Halloween dates back to 1745 and originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts as they believed the change of seasons around the time of Samhain created an opening to the world of the dead. The Celts believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was at its thinnest on the 31st October. They thought that the spirits of the dead could roam amongst the living during this time. As a precaution, it was customary for Celts to leave food and drink on the doorstep as offerings to the “good” spirits. The head priests (known as Druids) of Celtic villages would light huge bonfires to keep malevolent spirits at bay. They were also responsible for lighting the hearths of individual houses with embers from this special bonfire, to protect the people inside and keep them warm. Pumpkins are lit to replicate the phenomenon of a strange light flickering over peat bogs, called will-o'-the-wisp or jack-o'-lantern. The name is also tied to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way. These little pumpkins and ghosts wont flicker but they will fizz! They come in a set of eight, two ghosts and six pumpkins but obviously I can mix and match more for you, just email any requests. I love making these, they are just so cute! You only need one ghost or two pumpkins each bath, they are all handmade, all natural and infused with essential oils as well as almond oil which is gentle on skin and safe for children.
