who thought of the holiday halloween? where did it come from? what are you being for halloween?

Answer 1

halloween is a word that was coined from All Hallow's Eve, the night before All Saints Day in the catholic church. It originated in England where prior to the coming of the catholic church the celts had a celebration of the autumnal equinox around the same time, wherein bone fires where lit and burnt, using human bones. Jack-o-lanterns were carved to keep away evil spirits, usually out of turnips as pumpkins were unknown to them. All of these traditions where bound together by the catholic missionaries in an attempt to win the celts and druids as converts. Going door to door for candies and treats is purely an American tradition and began sometime around 1940. I am sure if you google history of halloween you will get a great deal more information, but this is all I can remember just now. I do not celebrate Halloween, so I will not be dressing up.

Answer 2

The Celtic pagans had 8 holidays throughout the year, each of which celebrates a different stage of the life cycle. Halloween is the holiday that celebrates passage into death. (the next holdiay, Yule, celebrate the light in the darkest time of the year)

This pagan holiday serves a very important and healthy psychological function. It's the holiday that acknowledges the death aspect of the life cycle and invites people to 'walk around in its shoes' so to speak. By dressing up as symbols of the things we fear, and by allowing ourselves to be frightened (as in haunted houses), we acknowledge and embrace our fears and therefore, gain a better understanding of them.

This brings our fear into light and removes its power to make us afraid. So you see, it helps us process the fear and change it into something manageable. The holiday also celebrates the hope of an afterlife, so it's not just about fear either. This is why it's so fun and exciting, and good to participate in. We will get nowhere with our fears if we always run from them. We will do much better to understand that fears can be endured and survived, and changed.

So it's a very good thing, and besides it's just fun!

edit: I am dressing as a dark goddess. :-)

Answer 3

just a few minor adjustments
it originated with the Celts in modern day Ireland, they did have bonfires and the had an animal sacrifice(to give something back to the earth to thanks it for the harvest and pray for the return of the sun) but ive never heard of them using human bones for anything. they believed the dead could return to the earth on that night. The Catholic church taught that you should hallow the dead rather than expect their return so when they came to the land of the Celts they renamed the holiday all hallows eve witch has evolved to Halloween.

edit to kc the sacrifice was not to preserve the meat, it was killed and then tossed into the bonfire ( a preist would later read the entrails and predict the future) i suggest you educate yourself a little further before accusing people of spreading slander.

Answer 4

This is what I am being for Halloween.
http://www.grandinroad.com/jump.jsp?itemID=11198&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1,2,2559,2572,&iProductID=11198

Answer 5

Wikipedia thought of it.