Happy Halloween has officially arrived, and there’s a lot to look forward to, from coming up with dark, spooky costume ideas to trying out pumpkin carving ideas with kids, and, of course, eating unfathomable amounts of Halloween snacks, candy, and chocolate and indulging in everything pumpkin spice-flavoured.
Halloween’s Primitive History
The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic feast of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.
This day signified the conclusion of the summer season, the harvest, and the start of the dark, frigid winter, a time of year also connected with human death. On the night before the New Year, the Celts imagined that the line between the worlds of the living and the realms of the dead would be blurred. On the night of October 31, they were celebrating Samhain, when it was said that the ghosts of the dead had come to earth.
Celts believed that the presence of otherworldly spirits allowed the Druids, or Celtic priests, to prophesy the future as well as cause havoc and destruction to crops. For a people who were completely reliant on the unpredictable natural environment, these prophesies were a lifeline throughout the long, dark winter.
Pumpkin Carving
Pumpkin carving on Halloween is supposed to have started when immigrants to North America began using pumpkin instead of turnips since it was smoother and larger. Pumpkin carving became popular during Halloween since the harvest and the holiday occurred at the same time. Over time, people began burning pumpkins, which became increasingly important on Halloween. Scarecrows and maize husks are frequently used to adorn dwellings.
How Is Halloween Celebrated?
Image Source: pixabayAs a secular festival, Halloween has become associated with a number of events. One is a method of performing innocent pranks. For parties and trick-or-treating, people dress up in costumes and masks, which are thought to have evolved from a British tradition of allowing the destitute to beg for sweets known as “soul cakes.” Trick-or-treaters go from door to house with the fear of being tricked if they do not receive a treat, generally sweets.
Halloween celebrations also involve games like bobbing for apples, which may have originated in the Roman festival of Pomona. Thrilling creatures such as ghosts, witches, and vampires, as well as skeletons and black cats, have been incorporated into the celebration.
Another Halloween icon is the jack-o’-lantern, a hollowed-out pumpkin (originally a turnip) carved into a demonic visage and lit from the inside with a candle. Since the mid-twentieth century, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has tried to make raising cash for its services a part of Halloween.
Here Are Some Happy Halloween Costumes
Image Source: orientaltradingThank you for reading about Happy Halloween. Also, check Christmas Day.
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