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Can you feel it?
That tingle in your spine signaling that fall is right around the corner…
For my fellow fervent fans of ancient Celtic festivals and festivities, now is the time we start thinking about Samhain.
And thinking about how you pronounce Samhain.
FYI it’s “Sow-wen.”
Or “Sau-ihn.”
Or “Sow-unn.”
Look, there are lots of variations.
And I attempt to cover them all in a new video on the IrishMyths YouTube channel, to which, yes you are absolutely welcome (and encouraged) to subscribe.
Now, as many of you likely already know, Samhain inspired many of our favorite modern Halloween traditions, including dressing up in scary costumes, going trick-or-treating, bobbing for apples, and carving pumpkins and other vegetables into jack-o’-lanterns.
And look, I know I’m getting a little ahead of myself here—it’s still summer, I can hear you screaming at me—but in my defense…I just love carving pumpkins so darn much.
So yes, I put together a deep-dive video on the history of jack-o’-lanterns and the Irish folklore and Celtic mythology surrounding these glorious, glowing gourds. You can watch it right here:
And hey while we’re on the subject of Samhain/Halloween, a time when tales of death and the undead and dark magic are wont to bubble up to the surface of our collective consciousness like the roiling fluid of a cauldron-bound witch’s brew, I have two more recent videos you might be interested in.
The first is an adaptation of my article “Who Is the Irish God of Death? A Morbid Introduction to the Morrígan, Donn, and Bilé.”
The second is an (abridged) interpretation of my article “The 10 Most Powerful Druids From Irish Mythology,” in which some of Ireland’s most famous (and infamous) mystics and mages unleash the power of their minds while occasionally also wielding straight-up superpowers.
So that’s what I’ve been up to these past few weeks.
As for what’s next, you can be sure I’ll be promoting the heck out of my book Samhain in Your Pocket: A Tiny Little Book About the Celtic Origins of Halloween.
Sorry, what was that?
You want to see a picture of the cover?
And you want to read a little blurb to get you in the mood?
Much obliged.
Samhain in Your Pocket
Perhaps the most important holiday on the ancient Celtic calendar, Samhain marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new pastoral year. It is a liminal time—a time when the forces of light and darkness, warmth and cold, growth and blight, are in conflict. A time when the barrier between the land of the living and the land of the dead is at its thinnest. A time when all manner of spirits and demons are wont to cross over from the Celtic Otherworld. Learn more…
I’m even doing Instagram and TikTok now (sigh) if you’re so inclined to follow me there (@Kneverday in both places).
Thanks for reading this little update of mine. I’m going to try to do one at the end of every season.
Want to learn more about the darker side of Irish mythology?
Irish Monsters in Your Pocket (Celtic Pocket Guides 3)
In the Ireland of myth and legend, “spooky season” is every season. Spirits roam the countryside, hovering above the bogs. Werewolves lope through forests under full moons. Dragons lurk beneath the waves. Granted, there’s no denying that Samhain (Halloween’s Celtic predecessor) tends to bring out some of the island’s biggest, baddest monsters. Prepare yourself for (educational) encounters with Irish cryptids, demons, ghouls, goblins, and other supernatural beings. Learn more…
Neon Druid: An Anthology of Urban Celtic Fantasy
“A thrilling romp through pubs, mythology, and alleyways. NEON DRUID is such a fun, pulpy anthology of stories that embody Celtic fantasy and myth,” (Pyles of Books). Cross over into a world where the mischievous gods, goddesses, monsters, and heroes of Celtic mythology live among us, intermingling with unsuspecting mortals and stirring up mayhem in cities and towns on both sides of the Atlantic, from Limerick and Edinburgh to Montreal and Boston. Learn more…
More the listenin’ type?
I recommend the audiobook Celtic Mythology: Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes by Philip Freeman (narrated by Gerard Doyle). Use my link to get 3 free months of Audible Premium Plus and you can listen to the full 7.5-hour audiobook for free.
