halloween its an english celebration or just american?

Answer 1

Halloween originated in Ireland, England and France, 2000 years ago, long before America was even dreamed of.

However, it is not celebrated much in it's original countries, and has become a part of American traditions, probably taken to America by the original immigrants.


Ancient Origins

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
Door

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.

Answer 2

It's actually a Pagan celebration (Samhain, pronounced Sow'ain) and marks the start of the Pagan New Year. It's also the time of year when the veil between ours and the spirit plane is said to be the thinnest, hence it is the easiest time to contact those gone before..
So not really English or American, it's non-national, although Americans are said to celebrate it more than us Brits. I disagree. My family celebrate it, we hang decorations, carve pumpkins, trick or treat AND lay a place at the dinner table for family members who have passed, where we remember them. It's a Pagan festival, after all :)

Answer 3

It's an old Celtic (European) festival marking the drawing in of winter that was adopted by the early christian church (same as Christmas & easter).
The Americans did most of the comercialisation, but it is not their invention: it's definitely big in Ireland.
I think the reason the English don't have much time for it is because it's so close to bonfire night: which isn't celebrated outside England.

EDIT: Ooops... and as loreleilee says above, it was originaly called 'Samhain'.

Answer 4

Halloween is a pagan festival that started before the USA was discovered (or discovered again, depending on who's story you accept). I would say that it was a European thing which was taken over to the colonies who then blew it out of all proportions.

What's the next question going to be..... is Bonfire Night just an American thing?

Answer 5

Its a British and Irish celebration originally - British meaning Welsh, Scots English etc.

The pagan Celtic Britons and Irish celebrated their new year on 31st October (known as "Samhain") - they would dress up and go "guising" (similar to trick or treat), carve lanterns out of turnips and swedes, play games, light bonfires, bob for apples etc.

There were regional variations in how it was celebrated but it was basically a smiliar celebration all over the British Isles.

It fell out of favour with the Christians however and died down very much in Britain at least although I beleive it carried on in some form in Ireland much longer.

The emigrants who went to America took it with them - they substitued pumpkins for turnips, changed guising into trick or treat and made much more of the festival.

Its now been "re-sold" back accross the Atlantic and today tends to be celebrated here in the UK in a very American form - all Pumpkins, trick or treat, parties etc although its nowhere near as big in Britain as it is in America.

I think the shops just realised it was a money maker they were missing out on.

Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes night, which is celebrated mostly in England and Wales, is totally unconnected to Halloween, although the bonfire might have some distant connection. It originally celebrated the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot in 1606 (I beleive - not sure of the year) when a group of disaffected Catholics led by Guido "Guy" Fawkes - a Catholic convert - tried to blow up the houses of Parliament (basically like the modern day Muslim terrorists on 7/7 trying to blow up London!) . They were caught and executed. People celebrated by burning effigies of the Pope and Guy Fawkes

Kids still make "Guys" out of old clothes etc and stuff them with newspaper - they often decorate them as Tony Blair or Osama Bin Laden or George Bush or their most disliked teacher at school - whatever modern day figure they want to "burn"!! In the week before Bonfire Night they sit in the street with their "Guy" and beg "penny for the Guy" from passers by.

On Bonfire Night itself people get together to have firework displays, bonfires (onto which the "Guy" is thrown - this could be symblic of the older pagan festival of Samhain in which the "old year" was said to die and sometimes is rumoured to have been accompanied by human sacrifice), eat jacket potatoes, toffee and hot chocolate - this celebration is no longer political, just an excuse to get together with you mates, light bonfires, let off fireworks, eat good food and brighten up a cold autumn evening! I love Bonfire Night!

Answer 6

Halloween is a lot bigger in America than in other places. It has its origins in Europe, but we're the ones who really celebrate it in a big way.

People in other countries are catching on to the fun, though. Yay for us. We know how to have fun. Except for the creepy religious fundamentalists. I bet they're all like Carrie's mom - you know, in the movie.

Shreiking about the Satan and demons and probably even wearing one of those funny black shrouds.

Answer 7

Halloween is the final holiday around for many persons. unfastened candy, gown up like a monster, whats there to no longer love approximately it?? certainly, maximum individuals do no longer care the place the holiday originated or what it meant, purely what it ability to them. we don't need motives for holiday journeys, we merely savor them despite the fact that conceivable.

Answer 8

It started in America with the Puritans. They believed in the myths of witches riding around on broomsticks looking for a town to take over. On the night before All Saints Day, which was a day of fasting and prayer, they would dress up as witches to convince any witches flying around overhead that their town was already occupied. This left the town, safe for their day of prayer. I don't know if the tradition started here or if they brought it with them.

Answer 9

halloween is old pagan english tradition the americans nicked it and glammed it up.

Answer 10

Both, but American's do seem to make a much bigger thing out of it.