What is Halloween All About?
Halloween is the direct descendent of the Celtic celebration of Samhain. Samhain was the introduction of the New Year and a time to celebrate the end of a successful year. Samhain marked the beginning of the winter, the time of year that is most associated with death. The Celts believed that the night before Samhain, the veil between the living and the dead became a little blurred. They thought that ghosts could return to the Earth and cause havoc by destroying crops, possessing people, and causing all over mischief. The Celts also believed that the presence of ghosts would help aid the Druids, their religious leaders, to make futuristic predictions regarding their culture. The Celts were entirely dependent upon …show more content…
The popularity of Halloween is only second to Christmas in some regions of the world. Over $6 billion is spent annually on costumes and candy in anticipation of Halloween. Traditions and superstitions have changed over the years, but some have endured and in doing so, help us determine what Halloween is all about.
• Respecting the Dead: One of the common themes associated with Halloween since the ancient times, is the respect paid towards the dead. This is shown through leaving food out for the deceased or by exchanging food for prayers to help direct a loved one’s soul out of purgatory. Respect for the dead is one of the main reasons that the holiday still exists to this day. Respect for the dead is still observed in many cultures today and has become an intricate part of the Halloween process.
• Time for the Community: Halloween is a time for community. Starting with the Celtics, Halloween has been a time to bring the communities together in celebration. Even today, communities come together to provide family friendly activities for Halloween. Many churches will have fall festivals to provide parents with a safe place to bring their children to participate in the holiday. Halloween provides ample opportunity for community
Halloween is the direct descendent of the Celtic celebration of Samhain. Samhain was the introduction of the New Year and a time to celebrate the end of a successful year. Samhain marked the beginning of the winter, the time of year that is most associated with death. The Celts believed that the night before Samhain, the veil between the living and the dead became a little blurred. They thought that ghosts could return to the Earth and cause havoc by destroying crops, possessing people, and causing all over mischief. The Celts also believed that the presence of ghosts would help aid the Druids, their religious leaders, to make futuristic predictions regarding their culture. The Celts were entirely dependent upon …show more content…
The popularity of Halloween is only second to Christmas in some regions of the world. Over $6 billion is spent annually on costumes and candy in anticipation of Halloween. Traditions and superstitions have changed over the years, but some have endured and in doing so, help us determine what Halloween is all about.
• Respecting the Dead: One of the common themes associated with Halloween since the ancient times, is the respect paid towards the dead. This is shown through leaving food out for the deceased or by exchanging food for prayers to help direct a loved one’s soul out of purgatory. Respect for the dead is one of the main reasons that the holiday still exists to this day. Respect for the dead is still observed in many cultures today and has become an intricate part of the Halloween process.
• Time for the Community: Halloween is a time for community. Starting with the Celtics, Halloween has been a time to bring the communities together in celebration. Even today, communities come together to provide family friendly activities for Halloween. Many churches will have fall festivals to provide parents with a safe place to bring their children to participate in the holiday. Halloween provides ample opportunity for community