http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain
Of course, I’ve only been studying Celtic history/archaeology/anthropology/mythology for 30 years so what do I know?
Where’d you get your “knowledge”?
From someplace like this?
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallo_sa.htm
"And there's no such thing as a pan-Celtic "New Year's Eve" celebration."
Uh, yeah, there is.
The Celts divided the year into *2* halves.
The Gaulish calendar appears to have divided the year into two halves: the 'dark' half, beginning with the month Samonios (the October/November lunation), and the 'light' half, beginning with the month Giamonios (the April/May lunation)
I care nothing for how "goofy "neo-pagans," some gullible (or careless) Protestants and those who read the 19th century literature uncritically" have bastardized history.
Nonsense. You know, there are better sources than James Frazer and his ilk. Ronald Hutton, for one. He rips that assertion to shreds.
I’ve only been studying Celtic history/archaeology/anthropology/mythology for 30 years so what do I know?
You've been studying the Celts for over 30 years and the best you can do is a link to Wikipedia?
Where’d you get your “knowledge”?
From things called "books." You can find them in places called "libraries."
The Celts divided the year into *2* halves.
The Gaulish calendar appears to have divided the year into two halves: the 'dark' half, beginning with the month Samonios (the October/November lunation), and the 'light' half, beginning with the month Giamonios (the April/May lunation)
The Gauls weren't the only Celts. Remember: pan-Celtic. Further, speculation without context over how the solar year may have been symbolically divided is not the same as proof of the existence of a pan-Celtic New Year's Eve celebration.
By the way, where did you get the citation? Some BBC coffee table book/documentary tie in?