As many people know, Galicia has a deep connection with the Celts, also known as the Home of Breogan (Fogar de Breogán). In fact, Breogan was a Celtic King of Galicia, ancestor of the Gaels. Therefore, it is not surprising that Samhain has always been part of Galicia.
Not so long ago, children in the villages used to carve turnips and hide in the streets to scare people. Yes, in comparison to pumpkins, using turnips seem a bit odd. Remember, it was the Irish who made pumpkins a Halloween symbol.
The original celebration is known as Samhain and marks the end of the harvest period and the beginning of winter. On this night, the portal between life and death is opened and the dead are allowed to return.
Halloween may be a big business in America, even some may dislike that these traditions have crossed over to Europe.
Samhain seemed to have lost popularity until the commercialisation of the American Halloween started to spread into Spain, reconnecting with Galicia’s Celtic past. Ironical, isn’t it?
Nevertheless, the reality is the other way around. Halloween is a Celtic tradition that was brought over to America by Irish Immigrants.
