Calan Gaeaf

Calan Gaeaf for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Tuesday, November 1st. There are until the next observance.

Every year on November 1st, Wales, United Kingdom, celebrates Calan Gaeaf to welcome winter. This, however, is not your typical winter festivity. Calan Gaeaf is frequently referred to as the “Mother of Halloween!” Indeed, the festivities may get a bit frightening. Calan Gaeaf celebrates the macabre and otherworldly creatures as the days grow shorter and the nights become longer and colder. Children, who dress up in costumes and carve pumpkins, particularly enjoy the event. Calan Gaeaf is a unique festival that focuses on ghouls, ghosts, death, and the afterlife.

📆 When is Calan Gaeaf?

This year, Calan Gaeaf is on November 1st. It is the 1st Tuesday in November; in 2023, it is on Wednesday.

→ Did you know: Drew Barrymore was first offered the starring part of Sidney, but declined because she believed the public would be more interested if she died early in the film.

You can also see all exciting things you didn’t know about and facts about November 1, 2022.

📜 History of Calan Gaeaf

Calan Gaeaf, like other celebrations involving spirits and ghosts, is steeped in superstitions. During the festival’s early stages, locals would dance around a campfire, and everyone would write their names and carve marks on rocks. These rocks were then thrown into the flames. When the fire went out, the people would all flee, fearing that ‘Yr Hwch Ddu Gwta’ (a spirit in the guise of a tailless black sow with a headless lady) or ‘Y Ladi Wen’ (a headless ghost apparition) would hunt them down and consume their souls.

The locals would return the next morning to examine if the rocks still bore their imprint. It was considered good luck if the mark was wiped clear. If a stone went missing, the person to whom it originally belonged was said to be cursed with ill luck and would die within a year!

☑️ Calan Gaeaf facts

✅ “Friday the 13th”
Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco, a real scout camp in New Jersey, was used in the production of this film.

✅ “Paranormal Activity”
The filmmaker was so afraid of the film that he had to stop screening a copy and watch it the next day—when it was sunny!

✅ “A Nightmare on Elm Street”
The interior and exterior scenes of the main mansion in this film were shot in a variety of locales.

✨ Things to do on Calan Gaeaf

⚡ Host your own Calan Gaeaf
Invite friends and family to your own Calan Gaeaf. Dress up in costumes, build a bonfire, and tell scary stories. This is an excellent way to commemorate the celebration.

⚡ Watch your favorite horror movies
Another approach to commemorating Calan Gaeaf is to spend the night viewing the most gruesome horror films. A good fright is the finest way to celebrate Halloween, and what better way to do so than with horror films?

⚡ Visit a haunted house
Visit a haunted home to celebrate Calan Gaeaf in style! Nothing beats authentic ghost stories and haunted house rumors. Visit one with your friends to discover if the ghosts can communicate with you!

📅 Calan Gaeaf Observances

Explore all November holidays, including Cultural and other Cultural holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and cool facts about Calan Gaeaf. So be sure to check back soon.