Samhain Panel 14: The Waiting

The Waiting is a reflection of how Christian philosophy changed some native Irish beliefs about the life to come. Christians brought to Ireland the notion that going to Heaven immediately following death was not guaranteed, and that a time spent in Purgatory was expected no matter how righteous the soul. The Irish, however, believed that life simply continued on in Tir Na Nog without interruption. Fusing the two beliefs may have led to beliefs in dead walkers roaming the land in search of rest.