Why is holloween observed as though it was a national holliday?

Question

We make much to do about nothing, and neglect the times we should observe historical events.

Answer 1

It's odd to watch how the great holdout Baptist persons condemn alcohol, smoking, dancing, flirting, then capitulate to celebrations of holloween, under another name, such as fall festival time. They give in to the young, so that makes others pressed to criticize the chink in their armor. Hey! Humanrayc, you get a firm grip son! some that confess to being christains, are in to it up to their necks!

Answer 2

It has religious significance to some Catholic and Protestant sects, as November 1st is traditionally recognised as "All Saints' Day". Over the last sixty years, it has gained significance as a Wiccan, Celtic Polytheist/Pagan, and "McWicca" NeoPagan holiday.

As far as being observed "as though it were a national holiday", frankly, it's just fun, and it allows most North Amerikans a final day of fun and merriment before the weather gets too harsh and the more sombre holidays of Thanksgiving and the winter holidays (Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule, etc....) take over. In rural areas of the Midwest, it marks the end of the harvest season, so it allows people of those communities a night to throw a big party with costumes and candy.

It may not have as much significance to most Amerikans any-more, but it is a day that has historical significance in the United $tates, even if the observations and rituals that people take part in on that day have changed significantly over the last two-hundred years.

Answer 3

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

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.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

Answer 4

It's a tradition that has an amazing history to follow (I know I've tried :). But it becomes a little clearer to the American tradition when studying the times of early America - when the influx of immigrants came from nations that did observe it. It has really morphed and evolved through many stages. But it is not a national holiday, but very widely accepted tradition.

What's nice is you do not have to participate if you don't want to.

If you want to observe historical events, then go ahead. :) You are free to do whatever.

Answer 5

Get a grip people. It is just another day of the week that the Pagan people celebrate on. Children get to run around and get candy and the world is safe once again. It is not a Christian holiday, so their is no reason for Christians to get involved with it. If this day scares them so badly then they need to hide in their houses or churches until it is over, Period!

Answer 6

It's not a national holiday. It's an old pagan tradition that is now enjoyed by many people expecially children. If you're not interested in being part of it than don't go out, but don't ruin the fun for those of us that enjoy it.

Answer 7

Sorry but I get national holidays off from work. Halloween is just a fun day for kids and the young at heart.

Answer 8

Halloween is a pagan holiday and is celebrated by pagans and 'wanna-be-pagans' who have no idea just how dangerous halloween is to their soul.

I agree with you about honoring our historical moments and places. I grew up on the east coast of America and had many a field-trip. Had a lot of wonderful times and learning opportunities.

Non-believing people just love evil and playing with it. Doesn't make any sense to me.

Answer 9

What's holloween?

Answer 10

it's an opportunity to sell lots and lots of consumables ... that's why it's a "national holiday" in the US