Editing Samhain (section)

==Origins==
''Samain'' or ''Samuin'' was the name of the festival (''feis'') marking the beginning of winter in [[Gaelic Ireland]]. It is attested in the earliest [[Old Irish language|Old Irish]] literature, which dates from the 9th century onward. Samhain was one of four [[Gaelic seasonal festivals]]: Samhain (~1 November), [[Imbolc]] (~1 February), [[Bealtaine]] (~1 May), and [[Lughnasa]] (~1 August). Of these, Samhain and Bealtaine, marking the transitions into winter and summer respectively, are thought to have been the most significant. [[James George Frazer|Sir James George Frazer]], in his 1890 book, ''[[The Golden Bough|The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion]]'', theorized that these festivals, particularly 1 May and 1 November, were significant to herding communities practicing seasonal [[transhumance]]. Cattle were driven to summer pastures in May and returned to lowlands in November, suggesting the festival's [[pastoralism|pastoral]] origins.<ref>[[James George Frazer|Frazer, Sir James George]]. ''[[The Golden Bough]]: A Study in Magic and Religion''. Forgotten Books, 2008. p. 644</ref>

Some [[Prehistoric Ireland#Neolithic (4000–2500 BC)|Neolithic]] passage tombs in Ireland are aligned with the sunrise around the times of Samhain and Imbolc. These include the [[Mound of the Hostages]] (''Dumha na nGiall'') at the [[Hill of Tara]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Murphy |first1=Anthony |title=Island of the Setting Sun: In Search of Ireland's Ancient Astronomers |last2=Moore |first2=Richard |date=2006 |publisher=Liffey Press |location=Bentonville, Arkansas |page=81 |asin=B01HCARQ1G}}</ref> and [[Loughcrew|Cairn L]] at [[Slieve na Calliagh]].<ref>Brennan, Martin. ''The Stones of Time: Calendars, Sundials, and Stone Chambers of Ancient Ireland''. Inner Traditions, 1994. pp. 110–11</ref>