Does anyone know the true origin of Halloween and if so why do you choose to celebrate?

Answer 1

Halloween was originally called All Hallow's Eve. It was the night when the spirits rose. People carved out gourds, put a candle in them, and placed them on tombstones to guide the spirits. The first Jack-o-lanterns. Some dressed as ghouls or witches to fool the evil spirits, which begun the tradition of costumes.

Answer 2

Sorry yet you have been misinformed related to the origins of Hallowe'en. there is no information that any Celtic trip or dinner occasion day pre-dated the Christian pageant. It, Samhain (November) dinner occasion, would not seem in any thoughts till evidently in the time of Irish myths 2 hundred years after all Saints Day replace into all started and 400 years after eire grew to alter into Christian. All Saints got here first. Easter might nicely be hint little question to its roots in the bible and in the JEWISH Passover. Christmas on Dec twenty 5th replace into all started in Rome via Christians who prevented the Roman feasts - Roman calendars from in the previous this time instruct NO dinner occasion on December twenty 5th. Christmas, Easter and Halloween have been all initially Christian and in maximum worldwide places they nevertheless are.

Answer 3

I celebrate Halloween because no one is sad or fighting like they do on Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas. Halloween is a happy time for me. Children are out with their parents or brothers and sisters and friends and everyone is happy.

Answer 4

Whatever the roots of Halloween may be, "All Saints Day" is celebrated at my Methodist church, by a solemn remembrance of all those of our congregation and friends, who have died since last All Saints day. We stand to give thanks for the influence they had on our lives and to celebrate their lives.
A flower is on the altar for each one. At the benediction this year we quietly spoke the names of other loved ones and friends who were gone...as a personal memorial to them.

Answer 5

Yes, I do. It gives me a special chance to remember and honor all of my loved ones who've Crossed Over.

Happy Halloween!
Blessed Be! )O(

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Answer 6

i celebrate Halloween just to get candies.

Answer 7

I don't celebrate it.

HISTORICAL ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN

Ancient Celtic Pagans

For many centuries before Christianity, the pagan Celts in ancient Britain and Ireland celebrated the eve and day of their New Year, called the Samhain, on October 31st. In the Celtic language, Samhain (or Samain) meant “End of Summer”.

During Samhain Eve, it was believed that the world of the gods became visible to mankind, and that they played many tricks on their mortal worshipers; it was a time loaded with danger, fear, and supernatural episodes. The Celts made sacrifices and offerings to ward off the perils of the season and the anger of the deities.

Samhain was also the Day of the Dead. During it, it was believed that the souls of those who had died during the year were allowed access into the “land of the dead”.

Furthermore, the ancient Celts believed that on that evening the Lord of the Dead called forth hosts of evil spirits, and the souls of the dead were believed to revisit their homes. Thus, Samhain acquired sinister significance, with spirits, ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons said to be roaming about. Huge bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits.

In addition, being the last evening of the year, Samhain Eve was regarded as a most favorable time for examining the portents of the future. Divinations were performed concerning marriage, luck, health, and death; and the devil’s help was invoked for such purposes.


Romans and Early Christians

After the Romans conquered Britain, they added to Samhain features of the Roman harvest festival, held on November 1st in honor of Pomona, goddess of tree fruits.

The pagan practices influenced the Christian festival of Halloween (Hallow-Eve), celebrated on the same date (October 31st), and elements of the Samhain festival were incorporated into it. Hallow-Eve (or All Hallows’ Eve) is the Christian festival of the night preceding All Saints’ (Hallows’) Day, celebrated on November 1st in the Western churches.

In some parts of Europe, the people continued to believe that on this night the dead walked among them, and that witches and warlocks flew in their midst. Thus, bonfires were lit to ward off those malevolent spirits.

Therefore, most historians consider Samhain the predecessor of Halloween, which has preserved many of the practices and beliefs of its precursor: Samhain.


Contemporary Europe and America

By the 19th century, witches’ pranks were replaced by children’s tricks. Immigrants to the U.S., particularly the Irish, introduced Halloween customs that became popular in the late 19th century. Boys and young men performed mischievous acts on this occasion, often causing severe damage to properties.

Halloween thus gradually became a secular observance, and additional customs and practices developed, many of which turning to games played by children and young adults. In recent years, the occasion has come to be observed mainly by small children; they go from house to house, often in costume, demanding “trick-or-treat”. The treat, often candy, is generally given, and the trick is rarely played.

Many traditional beliefs and customs associated with Samhain, however, continue to be practiced on the 31st of October. Most notably, the practice of leaving offerings of food and drink (now candy) to masked and costumed revelers, and the lighting of bonfires. A common symbol of Halloween is the jack-o-lantern, which is a hollowed-out pumpkin carved in the appearance of a demonic face and with a lighted candle fixed inside.


Satan Worship

Since Halloween was largely based on rituals involving dead spirits and devil worship, it now represents, among other things, a most sacred day for the devil worshipers.

Because of this sinister nature, many devout Christians condemn the Halloween festival. They realize that the spiritual forces that some people experience during this festival are indeed real, but are manifestations of Satan. Thus, they reject the customs associated with Halloween, including all symbols of the dead (ghosts, vampires, and human skeletons), the devil, and other malevolent and evil creatures.

Answer 8

Do you?
I do and that is WHY I celebrate.
Peace )O(