History of Halloween

HALLOWEEN

Halloween's origin dates back around 2000 years ago to the ancient celtic festival Samhain (sow-in)

The Celts lived about 2000 years ago in the land that is now Ireland, the UK, and northern France. They celebrated their new year on November 1st. this day represented the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was associated with human death.

The Celts believed that on the night before their new year, the line between the land of the living and the land of the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they selebrated Samhain; the night they believed that the souls of the dead returned to the earth.

In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of these 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.

The Druids built sacred bonfires to burn crops and animal sacrifices to the celtic deities to commorate the event.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes.

By 43 A.D., the Romans had conquered the majority of the celtic's territory. in the course of the 400 years that they ruled, they combined Samhain was combined with 2 Roman Celebrations.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. Pope Bonifice IV dedicated November 1 as the day to honor saints ans martyrs. This was known as All-Saints Day. It was thought that the Pope was trying to replace the Celtoc festival with this. The celebration was alos called All-Hallows or All-Hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day)

The night of the Samhain began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.