RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE:

THINKING ABOUT OUR ANCESTORS AT SAMHAIN

 
By Eva Gordon, FoDLA Youth Religious Education Coordinator

The days are growing noticeably shorter and the nights, longer and darker. As the sun rides lower in the sky, leaves turn and the weather cools, we know Samhain is approaching again. On some early mornings, there is a mist lying low near the rivers and lakes, and it seems as if the veil between the ordinary world and the Otherworld is growing thin!

One of the most important traditions at Samhain is of remembering and honoring ancestors that have passed away. This is important in many societies, but especially so in Gaelic tradition, in both Ireland and Scotland. In the Highlands, people would often be able to recite the names of their fathers and grandfathers going back several generations. You might hear of names like “Seumas mac Iain ‘ic Chaluim ‘ic Iain….” (James son of John, son of Calum, son of John…). Family lines were a great source of pride and ancestors given respect. One Scottish Gaelic proverb says, “Remember the people from whom you came.” In our fast-paced modern lives, it is easy to lose track of this.

There are a number of folk traditions that link Sidhe or fairy people with certain families in Scotland and Ireland. Some of these are a bit eerie. For example, there is the bean sìdhe (banshee) that is heard to wail, or the washer fairy who is seen washing in a stream the shroud of someone in that family who is soon to die. Or, more pleasantly, the Bratach Sìth (Fairy Flag) of the Clan  Mac Leod on the Isle of Skye—said to have been given to the family by a fairy and to bring fertility and success in battle to members of the clan.

The fact that traditionally, churchyards and especially ancient burial mounds have been thought to be “haunted” by the Sìdhe makes one think there could be a connection between the Fair Folk and our deep ancestors of very long ago.

Besides the usual costumes, parties and trick-or-treat activities of Halloween this year, consider these projects:

• Make a large family tree of your family on stiff card stock paper, or on the computer. (There are several commercial programs available for this.)  Include names, dates, birthplaces, and photos, if available. See how far back in the generations you can go.
• Interview parents, living grandparents and other relatives. Ask them for stories about happenings in their earlier life, games they played, music, any folk customs, work, what it was like to live before, or in other countries where they might have lived. Ask for stories about their own parents and grandparents, or other relatives.   It would be especially good to record the voices of those you interview.
• We have been mainly talking about family ancestors here, but you could also look more closely at your “spirit” ancestors—those people who came before and inspired you in some way. They could be historical figures, writers, musicians or composers, scientists, or others. Your local library is a good resource for this.