Halloween originates back in ancient Celtic culture. November 1st marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker, colder days and nights in what is now Ireland. Celts believed that on the 31st the veil between the two worlds blurred and that the dead could return to earth in the form of ghosts.
The ghosts could get unruly, and damage crops but would also communicate with Druid priests and give them information about the upcoming year.
The Druids would celebrate on this evening by dressing in costumes and telling each others fortunes based upon what the now loosed spirits told them. They would burn a sacred bonfire to help protect them during the long dark winter months ahead.
With the arrival of the Christians to the Celtic lands, Pope Boniface designated November 1st as All Saints Day, which was to be a time to honor the saints and martyrs of the Christian faiths. The night before was referred to as All Hallows Eve, now Halloween.
Whatever the history of Halloween, I am sure we all have our own favorite memories of Trick or Treating, costume parties and haunted houses. Some of my best times as a teenager revolved around Halloween festivities, and I still like to get spooked, pretty much any day of the year.
Do you have a favorite Halloween memory? Please share it here in the comments section. Mine? I’d have to say seeing the Two Headed Llama costume walking down the street for trick or treat. Every year it would show up. Too good a costume to waste I guess.
Happy Halloween my friends.
Photo by Mike Swope ~ sxc.hu
Halloween has been taken into a bad light ever since commercialism set in. Back then, this was taken seriously were people would gather, have dinner and say a little prayer for their departed loved one, just like thanksgiving. Now, people would associate this holiday as something scary adding up demonic images to got along with it. It's cute kids would run around in costumes asking for sweets, but to celebrate the devil himself is just outrageous.
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