October 31, 2008 - Volume 37 Issue 4
Celtic Festival Becomes Popular Holiday Around Globe
Page by Alexis Hosack
Halloween’s origins can be traced back to the Celtic festival
of Samhain (pronounce SOW-in). The pagan Celtic people lived in present-day
Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France approximately 2,000 years
ago.
The new year was celebrated on Nov. 1, thus marking the end of summer and
harvest time and the beginning of winter.
On the eve of the new year, spirits of the dead were believed to return to
the world of the living. These spirits were thought to damage crops, cause
mayhem, and, most importantly, they were believed to allow the Celtic priests,
Druids, to foretell the future, helping guide the Celts throughout the winter.
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Food was placed on doorsteps to encourage the good spirits,
and masks were worn to scare away the evil spirits.
Many centuries later, the Roman Catholic Church attempted to do away with
the pagan holiday by establishing All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1. All Saints’
Day commemorates the saints who do not have their own holiday. The Church’s
effort was in vain, however, and Halloween continued to flourish.
Halloween came to America with the hoards of Irish immigrants who poured into
the nation in the 1840s. Since then, it has become one of the most popular
holidays celebrated in our country, as well as many other countries around
the globe.
Although it has evolved greatly since the Celtic times, the American celebration
of Halloween still retains many of its ancient traditions. The wearing of
costumes is a good example.
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However, whereas the pagan Celtics wore costumes to ward off evil spirits, costumes today in America and some other nations are worn by children when they go trick-or-treating and by adults who go to parties. While the Celts dressed to be scary, many today dress up as things that are not scary, such as princesses or cartoon characters.
Halloween around the world
China
Known as Teng Chieh, the Chinese celebration of Halloween involves guiding spirits back to Earth by lighting bonfires and jack-o’-lanterns. Food and water are placed in front of pictures of deceased loved ones. Worshippers in Buddhist temples make “boats of the law” out of paper. The boats are burned at night to remember loved ones and to help guide the spirits not laid to rest to heaven because their presence among the living is thought to be dangerous.
Mexico
In Mexico and several other Latin American countries, Halloween is the beginning of the three-day festival Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Families hold picnics on the graves of deceased loved ones, bake bread, and make candy in the shapes of skulls and crossbones, coffins, or caskets. Children run down the streets with lanterns asking for coins. Bonfires and fireworks are lit, and lanterns are hung in trees to guide the souls of the dead home.
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Britain
At one time before Martin Luther’s Protestant movement,
children in England made “punkies” with scary faces out of large
beetroots and carried them down the streets singing the “Punkie Night
Song.” In some rural areas, people hung lanterns on gateposts to protect
themselves from the spirits that were believed to roam the earth on Halloween
night.
When Martin Luther’s Protestant movement became widespread, people no
longer saw reason to celebrate the eve of All Saints’ Day.
Today, a handful of children go trick-or-treating, but most adults who are
called upon are not ready to accommodate trick-or-treaters.
France
La fête d’ Halloween, is a relatively new holiday
to France, although the Celts who inhabited northern France may have celebrated
Samhain. Instead of honoring deceased loved ones, the French Halloween is
a commercial holiday celebrated with parties and costumed events.
Halloween was virtually unheard of in France until 1996, but it grows more
and more popular each year. It is still, however, considered little more than
an “American” holiday.
Sweden
In Sweden, Halloween is known as “Alla Helgons Dag”.
The celebration continues from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6. The Friday prior to All
Saints’ Day becomes a shortened work day, and students receive a day
vacation from school.
The event is celebrated mainly by teenagers and children. Fancy dress parties
and ghost parties are usually held, and many people light lanterns and parade
their frightful costumes throughout their neighborhood.
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