Ireland Honours the Origins of Halloween with the Púca Festival

*By Charmaine Noronha*

If you’re a fan of the costumes, candy and scary shenanigans that Halloween brings, Ireland has a treat for you! The country has created Púca, a new festival that honours Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween, making it the place to be come October 31st. If you’ve been tricked into believing that the ghostly celebration originated in the United States, read on for a history lesson and to start planning what could be your most epic Halloween yet at the Púca Festival 2023!

Halloween dates back thousands of years to the Celtic celebration of Samhain, a hallowed festival that marked the end of the harvest season and welcomed in the new year. They honoured this new year on November 1, a day that marked the beginning of the dark, cold winter; a time of year that was often associated with human death 2,000 years ago. Celts, a tribe of people who lived mostly in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, believed that on October 31, the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead were blurred, when ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and masks as protection. Tricks were played to ward off the spirits, which is where the origins of trick or treating may come from.

Evidence gathered from archaeology digs, legends, myths and Celtic history have surmised that the authentic origins of Halloween are rooted in Ireland. According to old manuscripts, Tlachtga or The Hill of Ward in Athboy, Ireland, was a site of Samhain gathering. Here, the ancient Irish lit bonfires and feasted more than 2,000 years ago.

Today, the town of Athboy marks this ancient celebration with Púca, a four-day festival that celebrates the ancient traditions of Samhain.

Púca, is a shape-shifting character from Celtic folklore that comes alive at ancient new year to roam the night and change the fortunes of those that cross it. The festival includes a mix of free events and ticketed performances and parties. So grab a mischievous mask and plan to celebrate the authentic origins of Halloween in Ireland!

Here’s how Púca 2022 shaped up:

Day 1 of Púca begins with a light schedule that starts at dusk with a guided haunted Trim Castle walking tour and musical performances featuring headliner Imelda May.

Day 2 is when the festival really kicks off with a full schedule of Halloween delights such as a Jack-O-Lantern market, haunted Trim walking tour, cartoon animation shows and fairy games beginning around 10:40 am and going well into the night!

In the late afternoon on the second day, as evening approaches, before the brooding ruins at the base of Trim Castle, stands story-tellers, The Morrigans, who call upon the harbinger of battle rage, destruction and chaos in a theatrical performance that harkens back to Samhain folklore.

The highlight of the festival is the ‘Arrival of the Spirits.’ As dusk falls, a Samhain procession weaves through the dark streets of Trim, snaking its way to Trim Castle. Filled with fire dancers, acrobats, masked characters on circus bikes and large, whimsical floats, the entertaining procession is nestled by lantern-clad members of the public. The massive crowds of spectators, young and old, appear to be both transfixed and wowed by the beautiful and fiery opening celebration. Donning a costume is encouraged so dress up (and warmly) and grab a lantern to join the spirits-filled fun!

The procession is followed by an animated retelling of the history of Halloween projected onto the castle. Sneak a peek of the animation as you wait in line for food at one of the vendors offering everything from hamburgers to vegan fare. The night is capped with musical performances and comedy shows in large tents erected around the grounds. The Academics closed out the night as the headlining band during the Púca 2022 festival.

Day 3 of the festival follows a similar schedule and offerings as Day 2 during the day, but the night really lights up with a stunning pyro show, followed by performances by podcaster BlindBoy, musician Gavin James and well-known comedian Jason Byrne.

Day 4 falls on Halloween and while the schedule is similar to the previous two days during the daytime, the festival marks the spirits-filled day with a traditional Samhain bonfire lighting ceremony where paper is handed out to write your intentions for the new year or what you’d like to let go of to be burned in the flames. Be warned that the somewhat lengthy trek to the bonfire site situated in a massive field, can be rather muddy if it’s been raining.

Following the bonfire, a procession leads you back to the festival site. Here, ticket buyers are privy to an ABBAesque costume party and circus for adults only.

Check out: this website to plan your trip for next year! The site includes ticket buying options for the performances, along with a schedule of the many free events. It’s fun for the whole family! Just remember to dress up and warmly, and bring rain gear! It was pouring on Halloween, which locals said tends to be the case every Halloween. But most of all, bring your curiosity and evil-spirits warding off powers for four days of haunted fun!

A huge thanks to Tourism Ireland for hosting us on this press trip. As always, reviews and opinions are entirely our own.