Different Halloween traditions in urban and rural areas, with practical jokes played in the West of Ireland.
Folkorist Barbara O'Flynn tells Marian Richardson about the different ways Halloween is celebrated in urban and rural areas. She says bonfires and trick or treating are customs associated with the eastern half of Ireland, but they are now spreading throughout the country. Halloween was traditionally marked in the West of Ireland by playing practical jokes, like throwing cabbage against people's doors or switching gates on farms.
Divination is still widely practised, with four plates used to foretell death, marriage, prosperity or travel. The return of the dead remains a big part of Halloween, and an example of the overlapping of Christian and pagan traditions, which is seen throughout Irish folkore.
| Title: | Halloween Traditions in Urban and Rural Ireland |
| Clip Duration: | 00:04:05 |
| Material Type: | Audio |
| Clip Title: | Traditional Halloween Pranks and Divination |
| Series Title: | Morning Ireland |
| Information: | 'Morning Ireland' is RTÉ's breakfast news programme broadcast each weekday morning between 7am and 9am on RTÉ Radio 1. The programme was first broadcast in 1984. The programme is co-presented and over the years presenters have included David Hanly, Joe Little,Áine Lawlor, Cathal Mac Coille, Rachael English and Gavin Jennings. Halloween (a shortening of All Hallows’ Evening) is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day incorporates traditions from pagan harvest festivals and festivals honouring the dead, particularly the Celtic Samhain. The accompanying image of the full moon was taken by Dominic McManus in 1985. © RTÉ Stills Library 0735/040 |
| Local Keywords: | Halloween, Samhain, Folkore, Halloween traditions, Halloween customs, East of Ireland, West of Ireland, Urban Ireland, Rural Ireland, Divination, Fortune-telling, Return of the Dead, Ghosts, Christian Ireland, Pagan Ireland, Barbara O'Flynn, Marian Richardson |
| Coverage: | Ireland |
| Genre: | Factual |
| Topic: | National Holidays, Festivals, Anniversaries, Annual Events |
| Provider: | RTÉ |
| Contributor(s): | Marian Richardson (Presenter) |
| Publisher: | RTÉ |
| First Broadcast Channel: | RTÉ Radio One |
| Production Year: | 1986 |
| Country of Production: | Ireland |
| Original Identifier: | QCC003590 |
| IPR Restrictions: | Rights Reserved - Free Access |
| Rights, Terms and Conditions: | Copyright RTÉ. This material may not be replicated in any form or manner without the prior express permission of RTÉ. Any form of reproduction in print, television, video, multimedia, web site or other electronic media or any form of dissemination for commercial or non-commercial use must be licensed by the RTÉ Archives. If you wish to licence video or audio clips, still images or text, or would like further guidance please contact us. RTÉ Archives are committed to respecting the copyright of others and have attempted to source and credit the copyright owners of all material used here. RTÉ would like to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified here so that the necessary corrections can be made. If you feel your copyright has not been respected please contact us. |
| Item Type: | part/extract |
| Sound: | Mono |
| Language: | English (eng) |
| Original Language: | English (eng) |
