Ending Halloween leads right into our next holiday: Samhain. This holiday, of Gaelic origin, celebrates the halfway point between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. It is one of the four season festivals, and accompanies Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh. Samhain is observed mainly in Ireland, but has spread into Scotland and Wales.
Samhain is seen as particularly special because it is believed to be the time in which it is easier for spirits and fairies to travel to Earth and have interaction with humans. According to Irish myth, Samhain was the time when the door to the Otherworld was the most open, and allowed the dead to be in closer connection with the living. Bonfires, dances, feasts, and alter construction are common practices on this holiday. It is largely celebrated by Pagans and Wicca.
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