What is Samhain?

The word the Irish-Gaelic name for the month of November and is pronounced "sow-wen", but the meaning and the time of year has special significance. Everyone knows the holiday today as Halloween, but once it was Samhain - the Celtic New Year. It's when the Dark Half of the year begins and the veil between this world and the Otherworld is at its thinnest. The Puca roams, the Banshee wails, our long lost ancestors come back to visit old friends, meet new ones, settle old scores, celebrate the past, and walk amongst us. We'll dance, we'll eat and drink, we'll make music against the darkness - and perhaps we'll have some visitors!

...here's another explanation...

In ancient times, when the harvest was over, the weather turned cold and daylight began to wane, the people retreated to their solitary lives and welcomed in the new year.  Just as the World began in darkness, each year in turn began in darkness, according to the old ways.  In the absence of modern calendars, the Celts marked the passage of their year by observing holidays connected to the harvest, the phases of the moon and other natural phenomena.  Samhain was always the first full moon following the Fall Equinox.  One of the most significant days in the Celtic Year, Christianity in its ascendance was unable to obliterate the observance of Samhain; and following that practical maxim "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em", they renamed it "All Souls Eve" or "All Hallows Eve".

Each year, around Halloween, The Celtic Arts Center holds one of its major fundraising events to celebrate the ancient Celtic New Year.  Featuring non-stop music, dance, storytelling, food and drink, The Celtic Arts Center's Annual Samhain Fleadh Cheoil is not to be missed!

Volunteers are always welcome, and usually survive the ordeal!  Join us for a great time - as a volunteer or a visitor, and support Celtic language and culture while doing so. If you're interested in volunteering, please e-mail us at volunteer@celticartscenter.com.

Proceeds from this event help fund the Celtic Arts Center's cultural programming and help pay the rent.

The Celtic Arts Center is a member-supported and run non-profit (501c3) cultural arts organization
and is partially funded by grants from...
The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles
and The Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

For additional information...
THE CELTIC ARTS CENTER HOTLINE (818) 760-8322 or e-mail