The Origins of Halloween (video)

The Roots of Hallowe’en: Is it possible to observe a pre-commercialized version?

Christopher Nyerges, PasadenaWeekly.com, 10/31/24 edited by Wisdom Quarterly

Written by ghost, author's late wife

Why has the day of All Hallows Eve — Hallowe’en — devolved into a day of fun and fear? How was this once-Holy Day commemorated before it was all commercialized into a sexy and scary night? Is it possible to discover the roots of this day and observe it in its original fashion today?

My circle of friends attempted to answer these questions. We determined that we’d need to dig up whatever historical facts [like Sir Frazer's The Golden Bough] we could find that show how this day was commemorated before the Year 1700, more or less.

• The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (retitled The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion in its second edition, gutenberg.org)

Also by the author: Wild Edible Plants of N. America

Though we couldn’t be 100% certain, we at least assumed that “commercialization” didn’t really exist in 1700. All of the European and some American commemorations before that year probably retained some semblance of what the day was originally all about. So, first, let’s begin with the day.

It is believed that the ancient Celts observed something called a “Samhain festival” toward the end of October. The World Book Encyclopedia states: “The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time.”

During Samhain (pronounced \sao-in\), the living could visit with the dead. Elements of the customs can be traced to a Druid ceremony in pre-Christian times.

The Celts had festivals for two major gods — a sun god and a god of the dead (called Samhain), whose festival was held on Nov. 1st, the beginning of the Celtic New Year.  More: The Roots of Hallowe’en

The Origins of Halloween

(All Time) Oct 26, 2024: ▼ VIDEO TIMESTAMPS ▼

The Origins of Halloween - 0:00, Halloween - 0:13, Samhain - 0:34, Pumpkins - 1:00, Jack-o'-Lanterns - 1:16, Stingy Jack O'Lantern - 1:20, Trick-or-Treating - 1:37, Souling - 1:40, Mischief Night - 2:34, Candy - 2:51, Costumes - 3:04, Masks - 3:21, Halloween Decorations - 3:45, Halloween Parties - 4:04, Bobbing for Apples - 4:22, The Witching Hour - 4:39, Séance - 4:56, Harry Houdini - 5:15, Haunted Houses - 5:43, Tombstones - 6:01, Candles - 6:23, Witches - 6:41, Ghosts - 6:57, Scarecrows - 7:11, Black Cats - 7:28, Bats - 7:52, Ouija Board - 8:05

(BuzzFeed Unsolved Network) The History of Halloween

Is it all the doing of disgruntled Christians?