Ancient History of Halloween

Monu14

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter. Source : www.history.com

Rushcourt71

Monu14. Any ideas as to why there are pumpkins, people dressed up as Dracula and to a lesser extent as witches. Also where does the concept of 'trick or treat' come from and its association with Halloween.  

Monu14

Rushcourt71 7-11-2018 03:10 PM
Monu14. Any ideas as to why there are pumpkins, people dressed up as Dracula and to a lesser extent  ...

Interesting question. I will certainly look for an authentic source for this, and will circle back, as soon as I am able to lay y hand on one.

tuli08@

Wow..interesting..why 1st November though?

Monu14

tuli08@ 9-11-2018 09:58 AM
Wow..interesting..why 1st November though?

As mentioned in the 2nd para of the post, it is start of winter season...

Rhett_Bassard

Monu14 8-11-2018 10:32 PM
As mentioned in the 2nd para of the post, it is start of winter season...

@tuli08@ has led you astray: Halloween is 31 OCT and as you state in 2nd para, related to Samhain. However, you have omitted the Christian aspects of All Saints Day [01 NOV] beginning with...wait for it...All Hallows Eve [31 OCT].



Hmmm...Hallows Eve...Halloween


Hoping you'll soon upload some eBooks.

Rushcourt71

My thoughts are why are some aspects of pagan festivals still commemorated, when so many others have been disregarded.

Could there be any reasons for this. They cannot just be dismissed as nationalistic as some major festivities cut across cultures worldwide. Nor can it be said it is part of heritage alone, as Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas during his reign and it returned soon after his death, so it means something beyond just history.

While the origins of events, celebrations and in some cases famous people now obscured by myth and lost history can be easily found, why have some endured despite confusion surrounding exact purposes and original intent.  

Rhett_Bassard

Rushcourt71 9-11-2018 04:28 AM
My thoughts are why are some aspects of pagan festivals still commemorated, when so many others have ...

Marketing may be partially responsible for continuation and endurance.
Halloween with its cards, costumes, candy and pumpkins was a US$9.1B biz in 2017
Kids and sugar!

[source]

tuli08@

Rhett Bassard 9-11-2018 01:05 PM
@tuli08@ has led you astray: Halloween is 31 OCT and as you state in 2nd para, related to Samhain. ...

Right...my bad..went through it on my way to office amidst noisy crowd ...stupid question..thanks for the clarification though