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[[File:640px-Coligny-closeup.jpg|thumb|The Coligny calendar is a Celtic calendar found in the French town of Coligny in 1897.]]'''Samhain''', Old Irish ''Samain,'' was a feast observed in ancient Ireland on November 1. It was both the first day of winter and the date of [[All Saints' Day]]. Popular history associates Samhain with [[Halloween]], although Halloween is observed on October 31 and arose separately in 18th century Scotland.

[[File:640px-Coligny-closeup.jpg|thumb|The Coligny calendar is a Celtic calendar found in the French town of Coligny in 1897.]]'''Samhain''', Old Irish ''Samain,'' was a feast observed in ancient Ireland on November 1. It was the first day of winter and, in Christian times, the date of [[All Saints' Day]]. 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> Traditionally, it referred to All Saints Day.<ref name="McBain"/>

In modern Gaelic, ''Samhain'' refers to the month of November.<ref>Mark, Colin, ''The Gaelic–English Dictionary'' (2003).</ref> Traditionally, it referred to All Saints Day.<ref name="McBain"/> The word may be interpreted as a variation of ''sam-fuin'' (summer's end).<ref name="McBain">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>

The Celtic year was divided into halves by the holidays Samhain and Beltaine (May 1). These dates were once part of a 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 lunisolar pagan calendar. Even in the earliest surviving accounts, both dates have already transferred to the Christian, or [[Julian calendar|Julian, calendar]].

Samhain is prominent in Irish folklore, including the Ulster Cycle. These 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 name="McBain">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>

In the Ulster Cycle of medieval legends, Samhain is a harvest festival the date of various significant events, including Cuchulain's vision of the afterworld.

== Origins ==

== Origins ==