Madam, – Tim Storey (October 29th) makes some interesting but misleading points regarding Halloween. He is correct in that its origin is the Celtic New Year. Our Celtic pagan ancestors believed that the border between our material world and the Otherworld would become thin at Halloween, or Samhain in Gaelic, allowing spirits to pass through, both the spirits of the deceased but also unwanted spirits, hence the pagans wore costumes to ward off harmful spirits. Bonfires were also lit as a cleansing and sacrificial ritual.
The festival indeed celebrates death, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the Christian concepts of the devil and hell which are foreign to Celtic paganism. In fact, early Christianity adopted many pagan festivals in various countries as a means to promote the new religion to pagans. Hence Christmas has its origins in pagan midwinter festivals such as the Roman Saturnalia and Easter is deeply embedded in pagan tradition. Celtic Christianity in Ireland preserved many pagan traditions as well as adopting the new Christian ones. Halloween has been celebrated for centuries on this island by Celtic Christians who did not relate it to the devil and hell, as Mr Storey did.
Perhaps I shall take Mr Storey’s suggestion and dress up as Our Lady and make my appearance at Knock this weekend! – Yours, etc,