Halloween, celebrated on the night of the 31st October, has its origin in the swirling mists of Irish tradition. The day after Halloween, the 1st November is All Saints’ official holiday.
In the United States Halloween has become the second most popular decorative festival, after Christmas.
This festival was regarded by many, as the Celtic New Year. It was a time when animals were traditionally killed and supplies stored up for the long cold winter ahead. The night was also known traditionally as the ‘festival of the dead.’ The time when the boundaries between the living and dead become blurred. Some however, believed the dead caused problems for the living, such as causing sickness, or crop damage.
Originally the two holidays were celebrated on the one day. All Hallows Day being the eve of All Saints’ Day. The name became shortened to Halloween.
Symbols of Halloween:
In Irish legend there was a gambling, greedy, hard-drinking old farmer, known as Stingy Jack. He hoodwinked the devil into clambering up a tree, where Jack trapped him by carving a cross into the trunk. As revenge, the devil placed a curse on Jack, condemning him to forever wander the earth at night. Jack only had a candle for light so he placed it inside a hollowed out turnip.
In North America the turnip was transformed into the larger and more easily found pumpkin. This was placed on the doorstep of the houses, with the lighted candle, to ward off superstitions.
For a century of film making we now have us the added imagery of ghosts, owls, zombies,spiders, mummies, witches, crows, vultures, black cats, goblins, skeletons and demons, to the Halloween festival.
Trick-n-Treat:
When anyone went outdoors is was felt a good idea to wear a costume, in order toblend in with all the ‘spirits’ of the night. This evolved, eventually, into trick-n-treat. Children, would knock on their neighbour’s doors asking for sweets, nuts and fruit for the Halloween feast. The children had salt sprinkled in their hair to protect them against the powers of the evil spirits.
It was the custom in England and Wales to either give the children a treat of money or food. Otherwise they would perform a trick. This like removing the gate from its hinges and carrying it away and throwing it into the middle of a local pond. This custom has since led to antisocial behavior among older teenagers. In 2006 it was necessary to upgrade police surveillance of the festival, so as to prevent major acts of vandalism.
The Food:
Halloween comes at the finish of the annual apple harvest, so apples became a symbol of the festivities. Apples, rolled in sugar syrup and nuts, formed candy apples, which were handed out to the children.
In Ireland it is the time of the King Cake, or barmbrack. This is a light fruit cake, baked into a ring, in which lucky coins and charms have been placed. Anyone fortunate enough to receive a ring from the cake would find their true love in the coming year.
UNICEF
UNCIEF started a program in 1950 where they distributed small boxes to schools and some chosen stores. UNICEF asked the trick-or-treat children to collect small change donations from the houses which they visited. It is said the children have collected in the vicinity of $119 million for UNICEF. The program was sadly canceled in certain parts of the world, because of the concern for the children’s safety.
Televison
The evening of October 31st is also the traditional night to view horror, or ghost movies. Perhaps this year, the financial crisis and Wall Street has already provided enough horror stories.
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Tags: halloween festival, Halloween origins, Irish traditions, UNICEF and halloween
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October 30th, 2008 at 6:52 am
[...] admin wrote an interesting post today onThe Origin Of HalloweenHere’s a quick excerptWhen anyone went outdoors is was felt a good idea to wear a costume, in order toblend in with all the ‘spirits’ of the night. This evolved, eventually, into trick-n-treat. Children, would knock on their neighbour’s doors asking for … [...]
October 31st, 2008 at 9:30 am
[...] the traditional Celtic holiday, …Wizard & Witch - http://www.wizardandwitch.com/|||The Origin Of HalloweenHalloween, celebrated on the night of the 31st October, has its origin in the swirling mists of [...]