Editing Samhain (section)

===Spirits and souls===
Samhain was seen as a liminal time when the boundary between this world and the [[Celtic Otherworld|Otherworld]] could more easily be crossed.<ref>Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia''. 2006. p. 1557</ref> This meant the ''[[aos sí]]'', the 'spirits' or 'fairies', could more easily come into our world. Many scholars see the ''aos sí'' as remnants of pagan gods and nature spirits.<ref>Monaghan, p. 167</ref><ref>Santino, Jack. ''The Hallowed Eve: Dimensions of Culture in a Calendar Festival of Northern Ireland''. University Press of Kentucky, 1998. p. 105</ref> At Samhain, it was believed that the ''aos sí'' needed to be [[propitiation|propitiated]] to ensure that the people and their livestock survived the winter. Offerings of food and drink would be left outside for the ''aos sí'',<ref>[[Walter Evans-Wentz|Evans-Wentz, Walter]] (1911). ''The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries''. p. 44.</ref><ref>[[F. Marian McNeill|McNeill, F. Marian]] (1961). ''The Silver Bough, Volume 3''. p. 34.</ref> and portions of the crops might be left in the ground for them.<ref>Danaher (1972), p. 200</ref>

One custom—described as a "blatant example" of a "pagan rite surviving into the Christian epoch"—was recorded in the [[Outer Hebrides]] and [[Iona]] in the 17th century. On the night of 31 October, fishermen and their families would go down to the shore. One man would wade into the water up to his waist, where he would pour out a cup of ale and ask '[[Seonaidh]]' ('Shoney'), whom he called "god of the sea", to bestow on them a good catch. The custom was ended in the 1670s after a campaign by [[Minister (Christianity)|ministers]], but the ceremony shifted to the springtime and survived until the early 19th century.<ref name=hutton369/>

People also took special care not to offend the ''aos sí'' and sought to ward off anyone out to cause mischief. They stayed near to home or, if forced to walk in the darkness, turned their clothing inside-out or carried iron or salt to keep them at bay.<ref name="monaghan407"/> In southern Ireland, it was customary on Samhain to weave a small cross of sticks and straw called a 'parshell' or 'parshall', which was similar to the [[Brigid's cross]] and [[God's eye]]. It was fixed over the doorway to [[Apotropaic magic|ward-off]] bad luck, sickness, and [[witchcraft]] and would be replaced each Samhain.<ref>Danaher, Kevin. ''The Year in Ireland: Irish Calendar Customs''. Mercier Press, 1972. pp.&nbsp;207–208</ref>

The dead were also honoured at Samhain. The beginning of winter may have been seen as the most fitting time to do so, as it was a time of 'dying' in nature.<ref name="macculloch10">MacCulloch, John Arnott (1911). ''The Religion of the Ancient Celts''. [http://sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/rac/rac13.htm Chapter 10: The Cult of the Dead].</ref> The souls of the dead were thought to revisit their homes, seeking hospitality. Places were set at the dinner table and by the fire to welcome them.<ref name="O"/><ref name="mcneill1">McNeill, ''The Silver Bough, Volume 3'', pp. 11–46</ref> The belief that the souls of the dead return home on one night of the year and must be appeased seems to have ancient origins and is found in many cultures throughout the world.<ref name="miles">Miles, Clement A. (1912). ''Christmas in Ritual and Tradition''. [http://www.sacred-texts.com/time/crt/crt11.htm Chapter 7: All Hallow Tide to Martinmas].</ref> James Frazer suggests, "It was perhaps a natural thought that the approach of winter should drive the poor, shivering, hungry ghosts from the bare fields and the leafless woodlands to the shelter of the cottage".<ref name="frazer62">Frazer, James George (1922). ''[[The Golden Bough|The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion]]''. [http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/frazer/gb06206.htm Chapter 62, Part 6: The Hallowe'en Fires].</ref> However, the souls of thankful kin could return to bestow blessings just as easily as that of a wronged person could [[vengeful ghost|return to wreak revenge]].<ref>Monaghan, p. 120</ref>