Well that scary time of year is once again upon us and we all know what I am referring to right? I am indeed speaking about "Halloween" ~ that one night of the year when everybody likes to dress up in costumes as ghosts, goblins, vampires or some other creature/character and go door to door yelling "trick or treat!" , though mainly children are the ones doing this in the hopes that they reap a large reward of candy and treats at the end of the night. (Alas, to be a kid again.....)As adults, the majority of us may fins ourselves out with our children keeping them company, staying home to hand out treats (and the odd poisoned apple and syringe - just kidding!) to the kids so elegantly dressed in their costumes or perhaps attending some sort of Halloween event whether it be a costume party, private seance or perhaps even a paranormal investigation. (I personally prefer the latter, though I have been known to dress up in costume once in a while!)
How many people out there actually know the true origins of Halloween? Well, allow me to enlighten you a little bit. The origins of Halloween in fact go back 2000 years to an ancient Celtic festival known as "Samhain" (pronounced "sow-in", or in the Gaelic "sav-in) which for the Celts marked the end of summer and the harvest, and the beginning of winter; summer brought nicer weather and the harvest while winter brought with it cold, darkness and even death. Given the fact that the ancient Celts marked their New Year on the 1st of November, it was their belief that on the eve prior (31st of October) the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest and that the spirits of the dead returned to earth to roam amongst them.
The ancient Celts felt that the presence of these spirits would make it easier for the Celtic priests (or 'Druids') to make their predictions of the future and the coming year ahead as well as cause damage to the crops/harvest among other troublesome things and occurrences. The ancient Celts would dress up in costumes (usually animal heads and skins) whilst gathering around large, sacred bonfires. This Celtic festival of the dead was eventually influenced by Christianity and the arrival of the conquering Romans around 40 A.D. who celebrated their festival known as 'Feralia', commemorating the passing of the dead.
The Catholic Church (under the leadership of Pope Bonafice IV) eventually incorporated "All Saints' Day" festivities (which was known in Middle English as "Alholowmesse", which became "All-Hallowmass" which became "All Hallows" and eventually Halloween, the term we use today).
There are many great resources available to those who wish to learn more on the origins of Halloween as I have not gone into great length here ~ though interesting to know that it has been celebrated for thousands of years throughout history.
Once thing is for certain ~ on this day the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is definitely at its thinnest. Keeping this in mind, regardless of what you end up doing tonight just know that the wind you hear blowing through the trees or the strange howling sound you hear from off in the distance may very well be an indication of the presence of the spirits of the dead whom on this night, walk amongst us.
Have a safe and terrifying night ~ Happy Halloween.
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