I Just Published a New Book About Samhain. Want a Free Copy?

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Fall approaches like an old witch on a rusty bicycle in a windstorm.

Or something.

Look, I started sleep-training my youngest last night, so I apologize in advance for any weird turns-of-phrase and/or what will likely be a general lack of coherence in this post. My brain feels like it’s full of…witches on rusty bicycles.

Why am I writing this again?

Oh, right: it’s here! Book 2 of the Celtic Pocket Guides series is here!

Grab a Free Copy of Samhain in Your Pocket

From today, September 14th 2022, until September 19th 2202, you can download a free digital copy of Samhain in Your Pocket: A Tiny Little Book About the Celtic Origins of Halloween.

If you’ve been following along with IrishMyths.com for the past several weeks, you already know what you’ll find inside. Indeed, Samhain in Your Pocket is—with a few changes here and there—a compilation of the following articles:

The Celtic History Behind Our Favorite Halloween Traditions: 6 Samhain Rituals That Refuse to Die

The origins of Halloween are rooted in the ancient Celtic harvest festival of Samhain. But how, specifically, did Samhain give rise to all those wacky Halloween rituals?

How Do You Pronounce Samhain?

Learn the authentic Irish pronunciation for “Samhain”, the ancient Celtic feast that inspired Halloween. Hint: it’s not “Sam-hane”.

What Is Samhain? (Definition and Etymology)

What in the Halloween is the definition of Samhain? Where did the word come from? And why did the ancient Celts decide to celebrate Samhain on the 31st night of October?

A Brief History of Samhain: When (and Where) Did Halloween’s Celtic Predecessor Get Its Start?

No history of Halloween would be complete without a history of Samhain. Uncover the archaeological and historical evidence behind Samhain’s ancient Celtic origins.

The Mythology of Samhain: 6 Stories That Give Samhain Added Significance

Did you know that Samhain served as the backdrop for many of Irish mythology’s greatest battles and events? Here are 6 Samhain myths for celebrating the year’s spookiest season.

Was There an Irish God Named Samhain?

Yes. No. Sort of. Look, this is gonna be one of *those* posts, because while there is a character from Irish mythology who bears the name “Samhain,” he’s not what you think.

Who Is the Irish God of Death? A Morbid Introduction to the Morrígan, Donn, and Bilé

Irish mythology is rife with ruthless and ritual death. So is there a god and/or goddess from the Irish pantheon who is in charge of the recently deceased, à la the Grim Reaper or Charon from Greek mythology? Turns out there’s not just one Irish god of death, there are (at least) three.

The Jaw-Dropping History of the Jack-O’-Lantern: A Tale of Turnips, Samhain, and Severed Heads

Where do jack-o’-lanterns come from? Learn about their Irish origins in this deep dive

So, why should you download a free copy of Samhain in Your Pocket if you’ve effectively already read the darn thing? Here’s why:

I Need Reviews!

Please, please, please:

Whether you’ve been enjoying plumbing the depths of Irish and Celtic mythology and folklore with me for a while now or you’ve just dropped by and like what you’ve read so far, the single most helpful thing you can do is grab a free copy of Samhain in Your Pocket from the Kindle store and leave a review—ideally a review that glows like the eyes of a jack-o’-lantern.

But that’s entirely up to you. Let it be known that your honest opinion is much appreciated either away. Like Stingy Jack, I will (begrudgingly) accept my fate.

Your review, be it glowing, glossy, or matte, will help make Samhain in Your Pocket easier to find and, by extension, it will also help make all of the books in the Celtic Pocket Guides series easier to find.

And by “all” of the books in the series, yes, I mean this one and the first one: Irish Myths in Your Pocket (which, in case you hadn’t noticed, has a redesigned cover).

book on table - irish myths in your pocket paperback

Oh, and rest assured: Book 3 of the series, Irish Monsters in Your Pocket: A Tiny Little Book About Irish Dragons, Werewolves, Vampires, Banshees, Headless Horsemen and Other Beastly Beings, is on the way!

Samhain in Your Pocket: Digital vs. Paperback

One final caveat before I collapse in a heap and get sucked into the Celtic Otherworld:

The free (digital) version of Samhain in Your Pocket has been optimized for Kindle reading. Hence, there are no pretty pictures, just text.

The paperback version of Samhain in Your Pocket, on the other hand, has been optimized for…being a paperback. There are pretty pictures (in color!) and other design elements.

picture of carved turnip jack o lantern inside the paperback version of samhain in your pocket

picture of cuchulainn inside of samhain in your pocket

What’s more, the paperback edition of Samhain in Your Pocket is literally pocket-sized: four inches by six inches.

I recommend keeping it in your back pocket this Halloween and busting it out whenever you feel like dropping ancient Celtic knowledge on your fellow revelers.

Will people call you a huge nerd? A big ole Irish and Celtic mythology geek?

Probably.

Just embrace it and turn the other cheek.

Or you can send those bastards to the Celtic Otherworld. (I’ll be here to greet them.)