5 of 21

Write now Article Tools

The holiday of 'All Hallows (hallowed means sanctified or holy), or 'All Saints Day' which is celebrated on November First, is traditionally a Christian celebration, but the evening before, know as 'All Hallows Eve' has its roots in pagan rites, Subsequently, All Hallows Eve became Hallow Evening, which became Hallowe'en with its roots in -an ancient Celtic, pre-Christian New Year's Day

Many customs that are practiced today on Halloween probably date before the advent of Christianity. Pagan Druid and Celtic priests in ancient Britain and Gaul (Modern day France) used to celebrate an autumn festival called Samhain, or ' summer's end'. The festival of Samhain was the devotion of the Celtic peoples celebrating the end of the harvest season, and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year". The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31 the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The Celtic Druid and Gael festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them. On that day all manner of beings were abroad: ghosts, fairies, and demons-all part of the dark and dread.

Through the years this custom prevailed and on Halloween in this age costumes and masks are in fashion for both adults and children when they celebrate the holiday.

The traditional carved pumpkin, lit by a candle inside, is one of Halloween's most prominent symbols in America, and is commonly called a jack-o'-lantern. An old Irish legend tells of a wicked man named Stingy Jack, a greedy hard drinking farmer who trick the devil into climbing a tree and then trapped him by carving a cross on the trunk. Afterwards in revenge the devil condemned Jack to wander forever throughout the world with only a light by a candle in a hollow turnip.

Halloween is now the United States' second most popular holiday (after Christmas) where adult party in costumes; children in varied costumes walk through their neighborhood in 'trick or treating' and treats are usually a bag of candy and/or homemade treats. Houses are decorated with dried ears of corns (ancient ritual to celebrate the harvest), and figures of black cats, ghost, ghouls etc. Children's parties on that day have the custom of bobbing for apples that harken back to the original harvest holiday of Samhain.

To all Have a happy Halloween

Learn more about this author, Norman A. Rubin.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The origin of Halloween?
We want to hear your view. Write now!