May 13th, the real date of Halloween

[metta]

Origin of name

The term Halloween, originally spelled Hallowe’en, is shortened from All Hallows' Even – e'en is a shortening of even, which is a shortening of evening. This is ultimately derived from the Old English Eallra Hālgena ǣfen.[16] It is now known as "Eve of" All Saints' Day, which is November 1st.

A time of pagan festivities,[7] Popes Gregory III (731–741) and Gregory IV (827–844) tried to supplant it with the Christian holiday (All Saints' Day) by moving it from May 13 to November 1.

In the 800s, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the Florentine calendar. Although All Saints' Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were once celebrated on the same day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

 

[metta]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tIhwITwhSg[/ame]


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YtJHlaLovg[/ame]

 

[BearMagus]

What nonsense. Samhain was observed when the Druids said the time was right. That could have been anywhere from September to late November depending on the location, seasonal conditions, etc. It was the end of the harvest and green cycle.

 

[winterknight]

^ what he said. Samhain (pronounced 'sawahn', BTW) was always in mid-autumn. The May festival was Beltine, which was totally different

 

[RobinGoodfellow]

Meh. It's just part of the new holiday tradition: Telling everyone that they're celebrating a holiday on the wrong day...

RG

 

[josher]

The article is saying that All Saints Day was celebrated on May 13th.

It was moved to November 1st to "baptise" the pagan feast of the dead.

 

[star-warrior]

Meh, doesn't matter. It's become what it is today, just as Xmas now begins several months in the shops before it suppose to occur on the calendar.

 

[Yooper]

Meh, doesn't matter. It's become what it is today, just as Xmas now begins several months in the shops before it suppose to occur on the calendar.

I was at Target earlier today and the Trim a Tree shop was in full force Ho Ho Holiday Mode, including the annoying light sets with the cheesy electronic Christmas music (it isn't even GOOD).

I went and found where the damn thing was plugged in and unplugged it. Three other shoppers applauded.

 

[star-warrior]

I know what to get Yoops for Xmas

 

[doctorsun]

Christmas is the holiday that it celebrated on the wrong day. Everything in the Bible regarding the Nativity points to Jesus having been born in the spring, not the winter. Early Christians didn't even consider the birth of Christ to be important. The holiday was primarily created to compete with the traditions of the Mithras cult who celebrated the birth of the Sun King on the winter solstice.

Thankfully, we've sucked all of the religion out of Christmas and all of us godless heathens are free to celebrate it. Here comes Santa Claus!

 

[winterknight]

And Valentine's is actually Horny Werewolf Day.