Samhain literally means summer’s end. In Ireland and Scotland, Halloween is known as Oíche Shamhna. The Celts believed it was the day that the dead revisited the mortal world.

It was the change to Christianity that Samhain was changed to Hallowmas, or All Saints’ Day to honor the blessed souls of the dead or the “Feast of the Dead”. It marked the end of summer and the start of the winter months. October 31st was then known as 'Halloween'; November 1st as 'All Saints Day'; and finally November 2nd was known as 'All Souls Day' when prayers were offered to the souls that were in Purgatory waiting to be admitted into Heaven.

In early Ireland, the people would come together for Samhain. It was known as the principal calendar feast of the year. The greatest feast was the “Feast of Tara”, where they focused on the royal seat of the High King. In every house the hearth fires were put out as they waited for the Druids to light the new fire of the year. This was done at Tlachtga, (not Tara). This was the burial place of Tlachtga the daughter of the druid Mogh Ruith who was thought of as a goddess in her former life.

Sacrifices and gifts were offered up in thanksgiving. Personal prayers in a form of an object or symbol were cast into the fire. At the end of the ceremony, the brands were lit from the great fire of Tara to relight the home fires of the Tribe. The flame marked the time of beginnings of dreams, projects and hopes for the new year.