2006-10-22 04:58:59 · 10 answers · asked by rahrah 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Halloween
All Hallows day more commonly called All Saints Day.
Common commemorations by several churches of the death of martyrs began to be celebrated in the 4th century. The first trace of a general celebration is attested in Antioch on the Sunday after Pentecost. This custom is also referred to in the 74th homily of John Chrysostom (407) and is maintained to the present day in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Irish also maintained this date, but the German church began the custom of celebrating it on November 1. (It was once commonly held to be fixed by the date of Samhain, but as Samhain was a pagan Irish feast, the German origin makes this claim dubious.) It spread from there until the date of festival was universally changed to November 1 by Pope Gregory III (731–741). He designated November 1 as the date of the anniversary of the consecration of a chapel in St. Peter's for the relics "of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors, of all the just made perfect who are at rest throughout the world". By the time of the reign of Charlemagne, the November festival of All Saints was widely celebrated. November 1 was decreed a day of obligation by the Frankish king Louis the Pious in 835 issued "at the instance of Pope Gregory IV and with the assent of all the bishops."
2006-10-22 05:04:44 · answer #1 · answered by nevyn55025 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Catholics call November 1st "All Saints' Day", which celebrates Christian martyrs.
The name Halloween comes from "All Hallow's Eve" which precedes All Saints Day. The celebration has much of its root in the Celtic Pagan holy day Samhain, which is a day/night to celebrate and remember the dead of the previous years. It is also associated with the death of the God and is considered the last harvest festival and the end of the Celtic Year. Tradition holds that Halloween is the night where the Veil between the worlds is thinnest and both good and bad spirits can return for a short visit. Lighting candles is supposed to serve two functions: ward off the evil spirits and invite the good in for a cuppa.
Lots of things have turned it into what we know it as now. The Church putting its own stamp on a Pagan holy day created the demonizing effect, making it into something we associate evil with, rather than its original intent. The disguises are worn to scare away all spirits, not just evil spirits. The candy companies (yay for candy corn!) have, of course, turned this into a candy holiday. Carving pumpkins was originally an Irish tradition, in which they carved turnips to make lanterns. LOL. The whole day is very Irish - food and celebration being the keys.
2006-10-22 05:20:17 · answer #2 · answered by Shadowspun 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Halloween and the day after halloween are All Souls and All Saints Days. Halloween is an adaptation of a feast celebrated in Central America, do a Google search on the history of.
2006-10-22 05:16:51 · answer #3 · answered by likes Eeyore 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The day after Halloween is All Saints Day, it's the day that gives Halloween its name: Hallows Eve
2006-10-22 05:08:18 · answer #4 · answered by Mongrel w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
November 1. I don't remember exactly, but it started with homosexuals believe it or not. A long time ago when they were not accepted at all, they were able to dress as the opposite sex on Halloween. This was mainly in San Fransisco, CA. I'm not sure if that answers your question but there's a fun fact for you.
2006-10-22 05:10:01 · answer #5 · answered by black_star_47001 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Halloween stands for All Hallows E'en (evening); it is the day before All Hallows Day, or All Saints Day. It originated in the British Isles as the counterpoint to All Saints Day, for making mischief.
2006-10-22 05:06:31 · answer #6 · answered by byhisello99 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All Saint's Day....
Halloween was orginally made as a pagan holiday to celebrate the lives of the dead that had passed that year......
i believe it came from England...but don't quote me on that one....
2006-10-22 05:07:05 · answer #7 · answered by myheartisjames 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
November 1st
2006-10-22 05:00:20 · answer #8 · answered by Sloth for President 2012 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All saints day.... it was originaly made so that people could worship the devil and evil ways...check the bible.....
2006-10-22 05:06:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anna-Banana 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
all souls day
2006-10-22 05:03:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋