Before there was Halloween, there was Samhain (SAW-win), the ancient Irish holiday when spirits re-enter the realm of the living.
Celebrated every October 31, Samhain features several traditions you might recognize – dressing up, going door to door for sweets and carving faces into gourds.
But there’s also a darker side, with shapeshifting creatures, headless bodysnatchers and wayward souls all returning to spook the daylights out of those who aren’t careful.
Which is all to say, Samhain is a scary good time.
Read more about this unique holiday on our Guide to Samhain page.
