 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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