Did you know that modern-day Halloween began in Ireland? In this episode, Meghan takes us through the fascinating history of how this ancient Celtic festival transformed over time. From its Pagan roots to the influence of Christianity, we’ll explore how centuries of cultural blending shaped the Halloween traditions we know today—and how the holiday has continued to evolve over the last 200 years.
References:
Bahn, M. (2024, October 4). The true history of Halloween and its most haunted traditions. The Pioneer Woman. https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/a40178895/history-of-halloween/
Jones, L. (2023, December 19). The dark history of mummering in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-the-dark-history-of-mummering-in-newfoundland/
Kiger, P. J. (2025, May 27). How the Early Catholic Church Christianized Halloween | HISTORY. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/articles/halloween-samhain-celts-catholic-church
Thomas, H. (2021, October 26). The Origins of Halloween Traditions | Headlines & Heroes. The Library of Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/
Wikipedia contributors. (2025a, September 10). Samhain. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain
Wikipedia contributors. (2025b, September 28). Halloween. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
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