More and more people are decorating and celebrating halloween. It has become almost as popular as the Christmas decorations & celebrations all over the place, parties, etc..
can anyone tell me where and when people began to celebrate HALLOWEEN. Was it a religious rite at the beginning or a commercial idea for business purposes? I wonder?
Personnally, I like it because it is kind of colorful.
2006-10-27 19:31:41 · 9 answers · asked by montralia 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Halloween
the celts. it was to them Samhain. the day to rever your dead friends, reletives and kings. it was supposed to be the night when the veil between life and death was the thinnest so they set dinner for the dead and invited all their spirits to join them in a life pastime once again. the catholics came along and tried to stomp it out but they couldnt so they made november first all saints day. the reason that they hand out candy to kids dressed up was based on the dinner for the dead, kids dress as witches and ghosts and so on , and beg for treats, so that they go away and dont wreak havoc on you, well the dinner for the dead was to make them welcome and not shun them, if you shunned them they might beset you with haunting and ill luck.
2006-10-27 21:14:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Celts originated it about 2500 years ago but the Druid priesthood practiced human sacrifice. They carved pumpkins and took it around to every persons home or castle and demanded that whoever was in charge of the home give one of their family members or members of their household to them to be sacrificed. If the house refused to give up the member the priest cursed the house and someone in the household would die that night. If they gave them the person the priest would leave a pumpkin as a sign to the demon spirits not to kill anyone there.
By the way, the "offerings to the spirits" were someones child, parent, or spouse. I'm not the least surprised that the Romans and/or Catholic church suppressed this cult.
Whether you believe that there are demons or not is beside the point. The Druids practiced human sacrifice and ruled over everyone, including the Lords in their manors with an iron fist. No one could escape from them and everyone was terrified of them. They were implacable, sadistic, and cruel. This is not a group anyone in their right mind would want to emulate. People who join a Druid style pagan cult are crazy.
2006-10-28 06:29:45 · answer #2 · answered by Ellen J 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was originally a couple of pagan traditions. The Celts celebrated Samhain, a festival for the dead and the harvest, and the Romans had the feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruit and abundance . As the Roman Empire spread, the holidays were consolidated with elements of both and probably other traditions picked up elsewhere in Europe. After Europe became Christian, the name was changed to All Hallows Eve because it was the eve of All Saints (or Hallows, hallow meaning holy) Day and was shortened to Halloween. The traditions changed somewhat because the Christian Church would not allow offerings to the dead but people could still honor their departed loved ones and practice superstitions to keep the dead from rising. Our Halloween customs come fairly directly from the old traditions.
2006-10-28 02:44:55 · answer #3 · answered by Kuji 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
All Hallows Eve (Hallowe'en) originated around the pagan holiday Samhain (pronounce sowan) which meant "summer's end" and was the night where the gates between the world of the living and the world of the dead were open.
2006-10-28 02:36:57 · answer #4 · answered by Jim P 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I DONT KNOW BUT I LOVE LOVE LOVE HOLLOWEEN! ITS JUST AS COOL AS CHRISTMAS!
but i think it sated out a long time ago when people belived that oct. 31 was the devils birthday or something
2006-10-28 02:52:34 · answer #5 · answered by Gabriela 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just start puting up decorations when u see other people putying up their stuff.
2006-10-28 02:38:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It originated in Ireland 3000 years ago (History Channel), but I don't know why.
2006-10-28 02:34:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The answer to any holiday question is always Pagan-related.
2006-10-28 02:35:26 · answer #8 · answered by jit bag 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you'll buy it, they will sell it.... people have TOO much time and liquid cash on their hands.
2006-10-28 02:36:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋