October 13, 2025 • 7 mins
Step into the eerie origins of Halloween with The Strange History Podcast! Host Amy takes you back over 2,000 years to explore Samhain, the Celtic festival that birthed our modern Halloween traditions. From terrifying turnip lanterns and druid bonfires to ghostly myths, faerie mischief, and the chilling goddess Morrígan, this episode dives deep into the rituals, legends, and transformations that shaped Halloween. Learn how Samhain survived Christian rebranding, traveled with Irish immigrants, and evolved into pumpkins, costumes, and trick-or-treating. Packed with dark history, Celtic mythology, humor, and spooky storytelling, this episode will leave you laughing, learning, and maybe side-eyeing your produce aisle. If you’ve ever wondered why we carve pumpkins, dress in costumes, or fear the dead on October 31st—this episode uncovers the true story of Samhain, the most haunted night in history.
Like and Subscribe:
Apple
Spotify
IHeart
Audible
This episode of The Strange History Podcast is brought to you by Spreaker — the podcast platform so powerful, even ghosts can’t stop streaming. Seriously, our analytics show 12% of our audience is from “The Beyond.” “Join us… forever…” With Spreaker, you can record, edit, and publish faster than you can say “is that EVP or just bad Wi-Fi?” Whether you’re a living creator or a deceased conductor still riding the rails, Spreaker makes sure your voice echoes across every major platform — and possibly your listeners’ basements. Spreaker: where your podcast never dies — it just gets better CPM rates. Spreaker — because eternity deserves good monetization.
Like and Subscribe:
Apple
Spotify
IHeart
Audible
This episode of The Strange History Podcast is brought to you by Spreaker — the podcast platform so powerful, even ghosts can’t stop streaming. Seriously, our analytics show 12% of our audience is from “The Beyond.” “Join us… forever…” With Spreaker, you can record, edit, and publish faster than you can say “is that EVP or just bad Wi-Fi?” Whether you’re a living creator or a deceased conductor still riding the rails, Spreaker makes sure your voice echoes across every major platform — and possibly your listeners’ basements. Spreaker: where your podcast never dies — it just gets better CPM rates. Spreaker — because eternity deserves good monetization.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, dear listeners, and welcome to the Strange History Podcast,
where history is terrifying, occasionally hilarious, and usually running around
in a badly carved vegetable mask. I'm your host, Amy,
and today we're venturing back into the ancient Celtic festival
of Sowen, the original Halloween. This was the night when
(00:21):
spirits walked, fairies kidnapped people, druids lit bonfires the size
of Walmart parking lots, and turnips were carved into the
most horrifying lanterns you've ever seen in your life. Forget
candy corn. This is the true story of why Halloween exists.
But first Tonight's episode is brought to you by turn
(00:43):
up lanterns. Forget those soft, cuddly pumpkins. Real horror is
when you spend six hours chiseling a face into a
root vegetable, only to have it wrought overnight into a
demon potato. Turn up lanterns guaranteed to terrify your neighbors,
confuse your pets, and possibly summon an angry Celtic deity.
(01:05):
Available now wherever vegetables fear to grow.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
The harsh reality of iron Age Winter.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Two thousand years ago Ireland in October was no pumpkin
spiced paradise. It was cold, it was damp. It was
basically the original Game of Thrones winter, except without dragons
to warm you up. Sam Hein marked the end of harvest.
The Celts were like, hope you stored enough grain, because
if not, you're about to invent intermittent fasting the hard way.
(01:36):
This was also when animals were slaughtered, not just because
everyone loves a good steak, but because it was better
to eat the cows than let them eat you out
of winter supplies. Plus, some of those cows ended up
sacrificed in great fire pits because nothing says please don't
kill us gods quite like throwing a perfectly good cow
(01:57):
on the grill.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
The Druidds and fire magic.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
The Druids, those mystical Iron Age influencers, ran the se
In show. They lit massive bonfires, declared prophecies, and probably
smelled strongly of smoke and goat. Every family extinguished their
hearth fire, then ReLit it from the communal blaze. It
wasn't just about fire safety. It was a way to
(02:23):
spiritually reset the household. Basically, new year, new me, new fire,
and the druids. They may have practiced divination by staring
into flames. Try it sometime. Sit in front of your stove,
stare at the gas burner and wait until you see
your future spoiler. Your future is probably calling the fire department.
(02:46):
Our next sponsor.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
This sew in.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Do you want your house to smell like freshly burned cow?
Try druid fresh, the only incense guaranteed to summon your
ancestors and repel unwonted fairy available in SnSe charred Goat,
mystic bog, and everyone's favorite sacrificial brisket. The Veil fins
at So and the Celts believe the veil between worlds
(03:13):
grew thin. Ancestors could visit, Fairies could snatch you, Ghosts
could spit blood on you. Yes, really, ask poor Nara
from the myths? How did people cope? Offerings? Bread, nuts,
milk basically ghost door dash disguises, wear animal skins and
(03:33):
masks to trick the spirits. Nothing says don't eat me
like a teenager in a dead cow costume. Turnip lanterns
ah Yes. The piece de resistance terrifying little veggie heads
carved with jagged teeth and empty eyes let me be clear,
Celtic turnip lanterns make modern pumpkins look like Disney characters.
(03:55):
These things belong in horror movies. Imagine walking home at
night and seeing a glowing human faced root vegetable grinning
at you. That's not festive, that's trauma.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
The Legends of Sowen, the myths.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Tell us Soen was prime haunting time. Iilen the burner
every sewin. He lulled people to sleep with harp music
and then set Tara on fire. The insurance premiums must
have been outrageous. Finally, Fion McCom hail killed him. Thank you,
Irish Hercules.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Nara's night Out.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Nara accepted a dare to tie a twig around a
corpse's ankle. The corpse came alive, asked for water, and
then spit blood on people in their house. Lesson, never
do dares on Halloween. They always end badly. The Morrigan,
the terrifying goddess of war and fate who showed up
at Sowen to predict death and doom. She was basically
(04:52):
the Iron age Siri. If Siri also scared the absolute
hell out of you. A word from our sponsor.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Is your turnip lantern not horrifying enough, Try New Pumpkin Deluxe,
the soft car friendly alternative. Carve it in five minutes
flat without losing your will to live pumpkins, because sometimes
you want your Halloween decorations not to cause permanent psychological damage.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
The Church rebrand.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
The Church eventually stepped in with its favorite strategy, the
Holy rebrand. By the ninth century, Pope Gregory was like,
we see your Sowen and raise you all Saints Day.
Sowen became all hallows Eve, then Halloween, but people kept
their turnips, disguises and bonfires. Christianity just put a halo
(05:43):
sticker on it and called it good.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
The Irish and the pumpkin upgrade.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
When the Irish immigrated to America, they found pumpkins soft, hollow,
bright orange pumpkins compared to a rock hard turnip. Pumpkins
were like carving through butter. Thus the American Jack o'
lantern was born. Pumpkins became Halloween's poster child. But don't
forget the pumpkin is just the intern. The turnip is
(06:12):
the CEO of fear Swen. Today, modern Wickens and Pagans
still celebrate Sowen. Honoring ancestors, practicing divination and lighting bonfires. Meanwhile,
the rest of us buy twelve bags of candy for
the kids and then eat them ourselves before Halloween even arrives.
Either way, the spirit of Swen lives on. So there
(06:36):
you have it, dear listeners, the History of Sowen, a
festival of ghosts, gods, fire fairies, and the vegetable that
could give you nightmares. Next time you light a pumpkin,
remember you're participating in a tradition older than most empires,
a holiday born not in candy isles, but in the cold,
(06:58):
smoky nights of Iron Age, Ireland. This has been the
Strange History Podcast. Until next time, Stay curious, stay spooky, and,
for the love of the gods, carve a turnip once
in your life. It builds character.
Hello, dear listeners, and welcome to the Strange History Podcast,
where history is terrifying, occasionally hilarious, and usually running around
in a badly carved vegetable mask. I'm your host, Amy,
and today we're venturing back into the ancient Celtic festival
of Sowen, the original Halloween. This was the night when
(00:21):
spirits walked, fairies kidnapped people, druids lit bonfires the size
of Walmart parking lots, and turnips were carved into the
most horrifying lanterns you've ever seen in your life. Forget
candy corn. This is the true story of why Halloween exists.
But first Tonight's episode is brought to you by turn
(00:43):
up lanterns. Forget those soft, cuddly pumpkins. Real horror is
when you spend six hours chiseling a face into a
root vegetable, only to have it wrought overnight into a
demon potato. Turn up lanterns guaranteed to terrify your neighbors,
confuse your pets, and possibly summon an angry Celtic deity.
(01:05):
Available now wherever vegetables fear to grow.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
The harsh reality of iron Age Winter.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Two thousand years ago Ireland in October was no pumpkin
spiced paradise. It was cold, it was damp. It was
basically the original Game of Thrones winter, except without dragons
to warm you up. Sam Hein marked the end of harvest.
The Celts were like, hope you stored enough grain, because
if not, you're about to invent intermittent fasting the hard way.
(01:36):
This was also when animals were slaughtered, not just because
everyone loves a good steak, but because it was better
to eat the cows than let them eat you out
of winter supplies. Plus, some of those cows ended up
sacrificed in great fire pits because nothing says please don't
kill us gods quite like throwing a perfectly good cow
(01:57):
on the grill.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
The Druidds and fire magic.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
The Druids, those mystical Iron Age influencers, ran the se
In show. They lit massive bonfires, declared prophecies, and probably
smelled strongly of smoke and goat. Every family extinguished their
hearth fire, then ReLit it from the communal blaze. It
wasn't just about fire safety. It was a way to
(02:23):
spiritually reset the household. Basically, new year, new me, new fire,
and the druids. They may have practiced divination by staring
into flames. Try it sometime. Sit in front of your stove,
stare at the gas burner and wait until you see
your future spoiler. Your future is probably calling the fire department.
(02:46):
Our next sponsor.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
This sew in.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Do you want your house to smell like freshly burned cow?
Try druid fresh, the only incense guaranteed to summon your
ancestors and repel unwonted fairy available in SnSe charred Goat,
mystic bog, and everyone's favorite sacrificial brisket. The Veil fins
at So and the Celts believe the veil between worlds
(03:13):
grew thin. Ancestors could visit, Fairies could snatch you, Ghosts
could spit blood on you. Yes, really, ask poor Nara
from the myths? How did people cope? Offerings? Bread, nuts,
milk basically ghost door dash disguises, wear animal skins and
(03:33):
masks to trick the spirits. Nothing says don't eat me
like a teenager in a dead cow costume. Turnip lanterns
ah Yes. The piece de resistance terrifying little veggie heads
carved with jagged teeth and empty eyes let me be clear,
Celtic turnip lanterns make modern pumpkins look like Disney characters.
(03:55):
These things belong in horror movies. Imagine walking home at
night and seeing a glowing human faced root vegetable grinning
at you. That's not festive, that's trauma.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
The Legends of Sowen, the myths.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Tell us Soen was prime haunting time. Iilen the burner
every sewin. He lulled people to sleep with harp music
and then set Tara on fire. The insurance premiums must
have been outrageous. Finally, Fion McCom hail killed him. Thank you,
Irish Hercules.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Nara's night Out.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Nara accepted a dare to tie a twig around a
corpse's ankle. The corpse came alive, asked for water, and
then spit blood on people in their house. Lesson, never
do dares on Halloween. They always end badly. The Morrigan,
the terrifying goddess of war and fate who showed up
at Sowen to predict death and doom. She was basically
(04:52):
the Iron age Siri. If Siri also scared the absolute
hell out of you. A word from our sponsor.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Is your turnip lantern not horrifying enough, Try New Pumpkin Deluxe,
the soft car friendly alternative. Carve it in five minutes
flat without losing your will to live pumpkins, because sometimes
you want your Halloween decorations not to cause permanent psychological damage.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
The Church rebrand.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
The Church eventually stepped in with its favorite strategy, the
Holy rebrand. By the ninth century, Pope Gregory was like,
we see your Sowen and raise you all Saints Day.
Sowen became all hallows Eve, then Halloween, but people kept
their turnips, disguises and bonfires. Christianity just put a halo
(05:43):
sticker on it and called it good.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
The Irish and the pumpkin upgrade.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
When the Irish immigrated to America, they found pumpkins soft, hollow,
bright orange pumpkins compared to a rock hard turnip. Pumpkins
were like carving through butter. Thus the American Jack o'
lantern was born. Pumpkins became Halloween's poster child. But don't
forget the pumpkin is just the intern. The turnip is
(06:12):
the CEO of fear Swen. Today, modern Wickens and Pagans
still celebrate Sowen. Honoring ancestors, practicing divination and lighting bonfires. Meanwhile,
the rest of us buy twelve bags of candy for
the kids and then eat them ourselves before Halloween even arrives.
Either way, the spirit of Swen lives on. So there
(06:36):
you have it, dear listeners, the History of Sowen, a
festival of ghosts, gods, fire fairies, and the vegetable that
could give you nightmares. Next time you light a pumpkin,
remember you're participating in a tradition older than most empires,
a holiday born not in candy isles, but in the cold,
(06:58):
smoky nights of Iron Age, Ireland. This has been the
Strange History Podcast. Until next time, Stay curious, stay spooky, and,
for the love of the gods, carve a turnip once
in your life. It builds character.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.