It’s October and you all know what that means! Samhain, aka Halloween, is approaching and spooky season is upon us. Yes it’s Fall, with cool mornings and early evenings and autumn’s eerie if somewhat magical vibe is in the air. Freaky Foot Tours love to let our freak flags fly all year round, but let’s face it, October is peak season here.
The veil between the worlds
If you’re reading this blog I’m guessing you’re interested in spirits and history and ghostly things. Have you ever read that the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest at Samhain? The veil is an energetic, psychic force that separates people on earth from those who have passed on. The ancient Celts saw October 31st as a liminal time when this boundary could be easily crossed. This was considered both a dangerous time and one with opportunities. When the doorway between the worlds opened, all kinds of supernatural beings came into the world, mischievous ones, evil-doers, the ancestors … there was no way to filter the spirits. This led to (usually) a male dressing in another’s clothing or creating a disguise to lure the malicious spirits away from his household. At the same time, with the veil so thin it was an ideal time for divination. Many of today’s traditional Halloween games, like bobbing for apples or scrying with a mirror, are derived from Celtic rituals performed centuries ago.
The Celtic new year
October 31st was considered new year’s eve by the Celts, the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark season. They gathered both as a community and at home to feast, celebrate and appease the spirits of the departed. Bonfires were blazing on the town square where people danced and made merry. Later, processions of villagers carrying lit gourds and offerings wound their way through the streets to a designated holy area, where more rituals took place. The focus was now on surviving the dark, cold months to come. Animal sacrifice was common in hopes of appeasing the gods and the aos si, or faeries, so that they and their livestock survive the winter.
Wherever Samhain finds you
The roots of our Halloween are complex and interesting. I’ve just touched on the ancient Celts, but you can find similar history in South America and parts of the East. Whatever you do on Samhain I hope you enjoy the evening and remember an ancestor (or two.) And come visit us at Freaky Foot Tours anytime for history, mystery and a good time.
Spend an October evening with us
If the thin veil has you curious, October is the month to walk with us. The Flagstaff Haunted History Tour runs nightly at 7 PM, with a second 8 PM departure Fridays and Saturdays, $29 for adults and 75 minutes through historic downtown. Tucson and Prescott have their own walks too; every city we cover is on our locations page.
BOO
