes (usually animal heads or skins) and attempted to tell each others fortunes. The idea was that any evil spirits would let them go free from harm because they would mistake the person for a spirit!
5 | Jack O Lantern
Jack was a blacksmith who made a deal with the devil (that his soul would never be taken). When he died he was denied entry into heaven and hell. He was forced to wander the countryside with his only possession: a gouged out turnip, lit up with a piece of coal.
Jack was a blacksmith who made a deal with the devil (that his soul would never be taken). When he died he was denied entry into heaven and hell. He was forced to wander the countryside with his only possession: a gouged out turnip, lit up with a piece of coal.
6 | Turnips?
You heard that right! Celts used to carve scary faces into turnips! They would then put a candle inside the hollow turnip and leave it on their doorsteps to scare away unwelcome spirits from their homes! So then, why do we think of pumpkins at Halloween..?
You heard that right! Celts used to carve scary faces into turnips! They would then put a candle inside the hollow turnip and leave it on their doorsteps to scare away unwelcome spirits from their homes! So then, why do we think of pumpkins at Halloween..?
7 | Pumpkins
We associate pumpkins with Halloween. This is because of Irish emigration to America, who brought Halloween traditions with them. However, they could not find turnips to use for the ritual, and the closest thing they could find were pumpkins! The rest is history.
We associate pumpkins with Halloween. This is because of Irish emigration to America, who brought Halloween traditions with them. However, they could not find turnips to use for the ritual, and the closest thing they could find were pumpkins! The rest is history.
8 | Trick or Treat
Trick or treating has ties to a druid ritual of collecting eggs, nuts and apples from the homes of the community. These offerings would bring protection from bad luck, eg. damage to crops. Stingier people were likely to have a (harmless)9 trick played on them!
Trick or treating has ties to a druid ritual of collecting eggs, nuts and apples from the homes of the community. These offerings would bring protection from bad luck, eg. damage to crops. Stingier people were likely to have a (harmless)9 trick played on them!
9 | Apple Bobbing 
This tradition dates back to the Roman Empire invasion, which brought traditions from the harvest festival to the goddess Pomona to Ireland. Young unmarried people try to bite an apple floating in water. The first one to bite would be the next to be married!
This tradition dates back to the Roman Empire invasion, which brought traditions from the harvest festival to the goddess Pomona to Ireland. Young unmarried people try to bite an apple floating in water. The first one to bite would be the next to be married!
10 | Irish Halloween Vocabulary!
Oíche Shamnna = Halloween
Púca [poo-ka] = ghost
Puimpcín [pump-keen] = pumpkin
Úlla [oola] = apples
Bob nó bia [bob no be-a] = trick or treat
Milseáin [mil-shawn] = sweets/candy
i
![10 | Irish Halloween Vocabulary!Oíche Shamnna = Halloween Púca [poo-ka] = ghost Puimpcín [pump-keen] = pumpkin Úlla [oola] = apples Bob nó bia [bob no be-a] = trick or treatMilseáin [mil-shawn] = sweets/candyi](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ElsS5XiXUAk7jPV.jpg "10 | Irish Halloween Vocabulary!Oíche Shamnna = Halloween Púca [poo-ka] = ghost Puimpcín [pump-keen] = pumpkin Úlla [oola] = apples Bob nó bia [bob no be-a] = trick or treatMilseáin [mil-shawn] = sweets/candyi")
Oíche Shamnna = Halloween
Púca [poo-ka] = ghost
Puimpcín [pump-keen] = pumpkin
Úlla [oola] = apples
Bob nó bia [bob no be-a] = trick or treat
Milseáin [mil-shawn] = sweets/candy
i
I really hope you enjoyed this thread + maybe learned something new! It was hard squishing all my notes into concise tweets, but I hope everything makes sense! If you have questions, let me know in a reply!
#acnh #animalcrossing #halloween
ty to @sleepyluck for presets used!
#acnh #animalcrossing #halloween
ty to @sleepyluck for presets used!
