An Angels Halo for Halloween?

An Angels Halo for Halloween?

Being under the impression of Halloween, the majority of us here today in this era  have associated this day with trick or treating, pumpkins as lanterns and fulfilling  your dream of playing your favourite character ,villain, or looking downright dead.

However, most of things that we have interpreted about Halloween are new traditions that the society have created over the years. Let me bring you to an adventure to go back much further crossing several seas to a country also known as the Emerald Isle.

In Ireland, the early Irish people were Celtic tribes who practised paganism an early religion introduced roughly between 500 BCE and 500 CE. The Irish Celts celebrates two obligatory events knows as the Samhain meaning the ‘ Summer’s End ‘, where it is a celebration marking the end of the harvesting season and also the beginning of winter. Samhain which is also known as the Feast of The Dead is also celebrated by non- pagans which is known by the name “Halloween.” Many Pagans celebrate Samhain from sundown on October 31 through November 1.  According to the Celtic tribes it is said that dividing the line between the living and the dead   became dangerous for the living. Therefore, the Celts wore mask and costumes to confuse the evil spirits  and making them think they were one of them. The early tradition of dressing in costumes were “ mumming and guising “ in which people disguise themselves and go door-to-door. Early costumes were woven out of straw   and sometimes people wore costumes to perform in play or skits. According to Nicholas Rogers, a history professor at York University in Toronto and the author of Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night said that there is no hard evidence that Samhain was specifically devoted to the dead or ancestor worship.

With the growth and spread of Christianity as the dominant religion throughout Europe, Samhain took on Christian names. All Saints Day or All Hallows on November 1   honoured Christian saints and martyrs. All Souls Day on November 2 was a day of remembrance for all of the souls of the dead. As the Christian debate goes on, celebrating Halloween is a preference that is not always viewed as participating in an evil holiday as the ingenious customs of honouring the dead mixed with Roman Catholicism gave birth to the “Day of The Dead”.

The early tradition of dressing in costumes were “  mumming and guising “ in which people disguise themselves and go door-to-door. Early costumes were woven out of straw   and sometimes people wore costumes to perform in play or skits.

In conclusion, Halloween has more to its meaning compared to what we have perceived it as to be.

Wishing all of you a fun Halloween filled with magical surprises!