Oiche shamhna shona duit! Seems a bit odd this time of year, as we gather together costumes, carve pumpkins, collect tinder for bonfires, and hang images of goblins, ghouls and witches about our surroundings, doesn’t it? Yet if you had lived in Ireland many centuries ago, this would have been your New Year celebration! Halloween After St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, it became the goal of monks and missionaries to convert the pagan Irish. Because the natives were so resistant to Christianity, the Church sought to assist conversion by substituting Christian ‘versions’ of sacred days and deities for ancient Celtic ones – hence, the powerful hearth goddess Brigid became St. Bridget, Beltane became Easter, and Samhain became All Hallow’s Eve and All Saint’s Day.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 04:09:54 +0000
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