Where did Halloween Come From? by elfin14doaks
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Description
I had to do this one. There is so much misconceptions. I just want the truth to be out there.
I got this story from my other favorite website also my favorite channel. Since they aired it, I knew I would find something.
The True Story of Halloweens Origin
Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas. – From History.com
There is more and a whole lot of other things too.
http://www.history.com/content/halloween/real-story-of-halloween
Thank you for looking and all the comments on my previous posts.
Now to hit the galleries.
Love and peace,
Cheri
Comments (37)
bentchick
Wonderful history lesson! Love that pumpkin!
durleybeachbum
SO interesting!
adrie
Great photoshot and lesson....excellent done.
shadownet
Nice warty looking pumpkin perfect for the holiday and also good info on the history of the celebration we have come to know as Halloween. :O)
stick
Cool, I always wondered how Halloween came about. Now when did candy come into the picture? LOL
elfin12u
I love this warty pumpkin!!!!! We have an annual pumpkin decorating event for the employees and kids, and this years we had more than just a few of these warty ones. My friend who had picked them up, was going to take the warty ones back, and exchange them. I told him he was nuts, and that these were perfect and probably be the first ones picked out. I was right,... but then he's from India and still learning our warped and twisted ways,......or just maybe my warped and twisted ways. I dressed up for the event as a fairy, more on a dare than anything else, if anyone actually wants to see how that turned out, just let Cheri know. Things are almost back to normal here it seems, not only is Cheri having fun and creeping out the neighborhood houses, but she's back to playing teacher again too! I thought I knew about the history of how Halloween came about.....I was so wrong!
Erestorfan
Very nice history!!! Again, the church 'absorbes' a pagan ritual and puts a spin on it so that it is accepted by Christians. If you can't beat the pagans, you accept their practices, absorbe them and just name them something else and clothe them in a name/celebration that appears acceptable...such as Halloween...and Christmas. Great pics of the pumpkins!!!
sandra46
EXCELLENT SHOT AND STORY
lizzibell
nice shot...
mgtcs
Wonderful shot, excellent photo, great one!
Faemike55
Just like the Christmas celebration as well! the reason for the masks and costumes was to fool the ghosts and spirits and that tradition has carried on til today.
goodoleboy
And I always thought it had something to do with an empty hot dog. Thank you for the information on what is one of my favorite holidays. The symbolism is much more widespread and varied than what Christmas offers, so it's a lot more fun doing original things for Renderosity. Also, must not forget, that is one fantastic pumpkin shot, even with its skin problem, Cheri!
wysiwig
I thought it was a celebration of ugly pumpkins! Don't get me started about Jesus' birthday and the origin of the Christmas tree. Very informative and entertaining history lesson. And that pumpkin seriously needs a dose of skin cream or something. Good to see that your spirits (ha-ha) are improving.
three_grrr
Excellent history lesson. The Church had a wonderful way of dressing up the Pagan Holy Days as Christian Holy Days because it was often the only they could convince the Pagans to turn to Christianity and let go of their Pagan ways. They have done this all over the world. But Pagan ways persist .. despite all the Church tries to do to stamp them out. I think the Church forgets that love succeeds better then coercion and violence. Love the pumpkin shot .. did you know that in Ireland turnips were used instead of Pumpkins?
flavia49
wonderful picture!!! great info too!!
psyoshida
Wonderful history and teenage pumpkin. Thanks!
eekdog
cool shot, really love the info on that cheri, you did some cool background work..
Chipka
Great lesson and a fantastic image...I love the bumps. I'm one of those Samhain Celebrators, and shameless pagans that slipped through Church fingers...and for some reasons whenever I think of that, I hear Princess Leia telling Governor Tarkin: "The more you tighten your grip, the more worlds slip through your fingers," only I can't quite manage that Carrie Fisher style lilt that sounds sneery and mocking and altogether Princess Leia-ish. Its odd how religious ecology is a lot like disease ecology...because of the prolonged, viral burn of Christianity, other religions have evolved in order to exist outside of their native cultural niches...Wicca revives and reinvents itself, various African-derived faiths cloak themselves in Catholicism and call themselves Vudou (Voodoo) and Santaria, Native American religions thrive and jump from one ethnic group to another, and entertainment/social luminaries like Richard Geare and Uma Thurmon's father become the poster boys (and behind the scenes powerhouses) of Buddhism. Anyway...enough of my ramble. I love this bumpy gourd...it looks like something I would enjoy drinking out of! Great and informative work, and wonderful, seasonal photography.
odie
That is one massive pumpkin. How'd ya move it - forklift?? Thanx for the info.
Rainastorm
Cheri this is great...thanks for the info on Halloween...very cool idea to post!! Its always good to know the background of everyday things we are involved with, why not our Holidays! :-) Excellent post my friend!! Hope you are feeling AWESOME today! :-)
bmac62
Cheri...I am going to agree with the rave reviews above. The History Channel is a favorite of mine...although I always reserve the right to disagree when necessary:-)
bazza
Nice capture of that bumpy skin pumpkin, it looks great. Thanks for the history lesson also. excellent!!
myrrhluz
Cool warty pumkin and info! Do you get the Smithsonian channel. It's great too!
pops
Great story and this has to be he weirdist pumpkin I have ever seen
MagikUnicorn
Gorgeous story and Unusual pumpkin
jendellas
This pumpkin is great for Halloween. Thanks also for the history lesson, very interesting. Cheri, Dave as a fairy is a MUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
auntietk
Wonderful image and history lesson! Funny ... I always thought it was that on Halloween night, the Great Pumpkin rises from the pumpkin patch he finds most sincere ... Uh-oh ... wrong story. LOL!
Richardphotos
seems like many people today still has old world beliefs like the Celtics.thanks for info and your pumpkin pie in the rough
Valery3D
Thank you so much Cheri for this fantastic research story of Halloween..you enlightened me here...
beachzz
Great shot and wonderful info---I learn SO much here on RR, who knew it could be possible??!