--- title: Oíche Shamhna (Halloween) description: The end of the festival of Samhain [celebrated on October 31st](/calendar/halloween) as the modern holiday, Halloween. canonical_url: md_url: author: [@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1 last_updated: 2026-01-17T06:35:05Z starts_at: 2026-10-31T00:00:00Z ends_at: 2026-10-31T23:59:59Z --- The end of the festival of Samhain [celebrated on October 31st](/calendar/halloween) as the modern holiday, Halloween. ## More resources - [Bitesize Irish](https://www.bitesize.irish/blog/oiche-shamhna-halloween-2/) ## Stór Focal _Vocabulary_ Essential Irish vocabulary for Halloween and Samhain ### [Samhain]() #### Samhain (proper noun) *feminine* 1. Samhain (Celtic festival of the dead) (Event): The ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter (31 Oct–1 Nov); the root of modern Halloween. ### [Oíche Shamhna shona duit]() #### Oíche Shamhna shona duit 1. Happy Halloween to you (singular): "Happy Halloween" said to one person. Oíche Shamhna is Halloween night (the eve of Samhain). ### [Oíche Shamhna shona daoibh]() #### Oíche Shamhna shona daoibh 1. Happy Halloween to you (plural): "Happy Halloween" said to more than one person (the plural 'daoibh'). ### [taibhse]() #### taibhse (noun) *feminine* 1. ghost: A ghost or apparition, a spirit of the dead. Common in Irish folklore, especially around Samhain when the veil is said to thin. ### [púca]() #### púca (noun) *masculine* 1. púca (shapeshifter/hobgoblin): A shapeshifting spirit of Irish mythology, by turns helpful and mischievous, strongly associated with Samhain. ### [cailleach]() #### cailleach (noun) *feminine* 1. witch / hag: A hag or crone figure of Irish and Scottish myth, the divine hag of winter. ### [cnámharlach]() #### cnámharlach (noun) 1. skeleton: A skeleton (from cnámh, 'bone'); a common Halloween image. ### [puimcín]() #### puimcín (noun) *masculine* 1. pumpkin: A pumpkin, carved into a lantern for Halloween (the older Irish lantern was a turnip). ### [culaith bhréige]() #### culaith bhréige 1. costume / disguise: A costume or disguise (literally a 'false suit'), worn for Halloween. ### [masc]() #### masc (noun) *masculine* 1. mask: A mask worn as part of a Halloween costume. ### [bairín breac]() #### bairín breac 1. barmbrack (Halloween fruitcake): Barmbrack: a sweet Irish fruit bread eaten at Halloween, with charms baked in to foretell the year ahead. ### [sióg]() #### sióg (noun) *feminine* 1. fairy: A fairy, said to be especially abroad at Samhain. ### [draíocht]() #### draíocht (noun) *feminine* 1. magic / enchantment: Magic, enchantment, or sorcery. ### [tine chnámh]() #### tine chnámh 1. bonfire: A bonfire (literally 'bone fire'), traditionally lit at Samhain. ### [milseáin]() #### milseáin (noun) 1. sweets / candy: Sweets or candy, handed out at Halloween. ## Items ### [Oíche Shamhna]() Samhain eve This is a festival page from the Love.irish calendar, a special collection gathering the Irish vocabulary, traditions, and resources behind a Celtic celebration. Sign in to save it, and follow the links above to each entry in the Codex, our community dictionary with translations, pronunciations, community ratings, and recordings. ## More information - [Full markdown index of the site, every page (handy to browse, share, or hand to AI)]() - [Love.irish home]() --- Source: https://love.irish/calendar/halloween Made with ❤️ from love.irish – learn Irish (Gaeilge) through community, resources and a little adventure.