Where did the word Halloween orginate?

Answer 1

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
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The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

Answer 2

The _word_ Halloween got its origin from the Roman Catholic Church's All Saints' Day (November 1), also known as All Hallows' Day ("hallow" meaning to sanctify or make holy). October 31 was called All Hallows' Eve, and over time was shortened to Hallows' Eve, which became Hallows Evening, which became Hallowe'en, and eventually, Halloween.

Answer 3

There are many superstitions and symbols connected with the festival of Halloween, celebrated on October 31. The name "Halloween" means "hallowed evening" since it takes place before All Saints' Day. Halloween traditions originate from many countries and have been modified by different cultures over time. The Irish have a story about the origin of jack-o-lanterns. A man named Jack could not enter heaven because he was a miser, and he was unable to enter hell because he had played practical jokes on the devil. Therefore, he was left to walk the earth until Judgment Day with his lantern which was a hot coal placed in a hollowed-out turnip. The use of witches, ghosts, and cats in Halloween celebrations originates with the Druids. The Druids were an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain who believed that ghosts, spirits, fairies, witches, and elves came out on Halloween to harm people. They thought that cats had once been human beings, but were changed as punishment for their evil deeds. The Druids also took part in an autumn festival called "Samhain" (pronounced SAH-WIN) or "summers end". It was a celebration of the food which had been grown during the summer. The tradition of decorating with pumpkins, leaves, and cornstalks originates with this Druid festival. In ancient days, celtic priestesses travelled about the countryside, chanting to frighten away the evil spirits which were thought to be free to roam the earth only once a year on Halloween night. Therefore, this is believed to be the origin of the Halloween parade. Trick or treating had its origins in the practice of "souling", where people visited homes and offered prayers for the dead in return for gifts of food.

Answer 4

Halloween originated among the Celts in Ireland, Britain and France as the Pagan Celtic harvest festival.

The term Halloween, and its older spelling Hallowe'en, is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the evening before "All Hallows' Day" also known as "All Saints' Day.

Halloween is also called Pooky Night in some parts of Ireland, presumably named after the púca, a mischievous spirit.

Answer 5

The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year.

Answer 6

it's a word made/taken from the date.
31st October is All Hallows Eve.
over time it appeared as halloween.

Answer 7

From All Hallows Eve I think. Something about Hallows being spirits etc.

Sorry I'm not that much help.

Answer 8

From 'All Hallows Eve!'
An Ancient Celtic ritual celebrating the night of the Dead!

Answer 9

The Pagan celebration of 'All Hallows Eve' otherwise known as Samhain.

How could it be a christian holiday if it was changed in 5BC? BC means 'Before Christ', and therefore, before Christianity.

Answer 10

"All Hallows Eve" aka day of the dead. The Spanish in Spain play tops with a spinning top.It's decorated with skeletons and stuff.