Halloween has Irish Roots

• Posted on 23 October 2026
• By E. Reid & K. Quinn
• 0

The traditions of Halloween are firmly rooted in Ireland and have greatly evolved over the past 2000 years. From ancient Gaelic pagan rituals, which included bonfires and dressing in costumes to ward off spirits, to today’s festive and plentiful celebrations and parades, Halloween is a really big deal in Ireland as well as the U.S.

Many familiar Halloween customs have Irish roots, from the disguises we wear to the glowing jack-o-lanterns on our doorsteps. Even a slice of fruit bread, called barmbrack, has a part to play in the celebration.

The date coincides with the ancient Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, beginning at sunset on October 31st and extending until sunset on November 1st. This celebration commemorates the end of harvest and the start of winter, an acknowledgement of the dark winter months to come.

According to Irish folklore, this was a night when the boundary between the living and the dead grew thin, allowing spirits to return to earth. People wore masks and disguises to avoid being recognized by wandering spirits or to frighten them away. Those customs helped shape our Halloween costume traditions, although today, choosing an outfit usually involves less concern about encountering an actual ghost.

Before pumpkins took their place on the doorstep, Irish families carved frightening faces into hollowed out turnips and placed lights inside. The tradition is closely associated with the legend of Stingy Jack.

As the story goes, Jack was a crafty fellow who tricked the Devil into promising never to claim his soul. But when Jack died, he was refused entry into Heaven, and the Devil kept his bargain by refusing him entry into Hell.

Jack was left to wander the earth with only a burning ember to light his way. He placed it inside a hollowed out turnip, becoming known as “Jack of the Lantern,” or jack-o’-lantern.

Irish immigrants brought their lantern making tradition to America, where pumpkins were plentiful and easier to carve. The vegetable changed, but the tradition carried on.

No Irish Halloween would be complete without mentioning barmbrack, a sweet bread filled with dried fruit. Traditionally, small objects were hidden inside to predict the future of whoever found them.

A ring meant marriage was on the horizon, a coin promised wealth, or a piece of cloth suggested less fortunate times ahead. A slice of bread and a glimpse into your future is quite a lot to serve with a cup of tea!

On All Hallows’ Eve, remember the Irish roots behind your favorite traditions. We’ll supply the sweet treats at Irish Crossroads in Sayville. The turnip carving is up to you!