Ghosts and goblins, witches and wizards, demons and angels, tricks and treats – there’s a whole lot that makes Halloween a festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm across the world. From one lens, Halloween is about facing and conquering fears. But did you know there can also be people who have an innate fear of Halloween thrills and frills itself? Well, it happens to be a clinically diagnosed phobia called Samhainophobia!
The Samhainophobia pronunciation may be a little tricky, but understanding the origins of the term may give you a little idea about what it is. It stems from Samhain, an ancient festival which has roots in Celtic traditions.
On October 31 every year, they organised a ritual called Samhain, which translates to ‘summer’s end’. Bonfires and sacrifices were a part of the ceremony to either appease the dead or ward off evil, and various sources indicate that people would hide their faces behind masks or costumes.
This tradition of dressing up in scary masks has continued through the years and has become popular in different parts of the world. In the West, especially, come October, marketplaces get soaked in the Halloween fervour. Even these decorations can make people suffering from Samhainophobia feel anxious or uneasy.
What is Samhainophobia?
Health Shots spoke to therapist and healer Dr Chandni Tugnait to understand Samhainophobia and its effects.
“Samhainophobia, or the fear of Halloween, is a serious and often debilitating condition that can affect several people each year. It is characterized by an irrational and unrelenting fear of all things related to October 31st,” says Dr Tugnait.