The 'real' history of Halloween....

[Nicos]

Just thought I'd point out that tomorrow is All Souls day.
In France it is a holiday when people remember their departed friends and family.
Chrysanthemums are taken to the cemetery in their memory.

I did a bit of Googling- and came up with a history of Halloween- for those who are intersted...

"Behind the name... Halloween, or the Hallow E'en as they call it in Ireland , means All Hallows Eve, or the night before the 'All Hallows', also called 'All Hallowmas', or 'All Saints', or 'All Souls' Day, observed on November 1.

In old English the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctify'. Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherians used to observe All Hallows Day to honor all Saints in heaven, known or unknown.
They used to consider it with all solemnity as one of the most significant observances of the Church year. And Catholics, all and sundry, was obliged to attend Mass. The Romans observed the holiday of Feralia, intended to give rest and peace to the departed. Participants made sacrifices in honor of the dead, offered up prayers for them, and made oblations to them. The festival was celebrated on February 21, the end of the Roman year.
In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saints' Day to replace the pagan festival of the dead. It was observed on May 13. Later, Gregory III changed the date to November 1.
The Greek Orthodox Church observes it on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

Despite this connection with the Roman Church, the American version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called "Samhain", celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with cow. In Ireland the festival was known as Samhein, or La Samon, the Feast of the Sun.
In Scotland, the celebration was known as Hallowe'en.
In Welsh it's Nos Galen-gaeof (that is, the Night of the Winter Calends. According to the Irish English dictionary published by the Irish Texts Society: "Samhain, All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times, signalizing the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season, lasting till May



I will be thinking of my father, grandparents and Uncle. xx


However you spend the day- I hope it's a good one

[Mrs Dobby]

Samhain Greetings to one and all!

Pretty much a spot on description there Nicos, tho I would say that the Christian festival is definitely derived from the older Pagan Festival all over the world, not just as the Americans celebrate it! Everything from the date through to the whole range of correspondances and images associated with Halloween can be found to have its roots in the older Pagan celebration. The veils between worlds are supposed to be at their thinnest tonight, and it is a night when the ancestors can once again walk the earth in spirit form, a time they can visit the living and renew the bonds of love that exist beyond the grave!

Today we'll be attending the allotment Bonfire and BBQ, after which we will be performing a little rite to honour our beloved dead, those we know who have passed on and those who are our ancestors, along with leaing a small offering of food for them.

However you celebrate it, have a happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain!

[OllieMartin]

Good info.

Also, my understanding is that Pope Gregory moved All Saints' Day from May to 1st November to override the pagan festival. The two days were once celebrated at the same time.

[ginger ninger]

That was a very interesting read Nicos, Thank you, I too will be thinking of my Mum and both sets of Grand-parents.
Happy Halloween Everyone. xx

[pigletwillie]

Today is, in my world, "All Souls Eve" and tonight I will sit and think of those I still love who are no longer with me.

One companion in particular, who had such strength of character, personality and life-force that earlier this week I swear he was in the room with me. Such a strong feeling I had to sit down for a few moments. Such loves never leaves.

The true meaning of Halloween or All souls eve has nothing to do then, with the modern dross it has turned into which seems to aim to scare people silly and show no respect for the dead.

[Hilary B]

Halloween being the night BEFORE ''All Saints day" was often seen as an excuse for all sorts of... unsaintly things.
In fact All Souls Day is the 2nd ('the day of the dead'), NOT the same as All Saints Day, although most church celebrations put both together. Tomorrow evening I am joining the choir at the Anglican church. Not my church, but we do have 'choir sharing' here.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks for that useful, interesting information Nicos. I shall now respect the correct reasons for halloween.
Bernie

[Lovage]

Very interesting = confirms my view that modern hallowen is just an American marketing ploy, 'Happy halloween ' and all that junk is such a load of carp

[Dal]

Despite this connection with the Roman Church, the American version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called "Samhain",

Here in New Zealand, it's Beltane (Beltaine, Belltaine, Bealtaine, Beltain, Beltine, Bealteine, Bealtuinn, Boaldyn), meaning 'bright fire' or 'lucky fire' and celebrates the looking forward to the start of summer, the crop and pasturing season.
For all that, people are celebrating Halloween even though it's right out of season for us.

[Dal]

The true meaning of Halloween or All souls eve has nothing to do then, with the modern dross it has turned into which seems to aim to scare people silly and show no respect for the dead.

There are still faint traces of the original celebration to be seen, even in the modern commercialisation of the festival. Samhain was considered to be one of the times when the veil 'between the worlds' was at its thinnest, thus allowing the spirits of the departed to revisit us. Not all of the spirits were friendly! Thus, in Scotland anyway, people would dress up and go around the villages playing not so very nice tricks on people, which led to the modern day trick or treat. Very few people these days really know what they're celebrating, thanks to, as someone else said, the American commercialisation of it all.