At the Mise Éire Samhain Sessions that took place in Castlebar on November 1st, Kevin Flanagan spoke about the origins of Halloween (which began in Ireland), why we carve pumpkins, why we dress up, and a story about the burning of a witch in the late 19th century. Tracy Thorndike explained how Irish traditions were so deeply rooted in the land and embedded in the people that, by the 8th century, Christian feasts—All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day—were grafted onto the ancient