Samhain
This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
Every nighte and all,
Fire and sleet and candle-lighte,
And Christe receive thy saule.
The Lyke-Wake Dirge, folk song
in Yorkshire dialect
This song was beautifully performed by Pentangle, with Jacqui McShee’s sublime soaring voice and perfect diction.
Samhain (Sauin in Manx) is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name for November.
The festival of Samhain begins at sunset on October 31st, to mark the end of harvest and the beginning of winter.
It is said that the veil between life and death is at its thinnest on this sacred night. The spirits of the dear departed may visit their homes and in some cases, places are set at table for them.
It is common to speak of dying as passing away. Maybe it is not simply an anodyne way of referring to something distressing, but a reference to Samhain. It is comforting, for those who do not robustly deny such beliefs as outdated nonsense, to think that souls slip from one realm to another through the sheerest curtain.
‘Pass’ meaning ‘die’ has been used since the beginning of the fourteenth century and was used in that sense by Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400) and later by Shakespeare (1564-1616)
‘Passing away’ came into the common lexicon in the fifteenth century. The belief then was that a person’s soul remained until the funeral rites were completed, after which it could ‘pass away.’
It's nice knowing passing away comes from a religious perspective. It's even more comforting that way!
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteNow I'll feel better at using the term passed rather than died - thanks as always for information x
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
So will I!
DeleteYes, I ranted about the phrase 'passing away' a few days ago... I'll rein back on my feelings now I know it's not some modern sentimental phrase, but a legacy from older times, taken across the Atlantic by the first settlers and then brought back...
DeleteI've heard Samhain referred to as 'the day of the dead when the year too dies' as it was the Celtic New Year. That feels kind of right for me as growing things shut down and there is the rest before the new spring.
ReplyDeleteI rather like the Day of the Dead celebrations at the beginning of November. Death becomes a friend then, rather than a foe.
DeleteAll Saints Eve for many. But the seasons are a changing.
ReplyDeleteThey are, indeed.
DeletePassed away is easier for people to handle than death or died.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds gentler.
DeleteThat is a beautiful song, performered beautifully. Today would have been my late husband's 57th birthday. He was from Yorkshire, so I am familiar with pronouncing the word "night" like "neet", so that it rhymes with sleet.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, it is very timely for me.
I'm so sorry about your husband. This must be a hard day for you.
DeleteThe upcoming anniversary of his death (16 years ago, hard to believe) is harder; "Remember, remember, the 5th of November" has a very different meaning for me.
DeleteI shall think of you on that day.
DeleteThank you, that is very kind.
DeleteYou always post such interesting tidbits. When my brother-in-law called to tell me the unexpected news about my sister - he stumbled around with his words not wanting to shock me so he said, “She’s gone.” I’m not fully understanding the tragic news, of course I replied, “gone where?” Then he says, gone- gone” People don’t like to say dead or died because it seems so final. Passing on feels much easier in those beginning days of grief.
ReplyDeleteIt does. It softens the blow momentarily.
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ReplyDeleteThere are 2 All Souls Saturdays here, 3 in some areas. They're around Easter time though. Your post as usual is most interesting.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. Are there festivals most weeks?
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. Always something interesting here. Blessed Samhain.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI can understand why many people feel it is kinder to use the term "passed" but I feel ever so slightly silly saying it, so have always just said died or dead. Perhaps I am too brutal.
ReplyDeleteNot brutal, just honest.
ReplyDeleteI always tend to say 'passed away'. One-syllable descriptors can sound abrupt. Maybe it's just me.
ReplyDeleteWe all try to soften the blow of sad, bad news, but it's not really possible. Whatever we are comfortable with saying suits us best.
DeleteI quite like the idea of saying that they have turned into 'star dust'. Fanciful maybe but those left behind mourning their dead have to be comforted in some way.
ReplyDeleteMy first husband always said, 'the world ceases to exist when you die' and weirdly I had a dream a couple of weeks before he died, of him being in the large cemetery, I think by the large Woking one, saying to me 'it will be alright sweetheart'. Now there is an argument for things being around after death...
Yes, I like the idea of stardust, and returning to the cosmos.
DeleteMany people have very real experiences of 'communication.' My mother heard my father calling to her in the garden and she was not a fanciful woman at all.
"Pass away!" is what football coaches might yell during a practice session.
ReplyDelete. . . with a few expletives, maybe!
DeleteAn interesting read.
ReplyDeleteI do think 'Passed away' is gentler somehow ...
All the best Jan
It is.
DeleteHappy Halloween!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI thought pass away was merely an euphemism, so this (as usual) was enlightening.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, isn't it?
DeleteYour reflection beautifully entwines language, folklore, and mortality
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Delete" ‘Passing away’ came into the common lexicon in the fifteenth century. The belief then was that a person’s soul remained until the funeral rites were completed, after which it could ‘pass away.’ "
ReplyDeleteVery interesting.
😊
DeleteNot all souls pass away immediately after funeral rites are over. I "felt" my father near me for three weeks, but not immediately, it was a week after his cremation when I knew he was there. I didn't feel my mother at all after she passed.
ReplyDeleteThat's so interesting.Comforting, too.
DeleteThank you for this post, illuminating. 🌟
ReplyDeleteI was surprised at the etymology.
DeleteI always learn something new when I visit here I had never heard of Samhain before
ReplyDeleteYou're not a Pagan, obviously. 😁
DeleteI never knew that Samhain is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name for November!
ReplyDeleteI've always favoured "passing away", which sounds so much gentler than dying. xxx
I like the idea that a person's soul will remain until the funeral rights would be completed, but then I wonder what would happen if someone was lost at sea....or if perhaps they did NOT have burial rights.
ReplyDeleteI find etymology and word origins really interesting! Thank you!
ReplyDelete