The early literature says Samhain was marked by great gatherings and feasts
and was when the ancient burial mounds were open,
which were seen as portals to the Otherworld.
It was originally a festival meant to honour the dead,
but in modern times has come to evolve into something
more entertaining & light-hearted.
I am not sure how to react to this.
In the end, I guess it's a good thing that
this spiritual festival attracted some attention,
albeit in its misguided form.
Do note: Samhain is not the only festival celebrated by the Celts.
It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals
along with Imbolc, Bealtaine & Lughnasa.
Samhain (~1 November), Imbolc (~1 February),
Bealtaine (~1 May), and Lughnasa (~1 August).
Of these, Samhain and Bealtaine,
marking the transitions into winter and summer respectively,
are thought to have been the most significant.
Compare these dates with the Chinese 万年历:
立冬 - 7 November 2025 / 立春 - 3 February 2025
立夏 - 5 May 2025 / 立秋 - 7 August 2025
