Samhain

or Sa·main, sa·mh'in

[ sah-win ]

noun

1. a festival of the ancient Celts, held around November 1 to celebrate the beginning of winter.

Samhain

/ ˈsaʊɪn; ˈsaʊeɪn; ˈsɑːwɪn /

noun

1. an ancient Celtic festival held on Nov 1 to mark the beginning of winter and the beginning of a new year. It is also celebrated by modern pagans

Word History and Origins

Origin of Samhain¹

1885–90; < Irish; Old Irish samain

Word History and Origins

Origin of Samhain¹

from Irish, from Old Irish samain

Example Sentences

On Samhain, a festival celebrated by ancient people, the lines between the Otherworld of the dead and the realm of the living were weakened.

From Los Angeles Times

The holiday’s origins date to the 8th century Celtic festival of Samhain, which was intended to ward off the ghosts of the dead that were said to return the night before the fall harvest on Nov. 1.

From Los Angeles Times

Some believe it dates back to Halloween’s Gaelic origins, the festival of Samhain and burning witches on the last Friday before All Hallows’ Eve, while others say it is linked to Kilmarnock’s industrial past.

From BBC

Will Forte stars as the oddly cheery true-crime podcaster Gilbert Power in this dark dramedy, set in a small Irish town named Bodkin, where decades ago multiple young people disappeared during a Samhain festival.

From New York Times

For Christians, the festival marks the eve of the All Saint's Day feast but it has older, pagan roots, in the Gaelic festival Samhain.

From BBC