2006-10-31 05:31:29 · 11 answers · asked by lauretathar 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Halloween
In the ancient (pre-Christian) days, perhaps. Caesar made some commentary about there being human sacrifice, typically via burning in a "wicker man" cage - but Caesar was also trying to drum up support for a war against the Celts, so the accuracy is questionable. There's evidence that there was some level of human sacrifice in the Celtic world, but it doesn't appear to have been commonplace.
Animal sacrifice was potentially then; given that Samhain is a harvest festival (to a certain extent), there would have been a culling of the herd in preparation for winter. So, there would have likely been some butchering at some time near the celebrations, though, honestly, I expect that wouldn't have taken place *at* the celebrations - far too messy if you're dealing with multiple animals.
In terms of modern celebrations, there's no known modern human sacrifices, and modern animal sacrifices are exceptionally rare.
2006-11-01 01:30:22 · answer #1 · answered by ArcadianStormcrow 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's possible. Who knows. Who cares. Lots of ancient groups practiced human sacrifice. I personally have no problem with this. I'm glad it's not fashionable today, but what can you do about yesteryear? Not a thing. I don't see any reason to pick out Samhain as a particular occasion for it though. That would be more likely to happen at the beginning of the planting season than the end of the harvest season.
There was absolutely animal sacrifice. The weakest animals in the herd were culled as part of the Samhain rituals and the meat divided up among the people.
I'm sorry if this offends the fluffies, but it's true.
2006-10-31 14:29:42 · answer #2 · answered by kaplah 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No- this was a time that acknowledged the beginning of the winter and dead spirits. It was thought by these people that the souls of the dead were closest on this night. This was the time to acknowlege the departed and also guard against evil spirits - since there is both good and bad in this world, the same duality exists in the outerworld. This idea of ancestor worship and guarding against evil spirits is evident in many other separate cultures, such as those found in Asia. For example, the winter's end Japanese celebration of Setsubun (which involves the scaring away of evil and bad luck) could be thought of as the "Japanese Halloween." Some Asian cultures also include ancestor worship (such as in China) and even have certain times of the year that food is left out for the departed.
No evidence has been found of human sacrifice during the Celtic festival of Samhain. It is generally believed that this is related to other natural pagan religious rites we see today. It also has nothing to do with the devil, who didn't show up in England until the Bible did.
Hope this helps.
2006-10-31 13:49:46 · answer #3 · answered by Robert A 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, that is a myth, and a piece of propaganda used by some people who think that Wiccans (and other Pagan groups that celebrate this holiday) worship the Christian Devil. It is utterly false, and nothing more than rumors driven by misunderstanding.
Peace Out and Blessed Be (This is the Pagan equivalent of 'God Bless')
)O(
24 y.o. Pagan College Student
2006-11-01 19:49:21 · answer #4 · answered by Phoenix Summersun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there was never anything used like that in true Wicca. Animals are sacred, and they definitly do NOT sacrifice people.
All of those types of things were made up to make witchcraft/paganism look bad. If you pick up any credible book on Wicca you will see that it is nothing people make it out to be.
2006-10-31 13:40:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Jews were said to sacrifice babies , Christians were saqid to sacrifice babies, Witches were said to sacrifice babies. It just depends on who is telling the story. It is like any other urban legend, no one knows where it started or how it started. Each religious group seems to want to destroy the other so they start vicious rumors
2006-10-31 13:41:13 · answer #6 · answered by DRAGON LADY 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
that thought came from the practice of burning a wicker effigy (figure) of a man in a great bonfire to celebrate the passing of The God. no humans where sacrificed.
2006-10-31 15:21:36 · answer #7 · answered by liz b 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, nor were there animal sacrifices. That is a myth that was used to villify Pagans.
We worship nature; why would we harm any creature like that?
2006-10-31 13:33:53 · answer #8 · answered by fiveshiftone 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
yes there was,the ancient celt`s invented halloween in order to scare away the bad spirits so they could have a good harvest
2006-10-31 13:39:04 · answer #9 · answered by krusty_blue_spaz 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
more than likely animal
2006-10-31 13:34:26 · answer #10 · answered by nicole 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋