When early American settlers came from England, many of them brought various beliefs about ghosts and witches with them. In the United States, the origins of Halloween start with the early settlers. If it was, the person would live another year. In Wales, for example, each person put a white stone near the Halloween fire at night and then checked in the morning to see whether the stone was still there. Through the years, various regions of Europe developed their own Halloween customs. Some people put out food for their ancestors, or left a lantern burning in the window so that ghosts could find their way home for the night. People made many of the old pagan customs part of this Christian holy day. This day was set aside for people to pray for friends and family who had died. About two hundred years later, it added All Souls' Day on November 2. Many of the customs of the pagan Celts survived even after the people became “Christianized.” In the 800s A.D., the church established All Saints' Day on November 1. Scholars believe that Halloween’s association with ghosts, food, and fortunetelling began with these pagan customs more than 2,000 years ago. During Samhain, the living could visit with the dead, who they believed held secrets of the future. The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time. It was a time when the barriers between the natural world and the supernatural were broken. In ancient Celtic stories, Samhain was a magical time of transition when important battles were fought and fairies cast spells. The festival also had religious significance, and people burned fruits, vegetables, grain, and possibly animals as offerings to the gods. At Samhain, farmers brought livestock in from summer pastures and people gathered to build shelters for winter. What are the origins of Halloween? Many believe the festival of Samhain to have been the beginning of the Celtic year.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |