13 Irish Halloween Traditions

(and How You Can Celebrate Them Today)

Halloween as we know it today — with costumes, jack-o’-lanterns, and trick-or-treating — has its roots in Ireland’s ancient festival of Samhain. Celebrated thousands of years ago by the Celts, Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year. Over time, these ancient customs blended with Christian traditions and then spread across the world, especially through Irish emigration.

Many of those old Irish traditions still survive today — some in modern forms, some as quirky memories from our grandparents’ time. And the best part? You can bring many of them back into your own Halloween celebrations, whether you’re in Ireland, America, or anywhere else.

Here are 13 Irish Halloween traditions and how to celebrate them today.

1. Bonfires

In ancient Ireland, huge bonfires were lit to mark Samhain, believed to ward off evil spirits and give protection for the winter ahead. Families gathered around the flames, celebrating with food and rituals.
👉 How to celebrate: Light a backyard firepit (safely!) and gather with friends or family. Roast marshmallows, share stories, or simply enjoy the glow — a modern nod to those ancient flames.

bonfire on forest screengrab — Photo by Mike on Pexels.com

2. Turnip Lanterns

Before pumpkins arrived from America, Irish children carved turnips into lanterns with scary faces, placing candles inside to ward off wandering spirits. Carving a hard turnip was tough work, but it created a truly eerie glow.
👉 How to celebrate: Carve pumpkins if you prefer (they’re easier!), but why not try carving a turnip this year for an authentic taste of Irish Halloween?

3. Colcannon

A traditional Irish dish made of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage, colcannon was often served at Halloween. Charms were hidden inside — a ring for marriage, a coin for wealth.
👉 How to celebrate: Cook a pot of colcannon for your Halloween dinner. Tuck a coin (wrapped safely in foil) inside for fun, and see who finds it.

4. Barmbrack

This fruity yeast bread, filled with sultanas and raisins, was another fortune-telling food. Traditionally, items were baked into the loaf: a ring (marriage), a stick (bad luck), a coin (wealth), a cloth (poverty).
👉 How to celebrate: Buy or bake a barmbrack and play along with the fortune-telling game. Slice carefully, and see what your piece reveals about your future!

5. Costumes and Disguises (Guising)

The Celts believed spirits roamed freely on Samhain night. People disguised themselves with masks and costumes to confuse or ward off these spirits.
👉 How to celebrate: Dress up in spooky costumes for Halloween — the tradition of “guising” lives on in every witch’s hat and vampire cape.

anonymous children in halloween costumes trick or treating — Photo by Charles Parker on Pexels.com

6. Divination Games

Halloween was a night for fortune-telling. Apples, mirrors, and even plates of flour were used in playful rituals to predict love and luck.
👉 How to celebrate: Try an old game like apple bobbing, mirror gazing, or the flour-and-coin challenge. Perfect fun for teens and nostalgic adults alike.

7. Apple Bobbing (Snap Apple)

A classic that comes directly from Irish Halloween parties. Apples were floated in a basin of water, and players tried to bite them without using hands.
👉 How to celebrate: Bring this messy, silly game back to life at your Halloween party. All you need is a basin, apples, and some willing participants.

apples on water — Photo by Andy on Pexels.com

8. Ghost Stories

In Irish folklore, the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest at Samhain. It was the perfect night for storytelling — tales of banshees, púcas, and haunted places.
👉 How to celebrate: Switch off the lights, light candles, and share ghost stories. Mix in folklore with your own spooky tales for atmosphere.

9. “Snap-Apple Night” Parties

Long before trick-or-treating, families and neighbours gathered for Halloween games, food, and music. These gatherings were lively, noisy, and full of community spirit.
👉 How to celebrate: Host a Halloween party filled with traditional games like snap-apple, treacle bread, and fortune-telling.

10. Treacle Bread Game

A slice of bread covered in sticky treacle was tied to a string and hung up. Players had to eat it with their hands behind their backs — often ending up covered in syrup!
👉 How to celebrate: Swap in donuts or biscuits on a string for an easier (and less messy!) version.

11. Samhain Superstitions

Many believed Halloween night was a dangerous time for travel, as fairies and spirits roamed. People left offerings of food at doorsteps to appease them.
👉 How to celebrate: Set a little seasonal food offering outside — or keep it symbolic by lighting a candle and pausing for gratitude.

12. Neighbourhood Mischief

From knocking on doors and running away to playing harmless pranks, Irish kids loved a bit of mischief on Halloween night.
👉 How to celebrate: Skip the destructive tricks, but revive the spirit of harmless fun with family games, scavenger hunts, or “boo your neighbour” surprise gift drops.

13. The Gathering of the Harvest

Halloween marked the official end of the harvest season, a time to gather in crops and prepare for winter. This was often celebrated with feasts and community sharing.
👉 How to celebrate: Honour the harvest with seasonal food — apple pies, pumpkin soups, roasted root vegetables. Share a meal with friends or family to mark the abundance of the season.

vegetable and crops beside spilled basket — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Halloween isn’t just costumes and sweets — it’s a holiday steeped in Irish heritage, folklore, and ancient rituals. By reviving even a few of these traditions, you can celebrate in a way that feels meaningful, connected, and fun. Whether it’s baking barmbrack, carving a turnip, or gathering for ghost stories, these old customs can add richness and depth to your modern Halloween.

So this year, why not bring a little piece of Ireland into your celebrations?

Throughout the autumn season I will be sharing lots of autumnal and Halloween inspiration over on Instagram and Pinterest if either of those platforms are your thing. If not there is lots of further autumn content here on the blog if you take a look under the “Seasonal Inspiration” category in the main menu!

Chat soon

Ciara x