Celebrating Halloween In Great Britain
Pumpkin still life with red and yellow autumn leaves evoking folk traditions tied to Halloween in Great Britain. Photo Credit: Bee Felten-Leidel on Unsplash
Halloween, as we know it, is a fascinating blend of cultures, religions, and traditions that have evolved significantly over time. Its origins lie in the ancient Celtic/Pagan festival of Samhain, celebrated in regions such as Ireland, Britain, and Northern France. This festival marked the end of summer and the beginning of the harvest season. During Samhain, people believed that the veil between the living and the dead became thin, allowing spirits (both benevolent and malevolent) to return. Prophets and Druids harnessed this spiritual energy to make future predictions and prophecies. Bonfires were lit, and masks and costumes, often crafted from animal hides, were worn to ward off evil spirits. The following day, the embers from these bonfires would be used to relight fires in community hearths, believed to protect against evil for the coming year.
By 43 AD, the Romans in Britain began to embrace these Pagan celebrations, integrating Samhain with two of their own festivals: Feralia, which honored the dead, and Pomona, which celebrated the Goddess of fruit and trees. This integration is when the tradition of apple bobbing is thought to have originated.
In the 8th Century, during Roman influence, Pope Gregory moved the Christian feasts of All Saints' Day to November 1st and All Souls' Day to November 2nd. This shift resulted in October 31st becoming All Hallows' Eve, which eventually transformed into the Halloween we celebrate today.
Tall bonfire burning brightly at night during Halloween. Photo Credit: Aryan on Unsplash
Many modern Halloween activities have roots in these earlier celebrations, including the All Souls' Day parades in England. During these parades, the poor would beg for money and, in return, would be given 'Soul Cakes' and a promise to pray for the dead. This practice became known as 'going a-souling' and eventually evolved into children going door-to-door asking for money, food, and ale.
Until relatively recently, Halloween in Britain was celebrated by hollowing out and lighting up rutabagas (known as neeps or swedes in the UK), a notoriously difficult task. Pumpkins are a fairly recent addition to GB Halloween traditions, as is 'Trick or Treating' in England. While going house-to-house was popular for Irish and Scottish children, it was called 'guising' and involved performing a party piece, such as a joke or a ditty, before receiving candy. It was only in the 2000s that the term 'trick or treat' became commonplace for British children, as American cultural influence spread to Europe.
Stone circle at dusk. Photo Credit: Gaia Armellin on Unsplash
Today in Britain, Halloween and Samhain are still celebrated with a blend of traditional Celtic/Pagan customs and more modern festivities. Many of the region's sacred sites acknowledge Samhain through rituals, spiritual blessings, and events. Some of these include Glastonbury Abbey and Chalice Well Gardens, which offer blessings throughout the day. Stonehenge hosts Druid rituals where you can watch the sunrise through the stones in the early morning, while in Glasgow, the Samhain Firefest street festival takes place. In Edinburgh, the Royal Mile comes alive with the Beltane Fire Society's fire torch procession. The London Pagan Federation annually stages a Samhain Ritual, led by modern-day witches, and the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle, Cornwall, hosts its yearly 'dark gathering' featuring Morris dancers, themed costumes, and music. At Butser Ancient Farm, Samhain is celebrated with storytelling and enchanted echoes of the past in their roundhouse, alongside craft activities for children. In Wales, one can participate in the Samhain Moonlit Climb up Caerphilly mountain at Cefn Onn, and on the Isle of Man, celebrations reflect the island’s Norse/Pagan history, with festivities held at the castle.
Many stately homes and mansions offer ghost tours. Haddon Hall in Derbyshire hosts the 'Little School of Sorcery,' where children can learn to write spells and blessings, while adults can explore how superstition shaped Elizabethan life through the "Magic, Charms, Rituals and Superstition" exhibition. Chatsworth House in Derbyshire lights a huge bonfire and holds a firework display on October 31st and November 1st, creating a magnificent spectacle against the backdrop of the house. Other modern Halloween celebrations include costume rollerblading through Soho, London; the Sausage Dog (Dachshund) Costume Walk in Hyde Park; the Greenwich Ghost Walk (a free exploration of Greenwich’s haunted history); and Hyde Park’s Hair-Raising Discovery Days, which feature family trails, witches' dens, and bat talks.
Jack-o'-lantern carved with a smiling face for Halloween. Photo Credit: Ciefo Creativity
It is a mystical, magical, spiritual time of the year!
Inside Story Travel would love to bring your GB Samhain/Halloween dreams alive for 2026.
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