Is it the devils birthday, if so why do we celebrate?
2006-10-14 11:02:00 · 8 answers · asked by Dr. Yasha 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Halloween
Halloween, Samhain, or All Hallows Eve is the pagan celebration before the christian "All Souls Day" (Nov 01).
Has nothing to do with "the devil" as most Celtic Pagans do not believe in the existence of such a diety. Though popularly Baphomet is confused in idolarity of christianity as is the Pentagram versus the Pentacle. Anyways, read on for why it is celebrated. Mainly it's a commercialization of something deeper in meaning, kind of like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Traditionally it originates from celtic countries as the Harvest and was a variable holiday dictated by the solstice of Fall and the last harvest before the first frost. Pagan holidays and celibrations are basically dictated by solstice or equinox {often at nights though not originally} there are 13 full moon celbrations, 8 of which are called Sabbats, which are major celebrations. The four most popular of these occasions are based on old folk festivals for the beginning of the seasons. Halloween is one of these occasions. These are duplicated in near-east cultures as well.
The longest observed Sabbats are Imbolc (Feb 2), Ostara (March 21) [Easter hence Eggs, Bunnies, and Fertility], Beltane (April 30) [May Day], Litha (June 21) [Midsummer or Summer Solstice], Lughnasadh (Aug 1) [First Harvest], Mabon (Sept 21) [Autumn Equinox], Samhain (Oct 31) pronounced Sow-in [Halloween or November Eve], and finally Yule (Dec 21) [aka Christmas]. Other christianized holiday names that are based on such celebrations include Ground-hog Day and Thanksgiving.
Many of these holidays were Christianized by the Catholic church in a way to force conversion of Pagans to a monotheistic religion while integrating the festivals that have nothing really to do with christianity itself or it's roots. This along with christian missionaries througout the world, the Salem Witch Trials, The Burning Times of Europe and Colonial Puritan America and the Malles Malefacorium were considered very successful inside The Vatican and all but extenguished pagan cultures though most traditions have lived on behind the scenes. The celebrations are intended to give structure to the year and also to remind all of the endless cycle that will continue on earth long after we're gone.
Jack-o-lanterns orignially were carved out of large white potatoes and gourds in Ireland. Candy is a symbol of harvest but has been commercialized as has Christmas. The staggering economics of all of this have completely eroded the ideals behind these cultural traditions even from a christian standpoint. Cauldrons, wands, sicles, scythes, pointed hats, and brooms, five pointed stars and crescent moons all are part of the original traditions of the celebration of what is often called Halloween.
This may raise questions about The Witch Trials of Western Europe and east coast Colonial America. It was found out through investigative forensics, to be a bacteria growing due to un-natural soil moisture conditions in the regions affected where the rye was grown and harvested, the bakers made the bread and everyone in the affected areas that ate the bread, experienced a group hallucination that resulted in usually innocent people being hunted down tried, tortured, burned, or exiled.
If you wish to know more about the original Samhain you may choose to attend a public circle by a local pagan group (Coven or Grove, Drumming group, etc.) there are several held every year around this time of year around the country. Search online to find out.
2006-10-14 11:58:59 · answer #1 · answered by ? 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Halloween is a contraction of the original term "all hallows eve". This is the night in which the veil between this world and the spirit world is the thinnest. Originally the use of masks was that if you wore one, the "evil spirits" could not tell if you were human or one of their own. It is not the devil's birthday.
2006-10-14 11:12:33 · answer #2 · answered by kat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Disney Channel is doing a week of Halloween movies in April, six months before October. It's kind of like Christmas in July.
2016-05-22 02:06:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thankyou to Scott H ...for your great answer you saved me from re-typing yet again the answer to this very good question...lol...I think I'v answered this type of question at least 5 or 6 times now...I'll probably answer it a few hundred times more in im's before the month is over.
Happy Halloween All!
Be Safe!
Blessed Be!
2006-10-14 16:23:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have found that All Hallows Eve is a night for the spirits to be resurected and join the mortal world for one night. But today many people fail to see the real tradition in this holiday, and it is widely known as a day for free candy.
2006-10-14 11:13:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its the night before saints day or all hallows so it's Hallow's Evening or hallowe'en - superstitiously as the bad spirit come out the night before because they can't be present on saints day
2006-10-14 11:10:49 · answer #6 · answered by Tallulah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can copy and paste this URL into your browser, it has excellent information regarding Halloween. I hope this helps!
2006-10-14 11:13:42 · answer #7 · answered by Purple Rose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it was done to keep wicked spirits AWay...just fun for the kids now
2006-10-14 11:04:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋