Most of us associate Halloween with spookiness, scary movies, costumes, haunted housed and candies (trick or treat). The thing is the actual meaning of Halloween have now been forgotten and replaced by what Hollywood thinks it should mean. But in early days Halloween had a great importance throughout Scotland, Ireland & Britain. The traditions of Halloween combine ancient Celtic practices, Roman and Catholic religious practices, and European folk traditions.
Initially the ancient Celts celebrated the end of the summer, as well the end of the year on November 1st. The night before, October 31st, was called Samhain where Celts believed the dead could walk the earth. When the Romans conquered the Celts, many of the Celts’ practices were combined with the Roman ones. Two Roman festivals were combined with Samhain. The first festival was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans commemorated the passing of the dead. The second festival honored Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. Her symbol was the apple, and that is likely where the tradition of bobbing for apples came from. Eventually Christianity spread to Celts, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1st as All Saints’ Day to honor dead martyrs and saints. In A.D. 1000, the Church designated November 2nd as All Souls’ Day, a day to remember everyone who died. It was celebrated similar to Samhain. In the 19th century, Halloween became less of a religious holiday and became more of a secular one celebrated by children.
Why don’t we have a Halloween with a difference this year by going door to door and praying for people. Happy All Saints’ day guys
