Believed to have Celtic pagan origins, Samhain (pronounced sow-an) is a Gaelic festival marking the end of harvest and beginning of winter. Over the centuries the rituals associated with Samhain and All Souls Day are thought to have influenced our modern day Halloween celebrations. Some of the best examples of carved animal and human figures believed to be pagan, and dating to the Iron age are from Ulster. Replicas of four of these statues from St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh city are on display in the Early Peoples gallery. The pre-Christian date may suggest that a pagan cult centre once existed in the Armagh area. The Tandragree idol is the figure holding his left shoulder or severed arm. He was uncovered in a rockery of the rectory at Tandragee in the early 20th century. Often called upon to illustrate writings on Celtic Mythology, he is believed to be the Irish mythological war God, Nuada, whose hand was stricken off at the battle of Moytura and then replaced with one of silver. #Halloween #Pagan #Samhain #TandragreeMan #TandragreeIdol #Armagh #ironage