Halloween / Samhain Irish Phrases
Oíche Shamhna
Halloween / Samhain is called "Oíche Shamhna" in Irish and is celebrated on 31 October. The greeting is "Oíche Shamhna shona duit!" (Happy Halloween!).
Halloween originated in Ireland as Samhain — the ancient Celtic new year. Every jack-o'-lantern, trick-or-treat, and ghost story traces back to Irish tradition. Here are the original Irish phrases behind the world's most popular festival.
Essential phrases
Oíche Shamhna shona duit!
Happy Halloween!
Literally: Happy Samhain night — the original Halloween greeting
Samhain
End of harvest / beginning of winter
Pronounced 'sow-in' — the ancient festival behind Halloween
Oíche Shamhna
Halloween night
Literally 'Samhain night'
Puimcín
Pumpkin
In Ireland, turnips were traditionally carved, not pumpkins
Taibhse
Ghost
The spirits that cross over on Samhain
Cailleach
Witch / hag
From ancient Irish mythology — a figure of power
Cnó agus úll
Nuts and apples
Traditional Samhain foods used in divination games
Bairín breac
Barmbrack
The fruitcake with charms hidden inside — Ireland's Halloween tradition
An Saol Eile
The Otherworld
The realm of the dead and the fairy folk in Irish mythology
Na Síoga
The fairies
Believed to be especially active on Samhain night
Tine chnámh
Bonfire
Literally 'bone fire' — lit on hilltops across Ireland
Snap apple
Apple bobbing
Traditional Samhain game — still played in Ireland
Púca
Shape-shifting spirit
A mischievous spirit of Irish folklore, active on Samhain
The history of Oíche Shamhna
Samhain (pronounced 'sow-in') marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark half of the year. The ancient Irish believed the boundary between our world and the Otherworld (an Saol Eile) thinned on this night, allowing spirits to cross over. The tradition of carving turnips (not pumpkins — that's American), wearing disguises, and going door to door all began in Ireland. The word 'Halloween' itself comes from 'All Hallows' Eve'.
Further reading
Go beyond the phrases
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