Happy Samhain /Halloween!

[tokche]

happy halloween indeed!

[Ragnarok]

Hey Rockman, here's the answer regarding your question as to where Halloween started.

HALLOWEEN got its name from the old English term All Hallows E'en, the eve of all the holy ones' day, or All Saints' Day, which falls on November 1 in the Church Calendar.

Where Halloween Got Started

Under the heading "Halloween," the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" says: "Oct. 31 was also the eve of the new year in both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon times and one of the ancient fire festivals. . . . Since November ushers in the darkest and most barren half of the year, the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, fairies and demons of all kinds roaming abroad."

The festival was held in honor of Samhain, the Celtic lord of the dead, who it was believed, allowed the souls of those who died in the preceding year to return home that evening. Festivities included building huge bonfires to chase away the witches and demons. Sacrifices of crops, animals and even humans were made to appease the souls of the deceased. The people also engaged in fortune-telling and wore costumes made of animal heads and skins.

The Romans also contributed some of their pagan rituals to the customs of the Celts whom they conquered. One of their autumn festivals held in honor of Pomona, the goddess of trees and fruits, probably accounted for the prominent use of apples in Halloween festivities-apple-bobbing and apple-on-a-string, for example.

That should be it. Hope that helps.

[rockman]

Cheers for that. Seems strange that it was an old english festival but it is not celebrated in England (or in Nw Zealand which follows most English festivals). Feel a bit ripped off - I nevergot a chance to go trick-or treating when I was a kid! Of course I have seen it in movies and TV about how popular it is in the US.
We have a more obscure celebration in New Zealand this time of year. On november 5th is Guy Fawkes night when we celebrate the attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up the English parliament, his subsequent arrest, torture and execution, by letting off fire crackers and drinking lots of beer. We even make a effigy of "Guy" and burn him on the fire - pretty subversive stuff especially in the current climate of terrorism. It used to be the highlight of the year until the authorities Banned all the dangerous fire crackers for being too dangerous!

[Pax]

Originally posted by Gryphin:
Pax are you Pagan / Wiccan also, (my sweetheart and I are), or just very widely read? Most folks don't know "Samhain". I genearlize here.

Well, I'm not pagaon; my g/f is what I refer to as "neopagan" ... meaning, the modern form of paganism, since little of the Old Faiths truly survived the millenia of christianity.

As for me, I'm solidly agnostic, but with a very open mind. And fairly well read.

[Perrin]

Happy Halloween Everyone!

EDIT:Content removed do to controversy.



[ October 31, 2002, 19:26: Message edited by: Perrin ]

[Gryphin]

Pax are you Pagan / Wiccan also, (my sweetheart and I are), or just very widely read? Most folks don't know "Samhain". I genearlize here.

[Growltigga]

I thought it was Walpurgis Night tonight,

Samhain is Celtic anyhow,

[Gryphin]

It is Celtic and the Pagan / Wiccan people I know celebrate it under that name. Should see the preps my sweetheart is making for tonight. It has nothing to do with Positions or Wagons.

[Growltigga]

Rockman, you are partially right about the English not celebrating Halloween. We do celebrate it but it used to be in a different way to the North Americans.

When I was a child, trick or treating was unheard of. We used to have Halloween parties which were basically a standard kiddies party, save that you dressed up as werewolves, vampires, devils, witches etc and spent most of the evening going "Woo Woo" and eating jelly. Bobbing for apples featured highly as I recall.

When I got to about 16-17 (ie circa 1987), trick or treating was starting to kick off, but I do remember chaperoning some youngsters and whilst quite a few people entered into the spirit of things, a lot of people told you to go away or they would call the police. At this time, Halloween parties for teenagers were de rigeure and I can still remember it being the first time I saw my childhood sweetheats in leather and fishnets (they were dressed as witches)

Now Guy Fawkes Night is incredibly important and I am slightly surprised you celebrate it in Kiwi-land. It is a big thing for me (my surname is really "Fawkes" although no relation). It is a great night for attending big bonfires wherre you burn the Guy, lots of big fireworks, good food (baked potatoes, sausages and steak and kidney pudding) and of course, as much strong ale as you can get down your gullet in 2 trys - I just love this time of year

[capnq]

A long time ago, I saw a TV show that claimed "trick-or-treat" originated in an ancient Egyptian religious festival, during which they left food offerings on their doorsteps to placate the dead.