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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 |
Halloween
- A Celtic TraditionIn 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.