Halloween, a traditional Irish celebration
Celebrated around the world by millions of people, Halloween is one of the most popular events happening in the autumn.
Each year, on October 31st, people from all ages are dressing up with the spookiest costume they own. This is also the occasion to meet friends, to eat a lot of candies and to party until dawn.
That’s why O’Sullivans Irish pubs are always opened on Halloween night: who doesn’t like to drink magic potions on a night out?
But… where does Halloween come from?
Why do we celebrate Halloween?
Origins of Halloween
You might believe that Halloween comes from the US when you think about your favourite Halloween movies: Hocus Pocus, Halloween, Beetlejuice… So you will be surprised to discover that Halloween comes from… Ireland.
Yes, Halloween was originally celebrated by Celts over 2,000 years ago!
The Halloween tradition started in Ireland under the name “Samhain”, or “Samain”. The Celtic festival of Samhain celebrated the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
Indeed, winter starts on November 1st in the Irish calendar (“Samhain” also means November in Gaelic). Many believed that October 31st was the night when the mortal world and the “world of spirits and ghosts” would meet. Good spirits (deceased friends or family members) would return home to visit their loved ones.
But Celts were afraid of evil spirits: they decided to wear masks and terrifying costumes to scare these spirits away and be protected from them. They also lit big fires to drive them away.
That’s how the tradition of wearing costumes and lighting candles on Halloween night began!
This Celtic celebration (and others, such as Paddy’s Day) was brought by the Irish to the US during the emigration period. That’s one of the reasons Halloween is one of the biggest celebrations in the US.
Why do we carve pumpkins for Halloween?
Carved pumpkins, or jack-o’-lanterns, are the symbol of Halloween. Why?
It came from an old Irish legend about a man called Stingy Jack. In this tale, Jack died and was condemned to wander outside of both heaven and hell because of his troubled life. To light his way around him, Jack used a piece of burning ember that he placed in a hollowed-out turnip: a lantern was created.
Irish people used Jack’s idea to scare evil spirits during Halloween night. But they quickly realised that pumpkins were easier to find than turnips when Halloween was around the corner. Also, it’s much easier to carve a pumpkin than a turnip!
“Trick or treat!” everyone celebrates Halloween
Dressed up as a creepy clown, a scary zombie, a bloody vampire or as Frankenstein, everyone celebrates Halloween with friends and family.
Some people keep the original Halloween spirit of scaring ghosts and evil spirits in mind. Other prefer to dress up as sexy rabbits or as shirtless doctors…
On Halloween night, pick the costume you want and have fun. And remember to pronounce this famous phrase if you have a sweet tooth: “Trick or treat!”
How is Halloween celebrated around the world
From Ireland to Mexico, Halloween is celebrated differently around the world:
In Mexico, children go trick-or-treating on October 31st but Mexicans celebrate the Dead on November 1st and 2nd with el Día de los Muertos. Usually, family members prepare the deceased’s favourite dishes and wear skull masks.
In Ireland, people dress up with spooky costumes, and like most of the Irish celebrations, meet with friends, go to the pub then party all night long. It’s a tradition O’Sullivans wouldn’t miss!
Each year during Halloween, the Púca Festival is organised in Ireland: it’s the occasion to meet otherworldly creatures in the spirit of Samhain.
In France, children and adults dress up with scary costumes: witches, ghosts, werewolves, etc. During the evening, adults reunite with friends to go to spooktacular parties… such as the ones organised at the nearest O’Sullivans pub!
Celebrate Halloween at O’Sullivans!
This year celebrate Halloween 2024 on Thursday, October 31st, at your favourite O’Sullivans pub: great music, goodies, food, drinks and surprises will punctuate Halloween night.
Wear your spookiest costume, call your friends and meet at one of O’Sullivans pubs in Paris, By The Beach or in Montpellier.
Be ready to try magic potion shots and to have a great time: we’ll be thrilled to death to see you!
