Did you know that the dead had nothing to do with Samhain? Originally the Gaelic festival focused on the supernatural as around this time the membrane between the worlds thinned, the need for protection was heightened, fires were lit to ward away the darkness, spirits and other unspeakable creatures. Creatures that within Gaelic texts and mythology invaded our world, heroic and royal figures met their untimely demise by their hands and ancient capitals were laid siege to. This link to death and ancestors didn’t come into play till about 700CE when the pope moved the the holiday All Saints Day to November 1st, whereby the churchs many saints were honoured and prayed to. Divination was themed around death and marriage, did you also know that Halloween was massive rival for Valentines day in the victoria era? 

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