bronze calendar found in France that references Sahmain. In Celtic regions that formerly celebrated Sahmain, the local Christian Halloween traditions that arose included jack-o-lanterns, bonfires, and costumes.ĭid these local Christian Halloween customs evolve from older pagan traditions? Most scholars agree that they did, though Catholic sources dispute the notion as lacking historic evidence.Īt the heart of the controversy is the fact that the ancient Celts did not leave written records, though we do have folklore (stories passed down by word of mouth) and artifacts, such as a 1st-century B.C.E. Though largely a secular celebration today, Halloween has both Christian and pagan roots.ĭuring the Middle Ages, as the Christian Roman holiday of All Saints' Day spread to other Christianized areas, Hallowtide traditions merged with local cultures. Is Halloween a pagan holiday or Christian holiday? With the Christian celebration of All Saints' Day on November 1 came All Hallows' Eve, or Halloween, on October 31, as well as All Souls' Day on November 2-a three-day holiday collectively called Hallowtide. Yet another century later, Pope Gregory IV added All Saints' Day to the universal Christian calendar, officially extending the celebration from Rome to churches everywhere. In the next century, Pope Gregory III changed the day to November 1 when he dedicated a chapel in St. In the early 7th century, Pope Boniface IV put All Saints' Day on the calendar when he dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the saints, but the day was May 13. Celebrations of Christian martyrs and saints date back to 4th-century Rome. This is also where the history of Halloween gains its "haunted" connotations.Īs the etymology of the name suggests, Halloween has Christian roots too. It marked a pivotal time of year when seasons changed, but more importantly, observers also believed the boundary between this world and the next became especially thin, enabling them to connect with the dead. The ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, which occurred on November 1 but kicked off the evening before, is considered the earliest known root of our secular Halloween traditions. There are two answers to this question: a pagan one and a Christian one. That name eventually got shortened to Halloween.īettmann // Getty Images Why is Halloween celebrated on October 31? In those days, the Christian holiday we know as All Saints' Day was called All Hallows' Day, and the day before, when an evening mass was held, was All Hallows' Eve. The word hallow is derived from the Middle and Old English words for holy. The current English name Halloween traces back to medieval Christianity. So let's cut through the confusion by revisiting the history of Halloween and the origins of some of its most beloved traditions. Is Halloween a religious holiday? Or a secular one? Is it Christian? Or pagan? The answer is yes, yes, yes, and yes-and largely depends on your beliefs and how you celebrate. From planning a marathon of the best Halloween movies to assembling the perfect costume (or couple's costume for a dynamic duo), anticipation for the Halloween holiday occupies most of the month.īut what is Halloween? In America, the highly commercialized celebration brings to mind trick-or-treating and fun gatherings filled with Halloween party games and spooky treats, but the holiday has some convoluted origins to say the least. October is finally here, which means the spooky season is in full swing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |