Samhain

Samhain
Also called	Samhuinn/Samhainn (Scottish Gaelic) Sauin (Manx Gaelic)
Observed by	Historically: Gaels Today: Irish people, Scottish people, Manx people, Celtic neopagans, Wiccans, Unitarian Universalists
Type	Cultural, Pagan (Celtic polytheism, Celtic neopaganism, Wicca)
Significance	End of the harvest season, beginning of winter
Celebrations	Bonfires, guising/mumming, divination, feasting
Date	Sunset 31 October – sunset 1 November (or ~1 May for Neopagans in the S. Hemisphere)
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Halloween, Hop-tu-Naa, Calan Gaeaf, Kalan Gwav, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, Dziady

Samhain (pronounced /ˈsɑːwɪn/ SAH-win or /ˈsaʊ.ɪn/ SOW-in, Irish pronunciation: [sˠaunʲ]) is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year. Traditionally, it is celebrated from 31 October to 1 November, as the Celtic day began and ended at sunset. This is about halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Similar festivals are held at the same time of year in other Celtic lands; for example the Brythonic Calan Gaeaf (in Wales), Kalan Gwav (in Cornwall), and Kalan Goañv (in Brittany).