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 Halloween
- A Celtic Tradition
Many of the ancient peoples of
Europe marked the end of the harvest
season and the beginning of winter
by celebrating a holiday in late
autumn. The most important of these
holidays to influence later
Halloween customs was Samhain,
a holiday observed by the ancient
Celts. Among the Celts, Samhain
marked the end of one year and the
beginning of the next. It was one of
four Celtic holidays linked to
important transitions in the annual
cycle of seasons.
Samhain began at sundown on
October 31 and extended into the
following day. According to the
Celtic pagan religion, known as
Druidism,
the spirits of those who had died
in the preceding year roamed the
earth on Samhain evening. The
Celts sought to ward off these
spirits with offerings of food and
drink. The Celts also built
bonfires at sacred hilltop sites
and performed rituals, often
involving human and animal
sacrifices, to honor Druid
deities.
By
the end of the 1st century
ad, the Roman Empire had
conquered most of the Celtic
lands. In the process of
incorporating the Celts into
their empire, the Romans adapted
and absorbed some Celtic
traditions as part of their own
pagan and Catholic religious
observances. In Britain, Romans
blended local Samhain customs
with their own pagan harvest
festival honoring Pomona,
goddess of fruit trees. Some
scholars have suggested that the
game of bobbing for apples
derives from this Roman
association of the holiday with
fruit.
Pure Celtic influences
lingered longer on the western
fringes of Europe, especially
in areas that were never
brought firmly under Roman
control, such as Ireland,
Scotland, and the Brittany
region of northwestern France.
In these areas, Samhain was
abandoned only when the local
people converted to
Christianity during the early
Middle
Ages, a period that
lasted from the 5th to the
15th century. The Roman
Catholic Church often
incorporated modified versions
of older religious traditions
in order to win converts. For
example, Pope Gregory IV
sought to replace Samhain with
All Saints’ Day in 835. All
Souls’ Day, closer in spirit
to Samhain and modern
Halloween, was first
instituted at a French
monastery in 998 and quickly
spread throughout Europe. Folk
observances linked to these
Christian holidays, including
Halloween, thus preserved many
of the ancient Celtic customs
associated with Samhain.
Halloween traditions thought
to be incompatible with
Christianity often became
linked with Christian folk
beliefs about evil spirits.
Although such superstitions
varied a great deal from
place to place, many of the
supernatural beings now
associated with Halloween
became fixed in the popular
imagination during the late
Middle Ages and the
Renaissance (14th to
17th century). The
jack-o’-lantern, originally
carved from a large turnip
rather than a pumpkin,
originated in medieval
Scotland. Various methods of
predicting the future,
especially concerning
matters of romance and
marriage, were also
prominent features of
Halloween throughout the
British Isles.
Between the 15th and 17th
centuries, Europe was
seized by a hysterical
fear of witches, leading
to the persecution of
thousands of innocent
women. Witches were
thought to ride flying
brooms and to assume the
form of black cats. These
images of witches soon
joined other European
superstitions as symbols
of Halloween.
"Halloween," Microsoft®
Encarta® Online
Encyclopedia 2006
http://encarta.msn.com ©
1997-2006 Microsoft
Corporation. All Rights
Reserved.
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In
Britain - Turnips are used to create a type of jack-o-lantern. On the Isle of
Man a gaelic bonfire is burned (called a sauin). On Halloween night
practical jokes are played on greedy or unfriendly people. Challenges
are handed out. Because it is thought that spirits and fairies are out, this night
is also called 'oíche shamhna' (Spirit Night). At midnight the year
turns and families go inside by then. Some families put a straw cross
over the door for protection.
Ireland
-
For a couple weeks prior to Halloween masked kids dress in old
clothing, sheets, or garbage bags & other items. They sing around
the neighborhood for treats and are given money, apples and nuts. Today people keep watch for the dead by lighting a candle in their
homes. This comes from the past practice of sitting on the
steps of a church all night. The apparitions of those who would die
in the coming year would come & knock on the door. They might die
& become a churchyard walker (a graveyard guardian until the next
person disturbed the service of the dead). Halloween is called 'oídche na
h-aimléise' (Night of Mischief). Fireworks are often displayed on Halloween night.
Italy-
The Romans originally observed Feralia which was meant to give peace
to the deceased. People gave sacrifices and offering prayers on behalf
of the dead. Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saints' Day to replace
this pagan holiday. Gregory III eventually changed the date to
November 1.
Mexico
-
Latin communities celebrate 'Día de Los Muertos' (The Day of the
Dead). Aztecs believed that the dead did not go on right away.
Scotland
-
Originally this holiday was called Hallowe'en. They lit sacred ritual
bonfires, generally atop a hill. On Halloween children go 'guising' (rhyming).
This is also done in Ireland.
USA-
Children carve faces on pumpkins which are called jack-o-lanterns
about a week before Halloween. Halloween costume parties are often
held in school and at people's homes on Halloween night or sometime
the week before. Haunted houses are also available to scare the pants
off of willing participants. On Halloween night, children dress in costumes visit neighborhood
homes, saying 'Trick or Treat'. They are generally given candy.
Television often shows horror marathons. People often play pranks. |
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