what is the history of Halloween ?

[Telstra]

yeah who started it and why ?

 

[dsh122]

In European culture, it began as the Pagan New Year's eve. The belief was that the spirits of the dead all transitioned from earth to heaven on All Saint's or All Hallows Day. Thus All Hallow's Eve (eventually the word Halloween) was a day of celebration of and prayer for the dead. People would go from house to house, recieve "Soul Cakes" (a type of cookie). If the home owner did not have cakes, a trick was often played on them. Thus the "trick or treat" tradition came about. In Latino culture a similar tradition exists in El Dia de los Muertos (The day of the dead). I know this is not 100% of the story but I hope it's a start.

 

[gsdx]

It was invented for the sole purpose of having a day after which department stores could put up Christmas decorations for sale.

 

[Orlandude]

It has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. It is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in the Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life to cause havoc and damage crops. The festival would involve bonfires because it was believed that the fires would attract insects and bats to the area. Masks and costumes were worn to mimic the evil spirits or appease them.

 

[Telstra]

Europeans doesn't celebrate Halloween correct ?
Only Americans do.


I know Australians don't have Halloween.

 

[gsdx]

Only Americans do.

And Canadians.

 

[hotdog1846]

I've wondered if it all is rooted in psychiatry.

The brain is capable of all kinds of things when it misfires. And human circadian rhythms certainly are subject to changes in season and daylight hours. It's interesting how Halloween seems to be present in cultures in the far northern latitudes. Perhaps with the shorter daylight hours, as the circadian rhythm adjusts and lots of hormones undergo changes, seasonal affective disorder, migraine auras, anxiety, depression, and other such things led people to think they were experiencing spirits of the dead.

 

[RobinGoodfellow]

Europeans doesn't celebrate Halloween correct ?
Only Americans do.

Some Europeans still do, but it's become more of a party thing in the cities. You'll find it celebrated in some of the smaller villages. Also, it's celebrated, albeit more somberly, as All Saints Eve in a lot of places.

RG