Press Releases

‘Samhain' at the National Roman Legion Museum The origins of Halloween, marked by many across the country on the night of 31 October through ghost tours, dressing up and trick-or-treating can actually be sourced back to an ancient Celtic Festival called Samhain, which will be celebrated at The National Roman Legion Museum on the last day of the month from 6 - 8pm.

A pagan holiday dating back to the Iron Age Celts, Samhain was considered to be the Celtic New Year and was adopted by the Romans as their own festival when they invaded Britain.

"Many parts of this festival are echoed in our modern Halloween parties," said Rebecca Smith, Events Officer at the National Roman Legion Museum. "Jack O lanterns were originally made from turnips and were used to guide the dead back to earth. Today we use pumpkins. The Celts also dressed in costumes much as we do today, but they would use animal skins!"

Booking is essential for the event, which will be held from 6 - 8pm on 31 October 2008. Please phone (01633) 423134 - tickets are £2 for children and £1 for adults. The event will include a prize fancy dress competition.

Entry to each of Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales' sites is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assemble Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

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For further information, please contact Catrin Mears, Communications Officer on 029 2057 3185 or email catrin.mears@museumwales.ac.uk.