Samhain, celebrated on the 31st October, is one of the eight ‘Fire Festivals’ – Féilte Tine – which have been celebrated in Ireland for over 5,000 years. The Tuatha Dé Danainn, that almost mythical and certainly mystical race, built astronomical devices to determine the correct dates to celebrate each one, the most well-known being, of course, Brú na Bo’inne, or Newgrange which heralded the winter solstice. Nearby Knowth and Cairn T in the Loughcrew hills marked the equinoxes, while Cairn L, again at Loughcrew, and the Mound of the Hostages at Tara, signalled the arrival of the ‘quarter days’, Imbolc at 1st February and Samhain at 31 October.

When the Gaels arrived in Ireland they were happy to continue the ancient rituals, Samhain and Imbolc being especially important to them because the newcomers were mainly pastoralists and needed to know when to protect their animals against winter and when to release them. The early Irish church hastened to ‘christianise’ all the old pagan customs, so Imbolc became St Bridget’s Day and Samhain became Halloween (meaning the evening before the hallowed All Saints Day in 1st November). The methods of celebrating however continued unabated. Huge fires were built on strategic hills to spread the message and an evening of feasting, music, dancing, song and general merriment ensued. And it goes on to the present day and spread by Irish emigrants to North America and throughout the world.

The Wild Geese in Czechia were happy to continue the ancient traditions, and a large flock assembled in their favourite nesting place in The Three Fiddles Irish bar in Malá Strana. The Chieftains in concert welcomed the arriving guests, who partook of the excellent liquid refreshments while they swopped tales of their own childhood experiences of the night in question. We were regaled with tales of bobbing for apples, visiting the neighbours for treats, eagerly searching for prize objects in the colcannon and barn bracks, and much more. One of the geese had actually brought a barn brack for circulation which he had experimented with baking only the day before! He wisely told no one in advance and, as far as is known there were no gastronomic casualties. An eerie ghost story and Gaelic song continued to enliven the festivities (together with a mass rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ as Gaeilge, for one of our Sassenach geese who was celebrating her birthday!) and it proved difficult to quieten the gaggle down before the finale, the showing of Lord of the Dance (a battle between the forces of Light and those of Darkness) could commence. The Wild Geese of Czechia can be happy that they ticked all the boxes in the continuing celebration of this pre-historic event (well, except for the fires, that is). A special thank you to the staff at the Three Fiddles who helped enormously to make this an event to remember.

A week previously, an equally lively but less lubricated celebration took place when the Wild Geese joined the Prague Halloween Charity Trick or Treat. A gaggle of goslings were among the 4,000 trick-or-treaters who roamed the streets of Vinohrady on the night. Our mission was to bring a flavour of the origins of Halloween to this annual American style candy-frenzy. And so the Cailleach made an appearance in Riegrovy Sady park, banging her staff to invoke the winter winds, at a Celtic trick-or-treat stop complete with carved turnips. Meanwhile a gore of green-haired zombie hurlers ran wild, raiding shops and restaurants and terrorising local residents up and down the tree-lined avenues. Thanks to all who came along to join this epic event! In total 263,000 CZK was raised for children’s charity SOS Vesničky which supports children in economically difficult circumstances. Funds go towards summer camps, school lunches, science park visits, vitamins, social work counseling, and trauma therapy. Kudos to the organisers who did a fantastic job.