Changes

The earliest surviving discussion of Samhain is in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. These tales are set in the days when Connor ruled Ulster as king in the first century BC. They were composed in the tenth or eleventh centuries.

The earliest surviving discussion of Samhain is in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. These tales are set in the days when Connor ruled Ulster as king in the first century BC. They were composed in the tenth or eleventh centuries.

"The Sick-Bed of Cuchulain" portrays Samhain as a harvest festival:{{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 the time that is spoken of is that when the men of Ulster were in the Plain of Murthemne, and there they used to keep that festival every year; nor was there an thing in the world that they would do at that time except sports, and marketings, and splendours, and pomps, and feasting and eating; 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 name="Leahy">"[http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/cuchulainnsick.htm The Sick-Bed of Cuchulain]." The translation is from ''Heroic Romances of Ireland.'' Vol I. A. H. Leahy, ed. London: David Nutt, 1905. pp. 57-85.</ref>}}That Ulstermen are portrayed as establishing Samhain supports the view that Samhain existed as a date on the calendar before a festival was established, as has already been argued. In the passage above, the word ''samfuin'' is translated as "Samhain, the Summer-End."

"The Sick-Bed of Cuchulain" portrays Samhain as a harvest festival:{{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 the time that is spoken of is that when the men of Ulster were in the Plain of Murthemne, and there they used to keep that festival every year; nor was there an thing in the world that they would do at that time except sports, and marketings, and splendours, and pomps, and feasting and eating; 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 name="Leahy">"[http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/ireland/cuchulainnsick.htm The Sick-Bed of Cuchulain]." The translation is from ''Heroic Romances of Ireland.'' Vol I. A. H. Leahy, ed. London: David Nutt, 1905. pp. 57-85.</ref>}}That Ulstermen are portrayed as establishing Samhain supports the view that Samhain existed as a date on the calendar before a festival was established, as has already been argued. In the passage above, the Gaelic word ''samfuin'' is translated as "Samhain, the Summer-End."

While others partied, Ulster hero Cuchulain was delirious and received an extended vision of ''Mag Mell'', the Plain of Delight, a Celtic version the [[Elysian Fields | Elysian fields]].

While others partied, Ulster hero Cuchulain was delirious and received an extended vision of ''Mag Mell'', the Plain of Delight, a Celtic version the [[Elysian Fields | Elysian fields]].

The holiday is also discussed in the "Wooing of Emer," another tale in the Ulster Cycle. As Emer tells Cuchulain: "two divisions were formerly on the year,...summer from Beltaine (the first of May), and winter from Samuin to Beltaine."<ref name="Emer">"[http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/emer.html The Wooing Of Emer]," Translated by Kuno Meyer.</ref> So Cuchulain lives in a Julian calendar world in which the Celtic calendar "formerly on the year" needs to be explained.

The holiday is also discussed in the "Wooing of Emer," another tale in the Ulster Cycle. As Emer tells Cuchulain: "two divisions were formerly on the year,...summer from Beltaine (the first of May), and winter from Samuin to Beltaine."<ref name="Emer">"[http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/emer.html The Wooing Of Emer]," Translated by Kuno Meyer.</ref> So Cuchulain lives in a Julian calendar world in which the Celtic calendar "formerly on the year" needs to be explained.

The twelfth century legend ''Cormac's Adventure'' portrays the Feast of Tara (''feis Temrach'') as a parliamentary body that met for seven days every seven years around the time of Samhain:{{cquote|Now rules and laws and duties were ordained at that meeting, and the men of Erin's councils were determined. Three preeminent assemblies used to be held at that time, namely, the Feast of Tara on Allhallowtide - for that was the Easter of the heathen, and all the men of Erin were at that meeting, helping the king of Erin to hold it - and the Fair of Tailtiu at Lammas, and the Great Meeting of Uisnech on Mayday. Seven years lasted the preparation for the Feast of Tara, and still at the end of seven years then used to be a convention of all the men of Erin at the Feast of Tara, and there they would determine jubilee, namely, the Rule of Seven Years from one Feast of Tara to another.<ref name="Cormac"/>}} The feast featured the king having relations with a local goddess. The last such feast was held in 560. It crowned Diarmait mac Cerbaill, the last pagan high king.<ref>MacKillop, James, "[https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095716195 Diarmait mac Cerbaill]," ''A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology,'' Oxford, 2004</ref>

The harvest festival view of the holiday contrasts with that found in the twelfth century legend ''Cormac's Adventure.'' In this tale, Samhain is the date that a parliamentary body was convened by the high king to ordain laws and duties:{{cquote|Now rules and laws and duties were ordained at that meeting, and the men of Erin's councils were determined. Three preeminent assemblies used to be held at that time, namely, the Feast of Tara on Allhallowtide - for that was the Easter of the heathen, and all the men of Erin were at that meeting, helping the king of Erin to hold it - and the Fair of Tailtiu at Lammas, and the Great Meeting of Uisnech on Mayday. Seven years lasted the preparation for the Feast of Tara, and still at the end of seven years then used to be a convention of all the men of Erin at the Feast of Tara, and there they would determine jubilee, namely, the Rule of Seven Years from one Feast of Tara to another.<ref name="Cormac"/>}} The feast featured the king having relations with a local goddess. The last such feast was held in 560. It crowned Diarmait mac Cerbaill, the last pagan high king.<ref>MacKillop, James, "[https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095716195 Diarmait mac Cerbaill]," ''A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology,'' Oxford, 2004</ref>

==References==

==References==