Halloween
is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. The word Halloween is
a shortening of All Hallows' Evening also known as Hallowe'en or All Hallows'
Eve.
Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties,
visiting "haunted houses" and carving jack-o-lanterns.
History
Halloween
has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced
"sah-win").
The
festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in 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 and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged
crops.
The
festival would frequently involve bonfires. It is believed that the fires
attracted insects to the area which attracted bats to the area. These are
additional attributes of the history of Halloween.
Masks and
costumes were worn in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or appease them.
Symbolic origin
When the
Irish immigrants arrived in America, they brought with them the tradition of
carving-out turnips (or, sometimes, a potato or rutabaga) and placing coals or
a small candle inside the hollow. These were then displayed on doorsteps at
Halloween to ward off evil spirits. However, the Irish quickly discovered that
Jack O'Lanterns were much easier to carve out of the pumpkin which was a fruit
native to their newly-adopted home...something of a blessing since turnips
where nowhere near as plentiful or easy to find as they had been in Ireland.
This practice spread swiftly among the general population in America and was
soon an integral tradition of the Halloween festivities. The Jack O'Lantern is
quite possibly the most well-known symbol of modern day Halloween.
The
origin of the custom of "trick or treating" is a controversial one.
Some believe that the practice originated with the Druids who threatened dire
consequences to residents who failed to respond generously to the demand for
free goods or money. Since a similar tale stems from various historical roots
among the countries which comprise the British Isles, it is probably safe to
assume that the practice is ancient, even if its precise origin cannot be
ascertained with any certainty. Another theory is that the Irish began the
tradition of "trick or treating." In preparation for All Hallow's
Eve, Irish townsfolk would visit neighbors and ask for contributions of food
for a feast to be held in the village. The custom was referred to as "going
a-souling" and was eventually practiced only by the children who would
visit the houses in their neighborhoods and be given gifts of ale, food and
money.
The use
of witches and cats (together with ghosts) in the celebration of Halloween
originates with the Druids, who believed that ghosts, spirits, fairies,
witches, elves and all manner of supernatural manifestation emerged on
Halloween night to possibly harm the living. It was a common Celtic belief that
cats (particularly black ones) had once been human beings who had been
transformed into felines as punishment for their evil deeds or through coming
in contact with bad magick. Black cats were often tied with silver ropes
because it was thought such creatures possessed the ability to protect sacred
treasures.
Customes
Of the
many best loved traditions in America, the donning of costumes is at the top of
the list. Many, many years ago, in times past, adults began dressing in
elaborate costumes for Halloween parties, also known as Masquerade parties,
long before it became an annual event for children. Dressing up in Halloween
costumes is a recent tradition that developed in the twentieth century. The
first store bought Halloween costumes were not available before the 1930's.
With the
advent of Hollywood movies beginning to appear all over the country around this
time, actors like Lon Chaney, known for his Wolf-Man character and Bela Lugosi,
who brought to life the vampire Count Dracula, gave the country the perfect
creepy inspiration for Halloween costumes.
Witches,
blood thirsty vampires, moaning ghosts, vicious werewolves and many other
frightening monsters became the popular choices of trick or theaters everywhere.
With the
increasing popularity of "tricks or treats", children soon joined the
adults in costumes and before long Halloween night was filled with spooky,
creepy, frightening, or even funny and cute costumed folks going door to door
begging for goodies.
Food
Halloween around the world
Halloween
is one of the world's oldest holidays, dating back to pagan times. But it is
celebrated today by more people in more countries than ever before. There’s a simple reason: it is fun and it is
good, clean, harmless fun for young and old alike!
As one of
the world's oldest holidays, Halloween is still celebrated today in several
countries around the globe, but it is in North America and Canada that it
maintains its highest level of popularity. Every year, 65% of Americans
decorate their homes and offices for Halloween...a percentage exceeded only by
Christmas. Halloween is the holiday when the most candy is sold and is second
only to Christmas in terms of total sales.
Here's a
peek at how other cultures do it up for Halloween:
- Austria
In
Austria, during the week of Seleenwoche (October 30 to November 8), some people
will leave bread, water and a lighted lamp on the table before retiring on
Halloween night. The reason for this is because it was once believed such items
would welcome the dead souls back to earth on a night which for the Austrians
was considered to be brimming with strong cosmic energies.
The
Belgians believe that it is unlucky for a black cat to cross one's path and
also unlucky if it should enter a home or travel on a ship. The custom in
Belgium on Halloween night is to light candles in memory of dead relatives.
- Canada
Modern
Halloween celebrations in Canada began with the arrival of Scottish and Irish
immigrants in the 1800s. Jack O'Lanterns are carved and the festivities include
parties, trick-or-treating and the decorating of homes with pumpkins and corn
stalks.
In China,
the Halloween festival is known as Teng Chieh. Food and water are placed in
front of photographs of family members who have departed while bonfires and
lanterns are lit in order to light the paths of the spirits as they travel the
earth on Halloween night. Worshippers in Buddhist temples fashion "boats
of the law" from paper, some of which are very large, which are then
burned in the evening hours. The purpose of this custom is twofold: as a
remembrance of the dead and in order to free the spirits of the
"pretas" in order that they might ascend to heaven.
"Pretas" are the spirits of those who died as a result of an accident
or drowning and whose bodies were consequently never buried. The presence of
"pretas" among the living is thought by the Chinese to be dangerous.
Under the guidance of Buddhist temples, societies are formed to carry out
ceremonies for the "pretas," which includes the lighting of lanterns.
Monks are invited to recite sacred verses and offerings of fruit are presented.
China holds
several festivals that are similar to Halloween, including Teng Chieh, a
Lantern Festival that closes off Chinese New Year celebrations. Lanterns formed
like dragons, swans, and other animals are hung in the streets or near
households, protecting people from evil and lighting the way for wandering
spirits. Family members also honor deceased loved ones by placing food and
water in front of their photos. In addition, a Festival of Hungry Ghosts is
another celebration in which angry spirits are offered food and gifts to pacify
negative feelings and help to prevent actions of revenge. Lighting candles and
avoiding black cats.
In
Czechoslovakia, chairs are placed by the fireside on Halloween night. There is
one chair for each living family member and one for each family member's
spririt.
At one
time, English children made "punkies" out of large beetroots, upon
which they carved a design of their choice. Then, they would carry their
"punkies" through the streets while singing the "Punkie Night
Song" as they knocked on doors and asked for money. In some rural areas,
turnip lanterns were placed on gateposts to protect homes from the spirits who
roamed on Halloween night. Another custom was to toss objects such as stones,
vegetables and nuts into a bonfire to frighten away the spirits. These symbolic
sacrifices were also employed as fortune-telling tools. If a pebble thrown into
the flames at night was no longer visible in the morning, then it was believed
that the person who tossed the pebble would not survive another year. If nuts
tossed into the blaze by young lovers then exploded, it signified a quarrelsome
marriage. For the most part however, the English ceased celebrating Halloween
with the spread of Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation. Since followers of
the new religion did not believe in Saints, they saw no reason to celebrate the
Eve of All Saints' Day. However, in recent years, the American "trick or
treating" custom, together with the donning of costumes for going
door-to-door, has become a relatively popular pasttime among English children
at Halloween, although many of the adults (particularly the older generations)
have little idea as to why they are being asked for sweets and are usually
ill-prepared to accommodate their small and hopeful callers.
Guy fawkes day
On the
evening of November 5, bonfires are lit throughout England. Effigies are burned
and fireworks are set off. Although it falls around the same time and has some
similar traditions, this celebration has little to do with Halloween or the
ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The English, for the most part, stopped
celebrating Halloween as Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation began to
spread. It was on Halloween in 1517 that Martin Luther began to try to reform
the Catholic Church. It ended in the formation of the Protestant Church, which
didn't believe in saints. So they had no reason to celebrate the eve of All
Saints' Day. However, a new autumn ritual did emerge. Guy Fawkes Day
festivities were designed to commemorate the execution of a notorious English
traitor, Guy Fawkes.
Without Saints,
there would be no All Hallow's eve, no Halloween and no partying, so in
Britain, when a a conspiracy to blow up the English Parliamentand King James I
in 1605 was foiled (for the whole story, click here!), this became a convenient
means to solve two issues at once. The celebrations that people were accustomed
to just moved to November 5 and became Guy Fawkes Day. Guy Fawkes was
not-too-bright accomplice who became the fall 'guy" (his name is also where we get the word
"guy" from) in a Catholic plot to blow up the English Parliament,
which at that time was Protestant. So, although technically, the celebration
was to commemorate the failure of the plot, nonetheless, it was Halloween.
Bonfires were lit across the country. People made lanterns from carved out
turnips and children went begging for "a penny for the guy" (and they
were to use the pennies to buy more wood for the bonfire upon which Guy Fawkes
was to be burned alive. gruesome, huh? I
knew you'd like that..
England celebrates
Halloween by watching firewords and partying in costumes, from October 31st to
November 5th. On the night of November 5th, the Brits commemorate the infamous
British traitor Guy Fawkes, by lighting bonfires. It's appropriate, considering
Fawkes, a Roman Catholic restorationist, was caught guarding the gunpowder in a
mission to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. This celebration, called
Guy Fawkes Night, has little to do with Halloween (or the ancient Celtic
festival of Samhain, in which our holiday has its roots). For the most part,
the country stopped celebrating Halloween because of the Protestant
Reformation. “There’s not quite the ‘everything as a pumpkin’ motif that we
have in America, which tends to represent the end of harvest season and the
coming of winter,” says Nick Russell, an American consultant and strategist
living in London. “It has a decidedly darker feel, perhaps more in line with
the pagan ritual of scaring off spirits.” Leaving bread, water, and light.
Unlike
most nations of the world, Halloween is not celebrated by the French in order
to honor the dead and departed ancestors. It is regarded as an
"American" holiday in France and was virtually unknown in the country
until around 1996. A combination of the French love of parties, fete's and costume
events, and some simple crass commercialism has led to the rapid rise of the
holiday in France.
The
French had been hearing about Halloween from foreign residents and tourists and
in their English classes for years before the holiday ever showed its (masked)
face in France. In 1982, the American Dream bar/restaurant in Paris began
celebrating Halloween. At first it had to explain the holiday to each customer,
but since about 1995, French customers have tended to be more and more familiar
with Halloween.
The Mask
Museum in Saint-Hilaire-Saint Florent was opened by Cesar group in 1992, and
the owners started working to expand Halloween in France the following year.
In 1996,
the village of Saint Germain-en-Laye held a Halloween party on 24 October in
the middle of the day, to give locals an idea of what it was all about.
Meanwhile,
companies like France Télécom, McDonald's, Disney, and Coca Cola began using
pumpkins and other Halloween images and ideas in publicity campaigns. This
simultaneously increased French people's knowledge about Halloween and made it
seem like another imposition of American culture.
How is Halloween celebrated in France?
Halloween
in France is usually celebrated by costumed people of all ages going to parties
at friends' homes, restaurants, bars, or clubs. The costumes themselves tend to
be traditionally "scary" - mummies, ghosts, goblins, witches, and
vampires - rather than the cute costumes like princesses, superheroes, and the
cartoon character of the day which are popular in the US. Trick-or-treating is
extremely rare; when it does exist, it is not from house-to-house, but from
store-to-store.
Stores,
malls, restaurants, offices, and homes decorate their windows; pastry and candy
shops make up special desserts and candies; and many different kinds of
companies use Halloween in their ads. Supermarkets sell pumpkins for
jack-o'-lanterns and candy companies are now marketing candy in the traditional
Halloween format: one big bag filled with lots of little packages, which may
encourage trick-or-treating.
Traditionally,
pumpkins are not a popular food in France, so the high demand for
jack-o'-lanterns during Halloween has been a boon for pumpkin growers. There is
even a pumpkin patch at a farm outside of Paris where people can pick their
own.
Halloween
in France is rather controversial, due to the perception of corporate and
cultural influence, as well as the fact that it is not a typical French holiday
and some people still don't understand what is being celebrated. Because
Halloween is seen as an American celebration, some French people refuse to
enjoy it, having decided to include it in their anti-American boycott. It's too
early to tell whether Halloween will develop into a long-term tradition; once
the novelty wears off, it may turn out to be just a fad.
In
Germany, the people put away their knives on Halloween night. The reason for
this is because they do not want to risk harm to (or from) the returning
spirits.
The
Halloween celebration in Hong Kong is known as "Yue Lan" (Festival of
the Hungry Ghosts) and is a time when it is believed that spirits roam the
world for twenty-four hours. Some people burn pictures of fruit or money at
this time, believing these images would reach the spirit world and bring comfort
to the ghosts. Fires are lit and food and gifts are offered to placate
potentially angry ghosts who might be looking for revenge
In
Ireland, believed to be the birthplace of Halloween, the tradition is still
celebrated as much as it is in the United States. In rural areas, bonfires are
lit as they were in the days of the Celts and children dress up in costumes to
spend the evening "trick-or-treating" in their neighborhoods. After
the visiting, most people attend parties with neighbors and friends. At these
parties, many games are played, including "snap-apple," in which an
apple on a string is tied to a doorframe or tree, and players attempt to take a
bite out of the suspended apple. In addition to bobbing for apples, parents
often arrange treasure hunts with sweets or pastries as the
"treasure." The Irish also play a card game where cards are laid
face-down on a table with sweets or coins beneath them. When a child selects a
card, he or she receives whatever prize might be found there.
A
traditional food is eaten on Halloween called "barnbrack." This is a
type of fruitcake which can be baked at home or store-bought. A muslin-wrapped
treat is baked inside the cake which, so it is said, can foretell the future of
the one who finds it. If the prize is a ring, then that person will soon be wed
and a piece of straw means a prosperous year is forthcoming. Children are also
known to play tricks upon their neighbors on Halloween night. One of which is
known as "knock-a-dolly," where children knock on the doors of their
neighbors but then run away before the door is opened.
The
Japanese celebrate the "Obon Festival" (also known as
"Matsuri" or "Urabon") which is similar to Halloween
festivities in that it is dedicated to the spirits of ancestors. Special foods
are prepared and bright red lanterns are hung everywhere. Candles are lit and
placed into lanterns which are then set afloat on rivers and seas. During the
"Obon Festival," a fire is lit every night in order to show the
ancestors where their families might be found. "Obon" is one of the
wo main occasions during the Japanese year when the dead are believed to return
to their birthplaces. Memorial stones are cleaned and community dances
performed. The "Obon Festival" takes place during July or August.
Japan
does not celebrate a western-style Halloween. While most people here know a
little about Halloween in the United States, with the costumes, parties, and
trick-or-treating; very few know exactly when or how it's celebrated. The
Japanese celebrate the "Obon Festival" (also known as
"Matsuri" or "Urabon" and pronounced, "oh bone.) which
is similar to Halloween festivities in that it is dedicated to the spirits of
ancestors. Special foods are prepared and bright red lanterns are hung
everywhere. Candles are lit and placed into lanterns which are then set afloat
on rivers and seas. During the "Obon Festival," a fire is lit every
night in order to show the ancestors where their families might be found.
"Obon" is one of the two main occasions during the Japanese year when
the dead are believed to return to their birthplaces. Traditionally, in rural
areas where gravesites are in the neighborhood, the pathway from the graves to
the home is swept clean, and a general house-cleaning is also done. Then, on
the 13th, an altar is set up with various food offerings, and "welcoming
fires" are set in front of the house and along the path to guide and
welcome the spirits. People may even hire a priest to come and chant prayers.
On the evening of the 15th "send-off fires" are lit, and the spirits
return to their graves. People who spend o-bon away from their ancestral homes
or live in the city usually just make a little token fire on their veranda or
patio. Memorial stones are cleaned and community dances performed. The "Obon
Festival" takes place during July or August. region, festivals, food
booths, and bon dances can be found in the evening, with lots and lots of
people enjoying themselves. Even those who don't observe the religious rite
outlined above participate in the festivals. You used to see many people
wearing a yukata, a lightweight cotton kimono, but these days you usually only
see a few girls wearing them.
Japan
celebrates the Obon Festival in the summer, which honors the spirits of
ancestors. Red lanterns are hung everywhere and also released into rivers and
the sea. For the duration of the festival, a fire is lit each night to guide a
spirit to its family’s location – during this time, the deceased return to
where they were born.
If your
child thinks Halloween is strictly about carving pumpkins and bobbing for
apples, teach her that there’s much more to it. A worldwide celebration,
Halloween and its variations are full of history and tradition.
In Korea,
the festival similar to Halloween is known as "Chusok." It is at this
time that families thank their ancestors for the fruits of their labor. The
family pays respect to these ancestors by visiting their tombs and making
offerings of rice and fruits. The "Chusok" festival takes place in
the month of August.
- Mexico, Latin America And Spain
Among
Spanish-speaking nations, Halloween is known as "El Dia de los
Muertos." It is a joyous and happy holiday...a time to remember friends
and family who have died. Officially commemorated on November 2 (All Souls'
Day), the three-day celebration actually begins on the evening of October 31.
Designed to honor the dead who are believed to return to their homes on
Halloween, many families construct an altar in their home and decorate it with
candy, flowers, photographs, fresh water and samples of the deceased's favorite
foods and drinks. Frequently, a basin and towel are left out in order that the
spirit can wash prior to indulging in the feast. Candles are incense are burned
to help the departed find his or her way home. Relatives also tidy the
gravesites of deceased family members, including snipping weeds, making repairs
and painting. The grave is then adorned with flowers, wreaths or paper
streamers. Often, a live person is placed inside a coffine which is then
paraded through the streets while vendors toss fruit, flowers and candies into
the casket. On November 2, relatives gather at the gravesite to picnic and
reminisce. Some of these gatherings may even include tequila and a mariachi
band although American Halloween customs are gradually taking over this
celebration. In Mexico during the Autumn, countless numbers of Monarch
butterflies return to the shelter of Mexico's oyamel fir trees. It was the
belief of the Aztecs that these butterflies bore the spirits of dead ancestors.
Mexican
traditions celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, on November 1st
and 2nd. Families and friends come together to celebrate their departed loved
ones, often building alters and placing favorite foods, beverages, and photos
of their deceased relatives.
In
Sweden, Halloween is known as "Alla Helgons Dag" and is celebrated
from October 31 until November 6. As with many other holidays, "Alla
Helgons Dag" has an eve which is either celebrated or becomes a shortened
working day. The Friday prior to All Saint's Day is a short day for
universities while school-age children are given a day of vacation.
Public life
Country
hams are an old tradition in the American South. Fresh pork legs are
salt-cured, sometimes smoked, and then dry aged for several months. Because the
meat can be very salty, country hams must be soaked in water for a time to
remove excess salt. Baked country ham is the perfect centerpiece for any family
celebration. Leftovers are great for breakfast with red-eye gravy or served as
a sandwich in buttermilk biscuits. 
·
Candied Sweet Potatoes (American
sugar-baked sweet potatoes)
·
Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy (American
holiday turkey) 
·
Wild Rice Pilaf (Canadian-American wild
grain pilaf)
American
football is an important part of many Thanksgiving celebrations in the United
States. Professional football games are often held on Thanksgiving Day; until
recently, these were the only games played during the week apart from Sunday or
Monday night. The National Football League has played games on Thanksgiving
every year since its creation; the tradition is referred to as the Thanksgiving
Classic. The Detroit Lions have hosted a game every Thanksgiving Day since
1934, with the exception of 1939–1944 (due to World War II). In 1966, the
Dallas Cowboys, who had been founded six years earlier, adopted the practice of
hosting Thanksgiving games. It is widely rumored that the Cowboys sought a
guarantee that they would regularly host Thanksgiving games as a condition of
their very first one (since games on days other than Sunday were uncommon at
the time and thus high attendance was not a certainty).
