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That Halloween originated as the day before All Saints' Day might seem to be a straightforward explanation. But popular history points to another source: The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.<ref>For a "popular history" account, see "[https://www.irishpost.com/news/samhain-seven-facts-about-the-spooky-irish-festival-which-became-halloween-105009 Samhain: Seven facts about the spooky Irish festival which became Halloween]", ''Irish Post''.</ref>

That Halloween originated as the day before All Saints' Day might seem to be a straightforward explanation. But popular history points to another source: The ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.<ref>For a "popular history" account, see "[https://www.irishpost.com/news/samhain-seven-facts-about-the-spooky-irish-festival-which-became-halloween-105009 Samhain: Seven facts about the spooky Irish festival which became Halloween]", ''Irish Post''.</ref>

In modern Gaelic, ''Samhain'' refers primarily to the month of November.<ref>Mark, Colin, ''The Gaelic–English Dictionary'' (2003).</ref> For the pre-Christian Celts, Samhain was the most important date of the year. Little is known of the pagan festival. Sources conflict on many points, including what time of year it was.<ref>Ulster hero Cuchulainn had an extended vision of the afterworld on Samhain, according to the eleventh century tale "[http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/cuchulainnsick.htm The Sick-Bed of Cu Chulainn]":{{cquote|EVERY year the men of Ulster were accustomed to hold festival together; and the time when they held it was for three days before Samhain, the Summer-End, and for three days after that day, and upon Samhain itself...and it is from that custom of theirs that the Festival of the Samhain has descended, that is now held throughout the whole of Ireland.}}</ref>  

In modern Gaelic, ''Samhain'' refers primarily to the month of November.<ref>Mark, Colin, ''The Gaelic–English Dictionary'' (2003).</ref> For the pre-Christian Celts, Samhain was the most important date of the year. Little is known of this pagan festival. Sources conflict on many points, including what time of year it was.<ref>Ulster hero Cuchulainn had an extended vision of the afterworld on Samhain, according to the eleventh century tale "[http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/cuchulainnsick.htm The Sick-Bed of Cu Chulainn]":{{cquote|EVERY year the men of Ulster were accustomed to hold festival together; and the time when they held it was for three days before Samhain, the Summer-End, and for three days after that day, and upon Samhain itself...and it is from that custom of theirs that the Festival of the Samhain has descended, that is now held throughout the whole of Ireland.}}</ref>  

''Sanas Cormaic'', an Irish glossary written around 900, gives ''Imbol'' (February 1) as the first day of spring, ''Beltaine'' (May 1) the first day of summer, ''Lugnasad'' (August 1) the first day of fall, and ''Samhain'' (November 1) the first day of winter.<ref name="Olmsted">Olmsted, Garrett (2009). ''The Coligny Calendar: the Implications for Gaulish and Irish Festival Dates''.</ref> The Irish adopted the Julian calendar around AD 450. The seasonal dates may have transferred from the Celtic calendar at this time.

''Sanas Cormaic'', an Irish glossary written around 900, gives ''Imbol'' (February 1) as the first day of spring, ''Beltaine'' (May 1) the first day of summer, ''Lugnasad'' (August 1) the first day of fall, and ''Samhain'' (November 1) the first day of winter.<ref name="Olmsted">Olmsted, Garrett (2009). ''The Coligny Calendar: the Implications for Gaulish and Irish Festival Dates''.</ref> The Irish adopted the Julian calendar around AD 450. The seasonal dates may have transferred from the Celtic calendar at this time.