HALLOWEEN

In her web site at http://communications.uvic.ca/Ring/99oct29/viewpoint.html, Lily Dyson, a faculty member in UVic’s department of educational psychology and leadership studies, summarizes the origins of Halloween.

IN TRADITIONAL BRITAIN and Ireland, Halloween is All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day. Hallow refers to the holy status of the saints. This festival was first proclaimed by Pope Boniface IV in the seventh century. But it was Pope Gregory III in the next century who associated it with November 1, a day which had been linked with supernatural powers of the dead for centuries.

The day was also recognized throughout Europe as a time of seasonal transition. Regarded as the start of winter in pagan Ireland, All Saints’ Day was called Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”). The Celtic year began on Samhain Eve, October 31, when the frontier between the world and the supernatural realm cracked open. The ghosts, sorcerers, witches, and beasts that now roam the streets on Halloween are replicas of those supernatural invaders.

On Halloween night in ancient Ireland, all the fires were lit. The tradition, believed to ward off evil spirits, is retained in North America with bonfires and front porch jack-o’ lanterns. In the Middle ages, on All Saints’ Day, which was intended by the church to root out the paganism associated with Samhain festival, beggars went begging for “sweet soul cakes” in exchange for saying prayers for the dead. They chanted, “Soul, soul, for a souling cake, I pray, good missus, a souling cake. Apple or pear or plum or cherry, anything good to make us merry.” This is thought to be the forerunner of “trick or treating.”

Through Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century, Halloween arrived in North America, and by 1880 it was established.

Solve a Halloween Word Search puzzle at http://wilstar.com/holidays/puzzles/halloweenpuz.htm/

Learn a lot about Halloween customs at http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallo_cu.htm/

Here is a simple Halloween crossword puzzle for the kids http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/cw/2/dt-halloween.html/

Try a grown-ups Halloween crossword puzzle at http://www.religioustolerance.org/hallo_cu.htm/

Enjoy many spooky stories online at http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/halloween/stories.html/

Find kids or grown-ups Halloween costumes at http://www.ihalloweencostumes.com/

Make your own costume using directions at http://familyinternet.about.com/library/blcostumeindex.htm/

For a very comprehensive Halloween site go to http://familyinternet.about.com/library/blcostumeindex.htm/

A long list of Halloween Links at http://www.cyber-kitchen.com/holidays/halloween/nonfoodlinks.htm/

 

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