Episode 2
Halloween. A time on the threshold of winter when all things scary and supernatural draw near.
Many believe Halloween descends from Samhain, an ancient festival practised in Ireland for
many centuries. This, the second episode in a 2 x 1 hour documentary series, shows how Irish
immigrants brought Samhain or Halloween to America in the 19th century, resulting in the global
phenomenon we know today. Now, archaeologists and psychologists look for the meaning of
Samhain at an eerie cave in Connacht, said to be a gateway to the Otherworld. Meanwhile
scientists attempt to date the manmade entrance to the cave: could this be the home of
Halloween?
Series Overview
Halloween. A time on the threshold of winter when all things scary and supernatural draw near.
Halloween has long been hugely popular in America, and now it’s spreading around the globe –
but its roots lie in Ireland. This 2 x 1 hour documentary series uses science, archaeology, folklore
and mythology to reveal how Halloween descends from the ancient Irish festival of Samhain.
Many modern Halloween customs have their roots in Samhain beliefs, especially the idea that
the Otherworld draws close at this time. Now, scientists investigate an eerie cave in western
Ireland. The ancient legends associated with this place could reveal the meaning of Halloween.
