Samhain

Or Sa·main,

[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

Another highlight of the festivities was a 160-ft-long fire-breathing snake called Siantha the Samhain Serpent.

Read more on BBC

Its most popular and unusual traditions have roots in the ancient Celtic fire festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter.

Read more on BBC

This remains a central theme, as organisers of this year's celebrations said the streets of Derry would be taken over by a cast of mythical and mysterious characters bringing Samhain to life.

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on 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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What is Samhain?

Samhain (pronounced SAH-win) is an ancient Celtic harvest festival in celebration of the beginning of winter and a new year. (The Celts’ year was considered to start with the winter season on November 1.)Many of the traditions associated with Halloween are thought to have originated with Samhain, and the word Samhain is sometimes used synonymously with Halloween.However, Samhain is often considered a distinct holiday. It is sometimes celebrated as a religious observance in Pagan, Neopagan, and other traditions.Samhain is sometimes also spelled Samain or Samh’in.