[12dargernswearf]

Ancient Origins

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.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

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. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, 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.

[Agitoligflise]

Spoken like the Frenchmen we've all come to admire and respect.

Most parents are taking their children to school, or other, functions. At least here they are.

[GaxyGroordrep]

those are lame. In response to Slowws post.

I remember when I was a kid they had a big scare one year about men putting razors and pins in the candy. So one year I ended up doing some school function. Lame.

Cool kids risk getting run over by a car, kidnapped, or poisoned by some lunatic.

I never went with my parents (it didn't help I had irresponsible parents). never wore reflective clothing (defeats the purpose of a costume), or did anything safe. And I turned out okay.

[Grapappytek]

Originally posted by Kaak
I'm probably a moron for asking this, but do they celebrate halloween in europe? Can't speak for other Euro countries - in Germany "not officially" )like x-mas or so), but it became more popular in recent years and will probably continue to do so, although partly because of media hype and due to the fact it means good business.

[Paul Bunyan]

ahhh yes, soon the whole world will be americanized.

Yes I know the origins of halloween. But seriously, it was the americans who turned it into what it is.

[violalmina]

I have never dressed up or did anything for halloween.

A few times at parties I wore an Hawaii shirt and claimed I was dressed up.. so I should I say I never did any fancy dress up.

JM

[Poothevokprot]

My favorite adult Halloween costume:


I had the chicken hat. So I painted my face white, and wore a white shirt and told everyone I got laid for Halloween.

The following year I wore a Kiss t-shirt (ya know the band) and a french beret, and went as a French Kiss.

[Tic Tac Took]

I don't think we consider Halloween to be an American import in Britain. Dis will be claiming that George III was invented by America next.

[temansertewek]

Originally posted by Kaak
I'm probably a moron for asking this, but do they celebrate halloween in europe? Not really. It's catching on though via people watching American TV shows or hearing about on the internet.

[Dodoerabe]

Halloween is quite big here, partly because (unlike the UK) Bonfire Night is not celebrated (no prizes for guessing why ).

It's quite a relief compared to the UK actually. The shops all sell Halloween stuff during October and don't start getting Xmas stock in until November - unlike their UK counterparts that start the Xmas stuff at the end of August!

[naturaherbal]

shameless promotion of my state.

It's also my state's birthday.

[chuecalovers]

Originally posted by Dis
I remember when I was a kid they had a big scare one year about men putting razors and pins in the candy. So one year I ended up doing some school function. Lame.

Those have all turned out to be false. Only one pin ever turned up, and that was put there by the father himself. Snopes can be useful sometimes. Although the rumors of dangerous things in the candy seem very much a part of Halloween tradition itself. After all, it is supposed to be a scary holidy.

[nuveem7070]

You're supposed to dress up in costume, preferably a scary one.

[Bigroza]

Originally posted by Grandpa Troll


Wittlich were you at Bleidorn Kasserne?

(Its been 26 years so I am a little forgetful of all the Kasserne's in USAREUR)

Gramps No, I was stationed at Einsiedlerhof Air Station - it was a joint US Army/US Air Force (USAEUR/USAFE)assignment - my "unit" was called "The Warrior Preparation Center" (a computer wargaming facility). In my 20 years of service, that place was my favorite assignment. Ended up spending 6 years there. I wanted to stay longer, but the Army told me it was time for me to head back to the states.