Halloween is a festival that is celebrated a lot in the West but now even Indians have boarded the bus where they party, take to scary makeup, prepare dishes using pumpkin, decorate and wear Halloween costumes. Every October 31st has an evening which actually dates back to the time when there were ancient Celtic harvest festivals.
Halloween means "hallowed evening," and earlier amongst the European celebrators, it was called All Hallows' Eve when they used to pay homage to the saints ("hallows" = saints). Interestingly till the 7th Century CE, All Hallow's Eve was celebrated on May 13. It was Pope Boniface IV who changed the date and that too to November 1st.
Why Do We Celebrate It On October 31?
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We celebrate the festival on October 31 because the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, used to fall on this day. It was this time when seasons changed. Also, people believed that the boundary between this world and the next became thin at this time, when they could connect with the dead. This belief is present in many cultures.
The History of Halloween Activities
Earlier there used to be a lot of activities and ritualistic ceremonies to connect to spirits, as the Celts were polytheistic. There are not many details known of their celebrations and the costumes they wore were simple like animal hides as a disguise against ghosts, sure there were special lay down dinners and feast, lanterns were made using gourds.
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Then after some time slowly and steadily, Christianity came into the picture and the pagan undertones were lessened. The basic essence remained but the festivities and rituals evolved.
It became more fun and the concept of connecting with dead was replaced with telling the future. Apple bobbing became popular as a fortune-telling game where the fruit was selected to represent all of a woman's suitors. It also became a matchmaking opportunity for young women in the 19th century.
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Halloween Costumes & Trick-or-Treating
Many people would dress up as saints and recite songs or verses going door to door, including children. They would ask for "soul cakes," which was similar to biscuits.
The candy-grabbing concept also became popular in the U.S. in the early to mid-1900s.
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