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Samhain
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Silhouetted figures in costumes and cloaks, some with antler headdresses, stand outdoors holding banners during a Samhain ceremony at sunset near Glastonbury Tor.
The word Samhain appears in white text over a blue background.
Pumpkin jack-o'-lantern carved for Halloween, lit from inside with candles.
Bag of Halloween candies spilled from an orange bag.
Why Do People Carve Pumpkins for Halloween?
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Children dressed in halloween costumes and masks. Group of trick or treaters standing on steps in their Halloween costumes. Holiday
Halloween
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Samhain: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Charles Preston
    Charles Preston is Associate Editor for Religion at Encyclopædia Britannica.
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: BBC - Samhain to Soulmass: The Pagan origins of familiar Halloween rituals. Aug 28, 2026
Article thoroughly revised. Oct 29, 2025
Add new Web site: Academia - Irish Samhain Ritual (PDF). Jul 19, 2025
Add new Web site: National Museum of Ireland - Traditions and customs of Halloween/Samhain. May 23, 2025
Add new Web site: Heritage Ireland - Samhain: The Roots of Halloween. Feb 14, 2025
Add new Web site: BBC - Where did Halloween originate? Nov 22, 2024
Add new Web site: St Neots Museum - Samhain – The precursor to Halloween. Mar 28, 2024
Media added. Sep 18, 2023
Media added. Sep 07, 2023
Add new Web site: Ancient Origins - Crossing the Veil: The Pre-Christian Origins of Halloween and Samhain. Jun 29, 2023
Add new Web site: Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids - Samhain Festival. Nov 28, 2022
Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - Samhain. Sep 05, 2022
Article revised. Oct 21, 2016
Added new Web site: BBC - Samhain to Soulmass: The Pagan origins of familiar Halloween rituals. Aug 20, 2008
Added new Web site: Asiya's Shadows - Samhain. Aug 20, 2008
Added new Web site: Celticbear - What is Samhain. Aug 20, 2008
Added new Web site: New-age - Samhain. Aug 20, 2008
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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