Halloween and its foundation

The origination of Halloween dates back to the origination of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts were the people who lived about 2000 years ago in Ireland, United Kingdom and north of France. The Celts celebrated their new year on the 1st of November. The 1st of November was the day which was considered to mark the end of summer and the beginning of the winter season or in other words the dark season, it was considered as the season wherein most of the deaths occurred. The Celts assumed and were under the belief that the night preceding the New Year was a night wherein the borders of the living and the ghost world became very light. Hence on that night they celebrated Samhain, it was celebrated under the belief that the ghosts of the dead people would return back on the earth. The spirits of the other world would not only pose some kind of trouble to the people but they would also damage the crops. There was also a belief among the Celts that the spirits which belonged to the other world made it easier for the priests to make the future prediction. Predictions play an important role in the life of the people who are completely dependant on the changing natural world, as these predictions act as an important source of comfort and they provide a sense of direction for the dark winter season.

To celebrate this event, the Celts built large bonfires where they gathered and sacrificed the animals and crops to their deities. In the course of the celebrations Celts dressed in clothes which consisted of animal heads and skins. During this event the people belonging to the Celts community attempted to make the future predictions for each other. In the evening the bonfire is extinguished and as the celebration gets over the bonfire is relit from the holy bonfire which in turn would protect them from all the evils which the winter would bring.

The Romans had acquired the majority of the territory of Celts, during the course of the four hundred years which they ruled over the Celts two of the most exciting festivals of the Romans were included in the traditional celebration of Samhain. The first festival was Feralia, which is celebrated on a day in the late October where in the Romans remembered the dead people. The second event which was combined with the earlier festival was the day wherein they honored the Roman goddess of Fruits and trees, Pomona. The apple fruit symbolizes the Roman goddess Pomona and the inclusion of this celebration into the festival of Samhain, has contributed to the tradition of “bobbing” for apples which is practiced and followed in the Halloween celebration.

In the 800’s the land of the Celts were almost under the influence of Christianity. Pope Boniface was the person who declared the 1st of November as All Saints' Day. On this day the saints and the martyrs would be honored. The Celtic festival of commemorating the dead was being replaced by an event that remembered the Pope; this was the belief that prevailed. It was a holiday declared on the grounds of a church related event. Thus the celebration was referred to as All-hallows which means All Saints Day and the preceding night began to be celebrated as All-hallows Eve which is now referred to as Halloween.

Usha is a Copywriter of Sexy halloween Costume.She written many articles in various topics such as costumes store,child scary halloween costumes. For more information visit: www.halloweenfantasy.com. Contact her at usharani.articles@gmail.com

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