D
0
It's winter but I can't stop thinking about Halloween
The HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN dates back to ancient Celtic traditions, particularly the festival of Samhain, which was celebrated by the Celts over 2,000 years ago. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time often associated with death. Here is an overview of the history of Halloween:
Why is Halloween celebrated on October 31?
- Ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain: The ancient Celts, who inhabited areas of modern-day Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year. It was believed that during Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, and spirits could more easily enter the mortal world.
- Religious Influence: When the Roman Empire conquered the Celtic territories, elements of Roman festivals like Feralia (a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead) and Pomona (a festival honoring the Roman goddess of fruit and trees) were incorporated into the Celtic celebration of Samhain.
- Christian Influence: In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints' Day, a time to honor all saints and martyrs. The evening before All Saints' Day, which was originally known as All Hallows' Eve, eventually evolved into Halloween.
- Medieval Times: During the Middle Ages, the traditions associated with Halloween began to take shape, including elements such as souling (begging for soul cakes) and guising (dressing in costumes). These practices were a way for the poor to receive food in exchange for prayers for the dead.
- Modern Times: Halloween was brought to North America by Irish and Scottish immigrants in the 19th century. Over time, it evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by activities like trick-or-treating, costume parties, carving pumpkins, and decorating homes with spooky themes.
The ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, which occurred on November 1 but kicked off the evening before, is considered the earliest known root of our secular Halloween traditions. It marked a pivotal time of year when seasons changed, but more importantly, observers also believed the boundary between this world and the next became especially thin, enabling them to connect with the dead. This is also where the history of Halloween gains its "haunted" connotations.
As the etymology of the name suggests, Halloween has Christian roots too. Celebrations of Christian martyrs and saints date back to 4th-century Rome. In the early 7th century, Pope Boniface IV put All Saints' Day on the calendar when he dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the saints, but the day was May 13. In the next century, Pope Gregory III changed the day to November 1 when he dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica to the saints. Yet another century later, Pope Gregory IV added All Saints' Day to the universal Christian calendar, officially extending the celebration from Rome to churches everywhere.
With the Christian celebration of All Saints' Day on November 1 came All Hallows' Eve, or Halloween, on October 31, as well as All Souls' Day on November 2—a three-day holiday collectively called Hallowtide.
History of Trick-or-Treating
Borrowing from European traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.
In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes.
Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.
Black Cats and Ghosts on Halloween
Halloween has always been a holiday filled with mystery, magic and superstition. It began as a Celtic end-of-summer festival during which people felt especially close to deceased relatives and friends. For these friendly spirits, they set places at the dinner table, left treats on doorsteps and along the side of the road and lit candles to help loved ones find their way back to the spirit world.
Today’s Halloween ghosts are often depicted as more fearsome and malevolent, and our customs and superstitions are scarier too. We avoid crossing paths with black cats, afraid that they might bring us bad luck. This idea has its roots in the Middle Ages, when many people believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into black cats.
We try not to walk under ladders for the same reason. This superstition may have come from the ancient Egyptians, who believed that triangles were sacred (it also may have something to do with the fact that walking under a leaning ladder tends to be fairly unsafe). And around Halloween, especially, we try to avoid breaking mirrors, stepping on cracks in the road or spilling salt.
Why people celebrate Halloween?
Halloween is a popular holiday celebrated in many parts of the world, primarily in the Western world, including the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The origins of Halloween can be traced back to ancient Celtic festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival of Samhain. Over time, the holiday has evolved and taken on various cultural and religious influences. Here are some of the reasons why people celebrate Halloween:
- Historical significance: Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, during which people believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred. It was a time to ward off evil spirits and honor the deceased.
- Religious observances: For some, Halloween coincides with religious observances such as All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. It is a time to remember and honor saints, martyrs, and the faithful departed.
- Cultural tradition: Halloween has become a significant cultural event, especially in the United States, with various customs like trick-or-treating, costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, and decorating homes with spooky themes.
- Community and social gatherings: Halloween provides an opportunity for communities to come together through events like parades, haunted houses, and neighborhood trick-or-treating. It fosters a sense of community and encourages social interactions among people of all ages.
- Entertainment and fun: Many people celebrate Halloween simply for the enjoyment it brings. It allows individuals to dress up in costumes, engage in creative activities, and enjoy themed parties and events.
BEST MOVIE FOR HALLOWEEN (SUGGESTING)
- The autopsy of Jane Doe
- Hell House LLC
- The dark and the wicked
- As above so below
- Evil dead (2013)
- REC 1 and 2
- Rosemarys baby
- Lights out
- The Empty man
- The paranormal Activity series (some better than others)
- Babadook
- The lodge
- Conjuring 1 and 2
- It follows
- The omen (1976)
- Host (2020)
- Gonjiam Asylum
- The wailing (2016)
- Hereditary
- Ouija : Origin of evil (2018)
- Sinister
- The Visit
- Night House
- Moloch
- Speak no evil
- Mama
- Saint Maud
- The Exorcism of Emily Rose
- Deliver Us from Evil
- Aterrados (Terrified)
- The taking of Deborah Logan
ENJOY WATCHING KATZMATES! HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'ALL :3 last i suggest "Gabi ng Lagim" TOMORROW / OCTOBER 29 2023
