The term Celts is a misused term as the term " Celt " was not used at the time of the Ancient or Early People in the British Isles. The people were not "Celts " ; they were Gaels, Britons and Gauls. Celt comes from the Greek word Keltoi which means barbarian and was used from 17th and 18th Centuries to classify these people who lived a certain life style. The Celts.
Many of the ways we celebrate Halloween here and in America come from Gaels and Britons. Even then though, the festival was not called Halloween. It was known as Samhain( pronounced Sow -win ) Christians took the festival over and Christianised it to Halloween, All Hallows Eve.
Millions of Irish/ Britons who emigrated to America took these traditions with them.
Blarney Castle and Gardens, County Corkon 06/01/2023
An Cóbh, Corcaigh, Eireon 05/29/2023
Dublin ; The Book of Kellson 04/04/2023
The Bee Tree Community CIC;- an online support communityon 08/24/2022
Comments
Thank you for your comments below, on May 4, 2024, in answer to my previous comments and questions.
The May 19 Pentecost meal that I described three comment boxes down did take place as such a crowd-pleaser, thanks to your recipes.
But do you have an exact recipe for Lambswool? My preference is a precise recipe even as the apple, cider, milk mix seemed nice (but undoubtedly perfect with your notes on how much how, what for, when, where, why ;-D)
Derdriu
I have never had a bad meal in Ireland. The traditional food had to wholesome and use what was available.
I have a gorgeous barm brack recipe on my Balnamoon skink Irish food page
The fifth subheading, Lanterns, advises us that "Lanterns have always held significance at this time of year. In Britain and Ireland turnips were hollowed out and lights put in them as we didn't grow pumpkins in the British Isles. As turnips aren't widely found in USA, pumpkins became the veg of choice for lanterns and this has now spread to UK."
Pentecost is May 19 this year. Your list of apples, Bram Brack, Colcannon and Lambswool might make quite a simple, tasty meal in the midst of turnip candles.
Might you have handy Bram Brack and Lambswool recipes?
It might be fun to make the apples into something where their peels matter. Might you have candied and roasted apple-peel recipes?
Would you ever have hollowed turnips for their working as candle holders?
It's nice to see how other cultures celebrate Halloween. I learned about colcannon as well so thanks for this.
If you hold Halloween celebrations, this article might be of interest.
Yes I thought I would put some fun in our sad, uncertain times.
I have never been much into Halloween myself but looking at it from a different perspective helps.
Each county in Ireland celebrsted differently . Some counties call Halloween Colcannon night . It is a great irish favourite. In many counties in Ireland, it was a time to do various things to see who you would marry !
This was such an enjoyable read! I will certainly make colcannon. I also enjoyed changing my perspective of Halloween a little (great) bit :)
Halloweeen 2020.
The festival which originated in Ancient Ireland will be celebrated differently this year in the UK because of COVID 19.
Children are being discouraged from going door to door. It is an unsafe practice at best.
How ever you celebrate the festival, let's all keep safe and distanced . We can watch Halloween films, or have some treats at home.
Take care.
BSG
An excellent point and one which needs reiterating. My parish priest has no problem with the children "celebrating " Halloween" which is after all a Christianisation of The Briton/ Gael feast of Samhain. The people aren't taking part in devil worship. It is "All Hallows Eve " - "Halloween " "All saint's Eve. "