by Lynn Smythe

Created on: January 02, 2008   Last Updated: September 10, 2009

Celebrating Halloween
Halloween has become the United States second biggest holiday, in terms of dollars spent, after Christmas. Have you ever wondered how the traditions associated with Halloween first got their start?

The familiar images of apples, pumpkins, and broomsticks remain icons of our modern celebration of this holiday. Many of these symbols have a connection to traditions that have long been forgotten. Long before this holiday became associated with children in costumes asking their neighbors for candy treats this festival was a time of reflection, both of events that had occurred during the past year and of loved ones who had recently passed away.

Why "Halloween"?
Halloween can trace its roots back to Samhain (pronounced sow-in, which rhymes with cow) which was an ancient Celtic festival day that was celebrated throughout Britain in parts of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales on October 31st. Samhain was a festival that marked the end of the summer harvest and the beginning of the winter season. The Celtic people followed a lunar based calendar and their days ran from sunset to sunset. Thus the festival of Samhain was celebrated from sundown on October 31st through sundown on November 1st. The Celtic New Year occurred the day after Samhain and was celebrated from sundown on November 1st through sundown on November 2nd.

The Celts were an ancient tribe of people who inhabited parts of central and western Europe including most of Britain and who can be dated back to approximately 400 BC. The Holy Roman Empire eventually conquered the majority of Celtic occupied lands by the first century AD. Many of the Celts traditions, such as Samhain, became incorporated or adopted into Roman customs.

During the Middle Ages (~5th to 15th century) the Roman Catholic church tried to modify many of the old pagan festivals, such as Samhain, into more acceptable forms of celebration. In the early ninth century November 1st was designated All Saint's Day in honor of all the Catholic saints. And sometime around 988 AD November 2nd was designated All Soul's Day as a time to pay respect to and remember the souls of your recently deceased friends and family. This holy day was a attempt by the church at replacing Samhain with a more acceptable festival. People celebrated with a mass, bonfires, and by parading through their village after dressing up as angels and saints.

Magical Flying Broomsticks
Today, the broomstick conjures the mood of Halloween for young revelers and is another

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