October 03rd, 2007
October is here with all the little ghouls and goblins getting ready for trick-or-treat night.
Halloween actually dates back to the Celts who lived 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the UK and northern France. These people celebrated their new year on November 1, which marked harvest time and the end of summer. The Celts believed that the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became "blurred" on the night before the new year.
The Druids built huge sacred bonfires where crops were burned and animals were sacrificed to the Celtic gods to commemorate the event.
The Romans conquered most of the Celtic territory by A.D. 43. Festivals of Roman origin were then combined with those of Celtic celebrations, including Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruits and trees. Her symbol was the apple, which may explain the "bobbing for apples" tradition. The celebrations included big bonfires, parades, and dressing up as angels, devils and saints in honor of the dead.
In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 as All Saints Day, also called All-hallows Eve, and eventually, Halloween.
These traditions live on today through our little ones (who see Halloween as gathering candy). Although the history has become somewhat distorted through the ages, a look at the history separates fact from fiction and reminds us of this day's ancient origins.
October is also a month of cooling temperatures, a time many of us welcome as a respite from Arizona's hot summer months (and it was a hot one this year). The winter visitors will soon return to our little paradise and the circle continues as it does every year. Until next issue . . . take care. back...
Halloween actually dates back to the Celts who lived 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the UK and northern France. These people celebrated their new year on November 1, which marked harvest time and the end of summer. The Celts believed that the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became "blurred" on the night before the new year.
The Druids built huge sacred bonfires where crops were burned and animals were sacrificed to the Celtic gods to commemorate the event.
The Romans conquered most of the Celtic territory by A.D. 43. Festivals of Roman origin were then combined with those of Celtic celebrations, including Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruits and trees. Her symbol was the apple, which may explain the "bobbing for apples" tradition. The celebrations included big bonfires, parades, and dressing up as angels, devils and saints in honor of the dead.
In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 as All Saints Day, also called All-hallows Eve, and eventually, Halloween.
These traditions live on today through our little ones (who see Halloween as gathering candy). Although the history has become somewhat distorted through the ages, a look at the history separates fact from fiction and reminds us of this day's ancient origins.
October is also a month of cooling temperatures, a time many of us welcome as a respite from Arizona's hot summer months (and it was a hot one this year). The winter visitors will soon return to our little paradise and the circle continues as it does every year. Until next issue . . . take care. back...
