True Origins of Halloween, Do You Know What They Are?

All Hallow’s Eve falls on October 31 every year, and is the day just prior to All Hallow’s Day, otherwise known as All Saints’ Day, as far as the Christian calendar is concerned. On All Hallow’s Eve, churches used to hold vigils, and the parishioners would then pray and fast to prepare themselves for the next day.

‘Hallowed’ means sanctified or holy, and is now commonly connect with the word ‘Halloween’.

It is believed that many Halloween traditions have evolved from an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain, which is pronounced sow-in. Samhain is a Gaelic word meaning ‘end of the summer’. This festival’s origins were believed to have been a celebration of the end of harvest, and a time to prepare for the coming winter. This custom seems to still be observed by many who farm and raise livestock; and bonfires have played a large part in festivities celebrated throughout the centuries. Most Pagans consider this to be a holy time of year, or the ‘Pagan New Year’. “To most modern Pagans, while death is still the central theme of the festival this does not mean it is a morbid event. For Pagans, death is not a thing to be feared. Old age is valued for it’s wisdom and dying is accepted as a part of life as necessary and welcome as birth. While Pagans, like people of other faiths, always honour and show respect for their dead, this particularly marked at Samhain. Loved ones who have recently died are remembered and their spirits often invited to join the living in the celebratory feast.” – BBC Religions – Paganism: Samhain

No matter whether you consider Halloween a holy day, or just a day of fun, there is no other day during the year quite like it. Whatever traditions your family might follow, remember to stay safe and watch out for the trick-or-treaters on this haunting holiday.

The Library of Congress, The American Folklife Center


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