 History of Halloween, like any other festival's history is inspired through traditions that have transpired
through ages from one generation to another. We follow them mostly as did our
dads and grandpas. And as this process goes on, much of their originality get
distorted with newer additions and alterations. It happens so gradually, spanning
over so many ages, that we hardly come to know about these distortions. At one
point of time it leaves us puzzled, with its multicolored faces. Digging into
its history helps sieve out the facts from the fantasies which caught us unaware.
Yet, doubts still lurk deep in our soul, especially when the reality differs
from what has taken a deep seated root into our beliefs. The history of Halloween
Day, as culled from the net, is being depicted here in this light. This is to
help out those who are interested in washing off the superficial hues to reach
the core and know things as they truly are. 'Trick or treat' may be an innocent
fun to relish on the Halloween Day. But just think about a bunch of frightening
fantasies and the scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, evils,
elves and animal sacrifices associated with it. They are no more innocent. Are
these stories a myth or there is a blend of some reality? Come and plunge into
the halloween history to unfurl yourself the age-old veil of mysticism draped around it.
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 Behind
the name... Halloween, or the Hallow E'en as they call it in Ireland
, means All Hallows Eve, or the night before the 'All Hallows', also
called 'All Hallowmas', or 'All Saints', or 'All Souls' Day, observed
on November 1. In old English the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctify'.
Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherians used to observe All
Hallows Day to honor all Saints in heaven, known or unknown. They
used to consider it with all solemnity as one of the most significant
observances of the Church year. And Catholics, all and sundry, was
obliged to attend Mass. The Romans observed the holiday of Feralia,
intended to give rest and peace to the departed. Participants made
sacrifices in honor of the dead, offered up prayers for them, and
made oblations to them. The festival was celebrated on February 21,
the end of the Roman year. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV introduced
All Saints' Day to replace the pagan festival of the dead. It was
observed on May 13. Later, Gregory III changed the date to November
1. The Greek Orthodox Church observes it on the first Sunday after
Pentecost. Despite this connection with the Roman Church, the American
version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient
(pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called "Samhain", celebrated
by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced
"sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with cow. In Ireland the festival was
known as Samhein, or La Samon, the Feast of the Sun. In Scotland,
the celebration was known as Hallowe'en. In Welsh it's Nos Galen-gaeof
(that is, the Night of the Winter Calends. According to the Irish
English dictionary published by the Irish Texts Society: "Samhain,
All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times,
signalizing the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter
season, lasting till May, during which troops (esp. the Fiann) were
quartered. Faeries were imagined as particularly active at this season.
From it the half year is reckoned. also called Feile Moingfinne (Snow
Goddess).(1) The Scottish Gaelis Dictionary defines it as "Hallowtide.
The Feast of All Soula. Sam + Fuin = end of summer."(2) Contrary to
the information published by many organizations, there is no archaeological
or literary evidence to indicate that Samhain was a deity. The Celtic
Gods of the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd for the British, and Arawn for
the Welsh. The Irish did not have a "lord of death" as such. Thus
most of the customs connected with the Day are remnants of the ancient
religious beliefs and rituals, first of the Druids and then transcended
amongst the Roman Christians who conquered them. |
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