Halloween on the Net - The Story of Halloween, History of Halloween

The Story of Halloween

Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back thousands of years. The holiday we know as Halloween has had many influences from many cultures over the centuries. From the Roman's Pomona Day, to the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls Days.

Hundreds of years ago in what is now Great Britain and Northern France, lived the Celts. The Celts worshipped nature and had many gods, with the sun god as their favorite. It was "he" who commanded their work and their rest times, and who made the earth beautiful and the crops grow.

The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st. It was celebrated every year with a festival and marked the end of the "season of the sun" and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold."

On October 31st after the crops were all harvested and stored for the long winter the cooking fires in the homes would be extinguished. The Druids, the Celtic priests, would meet in the hilltop in the dark oak forest (oak trees were considered sacred). The Druids would light new fires and offer sacrifices of crops and animals. As they danced around the the fires, the season of the sun passed and the season of darkness would begin.

When the morning arrived the Druids would give an ember from their fires to each family who would then take them home to start new cooking fires. These fires would keep the homes warm and free from evil spirits.

The November 1st festival was called Samhain (pronounced "sow-en"). The festival would last for 3 days. Many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of their animals. This festival would become the first Halloween.

During the first century the Romans invaded Britain. They brought with them many of their festivals and customs. One of these was the festival know as Pomona Day, named for their goddess of fruits and gardens. It was also celebrated around the 1st of November. After hundreds of years of Roman rule the customs of the Celtic's Samhain festival and the Roman Pomona Day mixed becoming 1 major fall holiday.

The next influence came with the spread of the new Christian religion throughout Europe and Britain. In the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church would make November 1st a church holiday to honor all the saints. This day was called All Saint's Day, or Hallowmas, or All Hallows. Years later the Church would make November 2nd a holy day. It was called All Souls Day and was to honor the dead. It was celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and people dressing up as saints, angels and devils.

But the spread of Christianity did not make people forget their early customs. On the eve of All Hallows, Oct. 31, people continued to celebrate the festivals of Samhain and Pomona Day. Over the years the customs from all these holidays mixed. October 31st became known as All Hallow Even, eventually All Hallow's Eve, Hallowe'en, and then - Halloween.

The Halloween we celebrate today includes all of these influences, Pomona Day's apples, nuts, and harvest, the Festival of Samhain's black cats, magic, evil spirits and death, and the ghosts, skeletons and skulls from All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day.

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Comments

Karen from Alaska, US

21:38 03/14/2010

This letter absoulutly disgusts me. Wiccans may not worship the devil, but false gods and godesses are just as sinful. "Mr. High Preist" claims that his people have been denied their rights, yet Christains everywhere have been looked down upon for centeries. I think it's horrible that when I search 'halloween witch', pagan blogs and stores appear.

Greg Huskey from California, US

20:46 02/22/2010

1. The Romans did not celebrate Pomona, and she has nothing to do with Halloween. 2. The Romans supressed the druids, and Augustus forbade the druid rites. They did not adopt Samhain. 3. Samhain, the root of Hallween, survived in the one land that the Romans did not conquer - Ireland.

midnite from Ohio, US

03:45 02/22/2010

Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again. I feel your frustration in people who do not understand the Wiccan way. All I can say is that I hope the Goddess and God bless them with the knowledge, understanding, and love that they need and deserve just as They have blessed you. Samhain is but 1 of our Sabbats and in honoring Mother Earth and the Universal Gods and Goddesses all we can do is hope that they wake up and see the light, and start caring. Blessed Be and may the God and Goddess smile and shine upon you.

Bob and Ruth from Minnesota, US

10:06 02/16/2010

Here is the story of Halloween

Johny from France

09:26 02/07/2010

is vey very very interesting information

loser ville from Colorado, US

16:20 02/01/2010

Tahts not waut really happened riqht?

Hurriya Irfan from Malaysia

09:45 01/29/2010

this story tells every single thing about Halloween and it looks interesting

YIN SDA from Cambodia

00:02 01/25/2010

I need to know more information. thanks

jtu from Maryland, US

10:57 01/19/2010

this is true about the halloween

mias from Maine, US

09:45 01/12/2010

i love this celebraion and i love the english so much

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