Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the boundary between the harvest season and winter, traditionally observed on the night of October 31 leading into November 1. It is one of the four major Gaelic seasonal festivals and is often described as the precursor to Halloween, with ancient roots in Celtic culture and beliefs about the veil between the worlds thinning at this time. The festival historically involved gatherings, feasts, and rites tied to the harvest, the dead, and the changing seasons. In many modern traditions, Samhain is celebrated as a time to honor ancestors, reflect on the year, and practice seasonal customs such as lighting candles, telling stories, and sharing meals.