The Origin Of Halloween

31st October is a holiday in which Halloween is celebrated in the Christian calendar. Halloween originated amongst the Druids in 800BC. These Celtic people were scattered all over Europe.

It was amongst the four holidays that were in the Celtic calendar. They all represented the end of one season and the start of the next. They were also known as the fire festivals.

This festival was organised to mark the end of summers. The Celtic believed that it was the time of the year when the veil between this world and the next world were the thinnest. So they believed that the spirits roamed across the streets in the towns at night.

Samhain is the word that Celtics used for Halloween. To ward off evil the people built huge bonfires. They also involved in giving too many gifts and treats to lessen the 'evil' affect from the spirits.

It is a magical time of the year for them. This event was also connected to other mythological events in which the forces of good were temporarily defeated by the forces of evil. Therefore this event marked the beginning of the dark 'winters' of the year.

When Christianity spread they integrated the local rituals of the people into their religion. Since they were pagan ideas, the Church 'baptised' them. So Sumhain was now All Saints' Day.

The Celts started the festival at the eve. So this event became the 'evening of the Hallows'. Hallow comes from the word 'holy'. Therefore the evening of hallows. It later became 'Halloween' for short.

In the US today it is the second most celebrated holiday right after Christmas. The people organize games and have parties. The children go door to door in creative costumes asking for 'trick or treat'. And this is what makes it so amazing!

FindFancy Dress and even mens fancy Dress.

Tagged with: festival • Halloween • parties

Filed under: Halloween

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