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'''Samhain''', Old Irish ''Samain,'' was a Celtic holiday prominent in Irish mythology. It was observed on November 1. This is also the date of [[All Saints' Day]], a closely associated holiday. Popular history associates Samhain with [[Halloween]], although Halloween is observed on October 31 and arose separately in 18th century Scotland. In modern Gaelic, ''Samhain'' refers to the month of November.<ref>Mark, Colin, ''The Gaelic–English Dictionary'' (2003).</ref>
'''Samhain''', Old Irish ''Samain,'' was a Celtic holiday prominent in Irish mythology. It was observed on November 1. This is also the date of [[All Saints' Day]], a closely associated holiday. Popular history associates Samhain with [[Halloween]], although Halloween is observed on October 31 and arose separately in 18th century Scotland. In modern Gaelic, ''Samhain'' refers to the month of November.<ref>Mark, Colin, ''The Gaelic–English Dictionary'' (2003).</ref>
The Celtic year was divided into halves by the holidays Samhain and Beltaine (May 1). These dates were once part of a Celtic lunisolar calendar. Even in the earliest surviving accounts, both dates have already transferred to the Julian calendar.
The Celtic year was divided into halves by the holidays Samhain and Beltaine (May 1). These dates were once part of a Celtic lunisolar calendar. Even in the earliest surviving accounts, both dates have already transferred to the [[Julian calendar]].
Medieval legends explain that Samhain is the end of summer. This interprets the word as a variation of ''sam-fuin'' (summer's end), a possible but disputed etymology.<ref>MacBain, Alexander, ''An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language'', Gairm Publications, Glasgow, 1982. "'''samhuinn''', Hallow-tide, Ir. [samhain], E.Ir. [samuin], [samain], [samfhuin]: usually regarded as for [*sam-fuin], "summer-end", from [sam], summer, and [fuin], end, sunset."</ref>
Medieval legends explain that Samhain is the end of summer. This interprets the word as a variation of ''sam-fuin'' (summer's end), a possible but disputed etymology.<ref>MacBain, Alexander, ''An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language'', Gairm Publications, Glasgow, 1982. "'''samhuinn''', Hallow-tide, Ir. [samhain], E.Ir. [samuin], [samain], [samfhuin]: usually regarded as for [*sam-fuin], "summer-end", from [sam], summer, and [fuin], end, sunset."</ref>