|
|
|
|
|
by Melanie Baker Dressing up as Ghosts and Goblins and roaming the streets asking for treats probably started a lot longer ago than you might think, and in a way that you might not have expected. What we know as Halloween today has its origins around 800 BCE in Western Europe. The Celts held a major celebration near the end of our month of October, which they called "Samhain," a festival to recognize the end of summer. The story that "Samhain" was a Celtic God of the Dead is a myth. However, the myth has been repeated so often that it has taken on a life of its own. The Celts believed that the veil between this world and the next was thinnest at this time of year. Friends and relatives who had died would often return, their souls inhabiting an animal, most often taking the form of a black cat. Black cats have remained a symbol of Halloween through the present time. Samhain was a fire festival. Sacred bonfires were lit on the tops of hills in honor of the Gods. The townspeople would take an ember from the bonfire to their home and re-light the fire in their family hearth. The ember was normally carried in a holder (often a turnip or gourd). Since they felt nervous walking home in the dark in fear of evil spirits, they dressed up in costumes and carved scary faces in their ember holders. They hoped the spirits would be frightened by and not bother them on their journey. These customs layed the foreground for the traditions we continue to practice today. In celebration of the recently completed harvest, Celts would give offerings of food to the Gods. They often went from door to door to collect food to donate to their deities. Also, young Celts would ask the townspeople for kindling and wood, and take it to top of the hill for the Samhain bonfire. The Celts also believed that during this time when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest, mischievous fairies and spirits may come and play tricks on them. They left offerings of food on their doorsteps in the hopes of keeping the tricksters pacified so that their homes wouldn't be the targets of their tricks. These are some of the possible origins of present day "trick or treating". Around the seventh century CE, Pope Boniface IV created All Saints' Day. There were so many saints by this time and not nearly enough days in the year to accommodate them. So, All Saints' Day was to recognize the saints who were without their own day, and to celebrate saints that the Church had failed to recognize. It was originally held on May 13th, but was moved by Pope Gregory in 835 CE to November 1st. This was most likely done as a way to distract Christians from celebrating Samhain. Many Christian holidays are known to have been placed on the same days as Celtic celebrations in an attempt by the Church to stamp out the peasants' dedication to their Pagan beliefs. "Hallow" is an old English word for "Saint". Halloween was originally referred to as All Hallows' Eve, which translates to "the evening before All Saints' Day." This was shortened to Hallowe'en and finally to Halloween. All Souls' Day was created for November 2nd to honor faithful Christians who had died but were not saints. The three days from October 31st to November 2nd was given the name Hallow Tide. About the Author: Melanie has been interested in the metaphysical since she was a small child. Over the years, she studied a variety of topics in her on-going quest for knowledge. In 1996, she created a Metaphysical Television Show named Reality Check as a way to open a few minds and sharing new possibilities with her audience while spending much needed time concentrating on her own spirituality. She produced and co-hosted the show for five years. During that time, Melanie opened a Holistic and Metaphysical Resource Center and store named Kindred Spirits. Through both Reality Check and Kindred Spirits, Melanie met many interesting and inspiring people who had a great deal of impact in nudging her along on her own spiritual path. Melanie also communicates with her Spirit Guides, and is a Reiki I Practitioner. Melanie believes her path is to heal, teach, and write as a way to help others along their spiritual paths. She does all of this while keeping a very open mind and respecting the beliefs of others. Melanie is also a Parent Station Moderator and Community Leader for The Metaphysical and New Age Forum. |
