October Celti Calender – this month’s instalment of the Calendar Series explores the traditions, mythology, and cultural. Practices tied to October in both Celtic mythology and Roman origins.
Here’s a little insight video into the street piece:
October Celtic Calendar
In Irish, Deireadh Fómhair translates as “end of harvest,” reflecting the seasonal shift as agricultural work came to a close and winter drew near. Closely tied to this is Oíche Shamhna — Halloween — which marked the eve of Samhain, the ancient Celtic new year. On this night, the boundary between the living and the “Otherworld” was believed to dissolve. With animals such as crows, ravens, and wolves seen as spirit guides or omens.
The familiar colours of Halloween, black and orange, also stem from these traditions. Orange represents the harvest, bonfires, and autumn leaves; black symbolises mystery, death, and the shadow of winter.
Long before pumpkins, carved turnip lanterns lit the night as jack-o’-lanterns.
From the Roman calendar, October (from octo, “eight”) was originally the eighth month of the year. In the Celtic tree calendar, October is represented by Ivy (Gort), known as “The Survivor.” Ivy stands for resilience, regeneration, and the ability to endure through challenge.
Together, these traditions highlight October as a month of endings and beginnings, a threshold between harvest and winter, the living and the otherworldly.
Check out the previous month here.
