Samhain Traditions – Decorating with Nature
It is Hallowe'en. Turnip Head
Will soon be given his face,
A slit, two triangles, a hole.
His brains litter the table top.
A candle stub will be his soul.
‘Hallowe'en’ by Michael Longley
Although Halloween ('Samhain') is celebrated in many countries around the world, its origins lie here in Ireland, and is deeply rooted to our land and landscape, particularly our native crops, plants, trees, and the rhyme and rhythm of the seasons.
When it comes to Samhain decorations, people have historically relied on what nature and the land provided as they made the most of branches, plants, crops, flowers and nuts in imaginative and novel ways.
Keep reading for more inspiration and some useful decorating tips from Mark.
Turnips were the original pumpkins
To ward off unwanted spirits, people would carve spooky faces into turnips and other root vegetables like potatoes, sometimes placing candles inside to create lanterns. Left outside homes or carried through the night, these creations were believed to keep people protected.
Ghost turnip. NMI Collections
Halloween crosses were made from Rowan twigs and straw
‘Parshell’ crosses were constructed using two 7” sticks of rowan wood (mountain ash) with straw wound around them. (Rowan wood has a long history of being used for warding off unwanted spirits.) Each cross was placed above a doorway as a protective talisman and left up until the next Halloween.
Parshell Cross
Rowan ‘Mountain Ash’ tree
Turf and wood was collected for the cold months ahead
As part of the preparations for winter, it was of utmost importance to cut, dry and store your turf safely, so you could have a warm, well-fuelled winter. Those who had ‘bog-deal’ were considered the fortunate ones. It is the sweet-smelling, clear-burning preserved roots of pine trees.
A bounty of nuts, berries and seeds
This time of year brings an abundance of nature’s harvest. In times gone by, people would take full advantage, foraging and gathering these tiny treasures to transform into something fun and playful. Think - bobbing for apples, conkers on strings for battling, and rosehip necklaces.
Rosehips Wreath available from The Garden
Apple-bobbing at Ditherington Hallowe'en party by Geoff Charles
A Note from Mark on decorating your home with Autumn colour
Autumn is a wonderful time of the year, especially with the foliage changing colour. It’s lovely to bring a touch of this inside.
Maybe you have some large branches around your garden that you can cut that still have some of the autumn leaves attached. It's also nice to group in some trailing Amarthus which has a lovely burnt brown and orange colour.
If you don’t have access to those elements you could also try Eyonymus Alatus which has a beautiful colour. Beech is a great addition to bring into the house and to cut the branches extra long to give some height. These look good together in a vase on their own to create a dramatic sculptural effect.
The Autumn Bouquet available from The Garden
Autumn Colour at The Garden
This transitional time of the year can feel especially fleeting. One minute it’s here, and the next it’s gone. We love to try to capture the essence of this season’s unique colour and texture in our Autumn Collection, including Bouquets, Arrangements, and Wreaths.
A final note from Mark...
Wishing everyone taking part in the 2026 Dublin Marathon today the very best of luck!