2006-10-31 11:21:21 · 7 answers · asked by don d 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Halloween
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.
2006-10-31 11:30:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Australia
2006-10-31 19:30:49 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was originally a Pagen holiday and then the Catholics made it more religious by calling it All Saints Eve (or all Hollows Eve) and then the day after is supposed to be All Souls day (but that didn't catch on).
2006-10-31 19:31:22 · answer #3 · answered by MrsMike 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just finished reading a book about that and it originally came from the celtic people.
2006-10-31 19:28:58 · answer #4 · answered by f1E2l3i4p5E 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try Wikipedia.
2006-10-31 19:28:32 · answer #5 · answered by sci55 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought halloween went back to the druids and celtic mythology.
2006-10-31 19:28:53 · answer #6 · answered by chuck h 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
many of them. ancient egypt- everyday was practically halloween, mexico- day of the dead, england- witches, and probably france with the gargoyles.
2006-10-31 19:25:15 · answer #7 · answered by teeky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋