Samhain & the Wheel of the Year

In the Celtic Isles, many of the old ways persist, remnants of traditions from centuries ago are still loyally preserved or else they’ve been distilled into common traditions whose roots lie hidden under the moss and leaf litter of time. Peek behind the gauzy curtains of Halloween and we can trace these old ways, see the persistence of age old traditions and uncover the roots of our most common Halloween ways.

Ancient Celtic Wheel of the Year - The Four Festival Days: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, & Lunasa

and the 4 Cross Quarter Days arranged by the suns positions: Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox,
Summer Solstice, & Autumn Equinox 

The ancient Celtic calendar was a wheel which turned little by little through the seasons until it rolled right back around to Halloween or Samhain as it was called. Samhain in Irish is pronounced SOW-EN and it means summer’s end. It marks the end of the Celtic Year and so also the New Year. It is a threshold, when crossed one passes from the summery light half, to the wintry dark half. And entering the cold dark half has a lot to do with why Samhain, Halloween, is associated with dark things. The sun grows cold and the trees shed their final golden leaves, plant wither to grey then they are gone, animals prepare for long winter sleep. Food and warmth are scarce. The harvest has been stored, the wood gathered, and folks, too, prepare for the season of Earth’s sleep. Because Samhain, summer’s end, is traditionally a festival day, there are many folk traditions and rituals that accompany it. We'll explore those next...

Irish & Celtic Gifts for the Holidays

New Handpainted Signs and Wood Burned Décor up in Shop Now & More to come soon.

I've paused Emerald Post monthly parcels to work on some other exciting creations. I've been crafting woodburned ornaments and wall hangings,and hand painted signs among other things. Several of these are already available in the SHOP and other delights to come shortly. If you have your eye on something here that isn't in the shop yet, do let me know and I'll reserve and list it for you. 

Autumn in the Hedges of our Heart

Glendalough Forest in October

I've been lucky enough to ramble the Celtic lands of Ireland, England, & Wales during this ephemeral season of Autumn. To taste the blackberries on the brambles, to stir up golden leaves. They are beautiful, enchanting places in each season but they have a atmosphere to them in the Fall, with the hedgerows adorned with myriad berries and the valleys swallowed in mists.

It is not wonder that so many of our Halloween traditions are rooted in these lands. More on Samhain traditions in the following week but today I share some of the fruits of fall that I've encountered on my travels, some of the shimmering leaves, the golden light and the mythic shadows.

Giant Rosehips found in Cornwall, England - The biggest I've ever seen! Rosehips are edible & medicinal & kind of otherworldly here. 

Rosehips - What is left after a rose blooms. 

Rowan Berries - just everywhere across the countryside

Rowan Berries

Hawthorn Berries

View of Glendalough (Valley of the Two Lakes) from a long hike uphill. 

Dublin Cobbles and Gilt Leaves

Path to Tintern Abbey, County Wexford, Ireland

A gold leaf strewn path at Glenariff Forest Park, Antrim, Ireland. The Waterfall Hike. 

A Glowing Orange Footpath through Tollymore Forest Park, County Down, Ireland

Also hop over to Into the Hermitage to read of an artist's daily life during Autumn in England - full of old traditions - including elderberry and rosehip syrups. Rima Staines makes the most mysteriously beautiful art forever situated in the hedgerows of Autumn. Here shop is HERE .

Ancient Past

Ancient Valley 5x7 Postcard $2.50

Autumn has rolled in and Halloween is just around the corner, beyond the mist and fog. Send some Samhain greetings with this spooky postcard "Ancient Valley" - a view of the graves at Glendalough, Ireland. $2.50 each or 6 for $10. Available now HERE .

Tea Time

Things are brewing here at Emerald Post. We've been busy in the studio crafting new treasures for the gift giving season. To be sure, our shelves will soon be full of one-of-a-kind gifts for Irish enthusiasts, those enamored by Celtic culture, for travelers, history lovers, and the curious of heart. Until then, put the kettle on and enjoy a steaming cuppa tea while leaves blaze and fall and Autumn settles in.   

Infinite Ireland - A Traveler's Best Friend

Dingle Peninsula - Photo Infinite Ireland

Infinite Ireland is a travel website that offers many avenues of help for those looking to make dreams into reality and touch down on the green, green grass of Ireland. It is run by Stephanie Chastain, an Ireland enthusiast such as myself. We both agree that if Ireland has been calling you to visit, you should go. It's probably easier and cheaper than you think. And Stephanie is here to help you.

Meet Stephanie - Master Traveler behind Infinite Ireland 

Stephanie made her maiden voyage to Ireland in 2006 for her honeymoon. Ireland left its indelible, magical, enchanting mark and, like so many folks, she was smitten and stricken with a strong desire to return. And return she did. Over a decade since her first Irish jaunt, Stephanie has, along with her husband (and quite recently her infant son), rambled all over Ireland enough times to be considered an expert. In 2012 she began Infinite Ireland to help others realize their dreams and travel to Ireland. Until just recently, she was a study abroad advisor for Penn State, so she knows a thing or two about travel. And she's just taken the leap to working on Infinite Ireland full time (lucky us!). She shares so much of her expertise on the Infinite Ireland Blog detailing itinerary, budget, accommodation, travel tips, and overall inspiration. Her blog is one of the best tools out there to help someone plan an Irish trip. But if you need a little more than a helping hand, Stephanie offers a unique service for travelers - it's called Travel Coaching.

Jaunting Cart  - Photo by Infinite Ireland 

Travel Coaching is one-on-one travel planning help in half-hour or hour phone planning sessions (and unlimited email support until your departure). It's like getting a personal partner in planning to make sure you get the kind of trip you are dreaming about, first-hand advice for all your decisions, great and small. It's especially helpful for first-time visitors to plan out their itineraries and receive guidance on the nitty gritty logistics like where to go, how long to stay in one place, or how to rent a car. She specializes in planning full but not overwhelming days, with time for spontaneity and flexibility to add in activities as you travel. She loves sharing personal recommendations from her many travels. She can help you start from scratch with basic itinerary planning or, if you’re further along, you can talk specifics with recommendations for activities, restaurants and places to stay. It's a fun, exciting, and incredibly helpful way for you to get all your questions answered and to lay the foundation for your perfect trip.  Learn more about Travel Coaching HERE.

Lough Tay, Wicklow, Photo by Infinite Ireland

Stephanie isn't a travel agent, she won't be booking hotels or tours for you but she can sure steer you toward breathtaking scenic drives, charming B & Bs, and delicious restaurants. She can be your personal Ireland guidebook (I'm sure she could write her very own) and take the overwhelming bits out of your journey by explaining how to rent a car in Ireland, what driving in Ireland is like, where to exchange money, how much you can fit into one trip. With Travel Coaching help, you can worry less and enjoy more. Travelers have left glowing reviews at Infinite Ireland of how Stephanie helped them turn their dreams into reality. So hop over to Infinite Ireland, sign up for the newsletter, or follow on Facebook. And start planning to make your dreams come true. 

Let's Travel to Ireland

If you frequent this blog there is a good chance that you've either been lucky enough to visit the wondrous island of Ireland or that you dream about it often, wish upon stars, or pluck up lucky pennies in hopes that someday, someday! you might get to visit Ireland. You might also think that it will never happen, that it's too far away, too difficult, too expensive.

The truth is, it's none of these.  

I like to say that Ireland is, in fact, the best place to visit if you've never hopped the pond. It is a culturally rich, completely gorgeous, friendly place where English is spoken (this helps for first time jet-setters). It can also be quite reasonable to afford. Many people I know spend just as much or more to rent condos on the coast, go to Disneyland, or take a cruise. It is possible. It is within reach, and it will be spectacular. 

Luckily, there are a lot of people and places on the web that can help make your Emerald Isle Dreams come true. Next up, I am going to introduce you to some helpful sites and some passionate folks who are as enamored with Ireland as you and I.