Samhain

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/samhain

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the festival name?Samhain (Irish: [ˈsˠəunʲ], Scottish Gaelic: [ˈs̪ãũ.ɪɲ], Manx: Sauin [ˈsoːɪnʲ])
2. Why does Samhain feel spooky?People believed that during Samhain, spirits and ancient deities called the aos sí could come closer to the living. They made offerings to keep them friendly.
3. When is Samhain celebrated?Samhain is celebrated on the evening of October 31st, right after the autumnal equinox and before the winter solstice. It is the last day of the harvest season.

Liminality: The quality of being at a threshold or in a transitional state, particularly between seasons or worlds.
Aos Sí: Supernatural beings in Irish folklore, often associated with ancient deities or spirits, believed to be active during Samhain.
Syncretism: The merging or blending of different religious or cultural beliefs and practices, as seen between Samhain and Christian holidays.
Divination: The practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means, often involving symbolic objects.