Halloween is a holiday steeped in rich tradition throughout the world. The word Halloween comes from an Old English form of All Hallow's Eve, known as All Hallow's Ev'en (Evening). This night has long ushered in the dark half of the year in many regions of the world. Halloween was once a night that caused anxiety and dread among those terrified their souls may be taken by evil beings from beyond the veil between the world of the living and the dead! Its said the veil between the world of the living and the dead is most thin on All Hallow's Eve!
Halloween began with the Celtic autumn (fall) celebration, known as Samhain, which was the celebration that ushered in "the dying of the light" (summer's end). On this dark and spooky evening on which the spectres and spirits of the dead of both the good and the evil were given free reign between the veils of the world of the living and the dead by The Lord of The Dark, Samhain. Furthermore, these spirits are allowed on this night to interact with the living. Among these spirits are human "ghosts" and other inhuman creatures that occupy the underworld and the "land of the dead". The Cutty Black Sow is one such "spirit", actually a demon, an inhuman spirit in Welsh folklore believed to steal souls on Halloween.
The Celts celebarted their new year November 1, which was later replaced by most cultures with "All Soul's Day", a primarily Roman Catholic "holiday". Ancient Celts built bonfires on Samhain night to keep evil spirits at bey.
- Halloween is the eve prior to, "All Soul's Day", on which Catholics venerate canonized saints.
- All Soul's Day was created to integrate Celtic Druid into Christian traditions as converts.
- Kids once went door to door offering prayers in exchange for soul cakes on Halloween.
- Masks were worn as disguises to confuse and ward off evil spirits on All Hallow's Eve.
- Masks were also worn to honor ancestors who passed away.
- Jack-o-Lanterns were originally made out of turnips.
- Large Potatoes and rutabagas were also utilized in Europe for carving.
- Pumpkins are native to North America, not Europe.
- Seeds were brought back to Europe from America and Europe was introduced to the pumpkin!
- Bobbing for apples was a form of divining that foretold the type of man a woman would marry.
- Most kids who have been poisoned with candy were victims of family members, not strangers.
