Spirits of Samhain: Irish mythical creatures that haunt us on Halloween
In Ireland, Halloween has long been associated with otherworldly creatures and stories of how the fairies would carry you away if you were out on Halloween night.
The Celts believed that the veil between this world and the world of the dead grew thin at Samhain, the Irish harvest festival that inspired the Halloween traditions we know today.
Visitors to the mortal world
When this veil between the worlds was weaker, spirits like the shapeshifting ‘púca’ [spirit/ghost] fairies, the shrieking banshee or the evil water horse visited the mortal world.
In order to ward off the evil spirits, the Celts built large bonfires and dressed in spooky costumes, typically made of animal heads and skins, to protect themselves.
Discover the Spirits of Samhain, the traditional spirits believed to haunt us on Halloween.
The Puca
The Púca fairies are known as shape-shifting creatures who appear at night in the form of goats, cats, donkeys, bulls and dogs, but most often in the form of a horse with jet-black fur and flaming red eyes. The Púca mainly appeared in the countryside and was said to have mastered the human voice and could lure you to your death.
The Banshee
The Banshee came from the Irish language, ‘ben síde’, which means ‘fairy woman’. The female spirit could be heard shrieking at night and her unforgettable cry was believed to be a sign of imminent death.
The Water Horse
The wicked Water Horse is another shapeshifting creature. The evil animal appears as a deceivingly beautiful horse in lakes, rivers and the sea. Be wary of this creature as it may lead to a ride into the water to your doom!
The Headless Coach
Like the Banshee, the Headless Coach signifies imminent death because once it has come to Earth, it can never return empty. If you hear the sounds of horses or chains stay safe in your home to protect yourself from the eerie death coach!
The Sidhe
The Sidhe are the ‘Fairies of the Mound’ who live in fairy forts all around the land. They only come out a night under the moonlight for fairy balls. Their land is sacred and should not be touched as they will get you back with their evil tricks!