Iggy Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Just a few links, and a snippet from each one- do you have any to add?Halloween History and OriginHalloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.Origin of Halloween The Origin of Halloween: From Pagan to ChristianOther historians trace the origin of Halloween back to the ancient and enduring Christian tradition of celebrating the lives of Christian martyrs on the anniversaries of their deaths. When Pope Boniface IV reconsecrated the Pantheon in Rome on May 13, 609 AD, renaming it the “Church of St. Mary and the Martyrs,” he established that anniversary as a day of celebratory remembrance for all of the Church’s martyrs. Pope Gregory III later changed the date of remembrance to November 1 when he dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica to “all saints.” November 1 became All Saints Day, otherwise known as All Hallow’s Day. The night before became All Hallow’s Eve (“Halloween” being a colloquial contraction of that phrase). While Halloween began as a localized celebration, Pope Gregory IV extended its observance to all of Christendom in the 9th Century AD. Halloween: Myths, Monsters & DevilsHowever, there is nothing evil or devilish associated with Halloween. The original Samhian festival from the Celtic period celebrated it as a reunion with ancestors, as they believed their ancestors joined them in rejoice during celebrations. It was believed that the gates between the two worlds opened and dead friends and family crossed over in either direction. People who feared the encounter were the ones who had done something wrong and feared retaliation. It is popularly believed that the dead roamed the earth after dying until the next Samhain. In Mexico, Halloween is known as Los dias de los Muertos or the �Days of the Dead��. People make skeleton and skull toys and candies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Generally_Me Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 As an American of Scotch-Irish decent, that pretty much sums up what I know about Samhain Although there was/is a lot of attempted fortune telling, too. Something about the spirits of ancestors sharing their glimpses of your future. lol, I had a traditional Irish gal do my fortune 5 or 6 years ago...it hasn't come true yet. So that's why I say "attempted" fortune telling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john doe Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 As it's my birthday you can all just send me a gift card. Pam will be happy to give you my address for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsAri Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 (edited) However, there is nothing evil or devilish associated with Halloween.Halloween is my birthday, as well. I no longer celebrate Halloween, as my research has shown something other than what was posted above.As for celebrating my birthday...I'm 39...again. ;p Edited September 29, 2009 by GrandmaAri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmy- Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 (edited) Halloween is about as 'evil' as Christmas, Easter, etc. I think these once-pagan practices make for some of the most fun times of the year.. Edited September 29, 2009 by bmy- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenamarie Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 You know, I wonder if Pagans get peeved at Christians for "secularizing" their holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmy- Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 You know, I wonder if Pagans get peeved at Christians for "secularizing" their holiday. We took Christmas and Easter too -- nothing is safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxel Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Christmas and Easter have both had Christian themes infused into them, and they become chances to set aside holidays to worship the Lord and commemorate pinnacle events in His life. Halloween hasn't been co-opted into Christianity in the same way. It's a secular holiday that has become a chance to celebrate... whatever one wants to celebrate. However, the historical obsession of the occult with Halloween is disconcerting to me. A good friend of mine who dabbled in the Occult in his teen years (before he converted to Christianity) doesn't let his children go out on Halloween and hates the entire season because he knows the things that some people do to celebrate the forces of darkness. Whatever its origin, it's become a largely benign holiday- except for the evil who rally around it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moksha Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Does anyone like it for the candy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxel Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Does anyone like it for the candy?I do. Although I'm too old to go trick or treating, and the past few years few kids came around to trick or treat... I like the candy at trunk'n'treating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Generally_Me Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Going off the presumption that: Samhain was something of a Celtic "Memorial day", Los Dias de los Muertos is a Mexican "Memorial day" and Halloween is as much a Christian (or at least Catholic) holiday as Christmas Eve is (as shown by the second link in the OP). Did anyone click on the "Myths" link in the OP? Admittedly it didn't go into a lot of detail though. GrandmaAri, I am curious, do you have any sources you can cite as to the different origin of Halloween? Iggy did ask if anyone has anything to add, as his links correspond with what I've grown up with and learned since, so I am curious. Jena, I had a pagan friend in high school, he was cool with Halloween (mainly for the candy) being what it is today. Obviously he can't speak for all pagans, but he himself was cool with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hordak Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 (edited) Going off the presumption that: Samhain was something of a Celtic "Memorial day", Los Dias de los Muertos is a Mexican "Memorial day" and Halloween is as much a Christian (or at least Catholic) holiday as Christmas Eve is (as shown by the second link in the OP).Did anyone click on the "Myths" link in the OP? Admittedly it didn't go into a lot of detail though.GrandmaAri, I am curious, do you have any sources you can cite as to the different origin of Halloween? Iggy did ask if anyone has anything to add, as his links correspond with what I've grown up with and learned since, so I am curious. Jena, I had a pagan friend in high school, he was cool with Halloween (mainly for the candy) being what it is today. Obviously he can't speak for all pagans, but he himself was cool with it.I find it ironic how many "hard core" Christians have a problem with Halloween, (look for the house with the front yard littered in bible tracts) but have no issues with participating in the pagan rituals of Christmas and Easter.I for one love the pagan rituals. Without them what is there, Lent. Edited September 29, 2009 by hordak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemidakota Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 "O HALLOW NIGHT"....now where is the barn fire feast? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moksha Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 "O HALLOW NIGHT"....now where is the barn fire feast? :) Right on. I love barbecues, and having it right next to the barn would insure the meat was fresh!The evening before 'all is hallowed' has a certain charming ring to it. Trunk-or-Treat sounds rather harsh, does it not? Early Halloween tailgating sounds much better. We always hold ours in the gym. Have a soup potluck concurrently in the room right off the kitchen. I have assumed they hold it before Halloween, so that on Halloween the kids can go trick or treating as usual.:bouncing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsAri Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Right on. I love barbecues, and having it right next to the barn would insure the meat was fresh!The evening before 'all is hallowed' has a certain charming ring to it. Trunk-or-Treat sounds rather harsh, does it not? Early Halloween tailgating sounds much better. We always hold ours in the gym. Have a soup potluck concurrently in the room right off the kitchen. I have assumed they hold it before Halloween, so that on Halloween the kids can go trick or treating as usual.:bouncing:Are you planning to dress up as a human for Halloween? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyotemoon722 Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 So, is it safe to say that it's okay to dress however one wants on Halloween? According to LDS church doctrine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pam Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 There is no LDS church doctrine on how to dress for Halloween. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenamarie Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Well, keeping modesty standards in mind, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pam Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Well, keeping modesty standards in mind, of course. That I agree with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alana Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 I'm all in favor of taking something questionable and taking out only the good parts for my own selfish use. This is why I love the internet so much! I also like singing ring around the rosy, eat hot crossed buns, and when around my vegetarian friends enjoy a good hamburger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsAri Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 So, is it safe to say that it's okay to dress however one wants on Halloween? According to LDS church doctrine.At church parties, they ask us not to wear a mask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenRaines Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 I don't know if there is a doctrine about it. Ben Raines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pam Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 I'm all in favor of taking something questionable and taking out only the good parts for my own selfish use. This is why I love the internet so much! I also like singing ring around the rosy, eat hot crossed buns, and when around my vegetarian friends enjoy a good hamburger. You rebel you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmy- Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 I don't know if there is a doctrine about it.Ben RainesNo doctrine. There's counsel and advice -- but for some that is just the same. To each their own, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moksha Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Well, keeping modesty standards in mind, of course. Best to keep the Princess Leia slave girl costume for home use only.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.