What is samhainophobia?
People with samhainophobia (sam-HI-noh-phobia) have a fear of Halloween. Someone with samhainophobia may have extreme fear or anxiety at the thought of Halloween, including:
- Halloween parties.
- Halloween symbols such as ghosts and spiders.
- Trick-or-treating.
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What does the word samhain mean?
The word samhain comes from the festival of Samhain, first celebrated by the Celtic druids about 2,000 years ago. The Celts mainly lived in the region that is now Ireland, Northern France and the United Kingdom.
The Celts believed that the living and the dead mingled on Oct. 31, the night before the Celtic New Year. The festival included large bonfires, where they sacrificed animals to please the dead. The Celts often wore costumes made of animal skins and heads.
What is a phobia?
Phobias are a form of anxiety disorder. They lead to an excessive fear of an event or situation that isn’t harmful in reality.
Samhainophobia is a type of specific phobia disorder. A specific situation (Halloween) leads to a fearful response.
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How common is samhainophobia?
About 9% of American adults and close to 20% of teenagers have a specific phobia disorder — like samhainophobia — sometime in their lives. These disorders affect nearly twice as many women as men.
What does a person with samhainophobia fear?
Someone with samhainophobia may be afraid of:
- Children wearing costumes and makeup while trick-or-treating.
- Halloween traditions, especially being scared or startled, such as at costume parties and haunted houses or with ghost stories.
- Knocking on strangers’ doors or going out in the dark when trick-or-treating.
- Participating in social activities, such as Halloween parties.
- Things associated with Halloween including ghosts, spiders, witchcraft or zombies.
