Souls of samhain

The history of souls at Samhain is rooted in the ancient Celtic belief that the veil between the living and the dead thinned on this night, allowing spirits and fairies to pass into the world. 

To protect themselves from harmful spirits, Celts lit bonfires, wore masks, and made noise to ward them off, while also preparing offerings of food and drink to appease them or welcome ancestral spirits home. 

Traditions included leaving doors ajar for ancestors, holding “dumb suppers” with the dead, and later, “souling” for soul cakes in exchange for prayers.