THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN/2º cuat. RR.HH

THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN

The origins of Halloween go back very far, to the ancient Celts. The Celts lived in British isles during ancient times. They were pagans. The believed in the gods of nature.

There were important festivals on the Celtic calendar. One was called Beltane. It marked the beginning of summer. The other was called Samhain. It marked the end of summer, on October 31. Samhain was also the last day of the year on the Celtic calendar.

Samhain was the Celtic god of death. The Celts were afraid of winter. They associated it with death and evil spirits.

The Druids were Celtic priests and teachers. They were very important in Celtic society.Everyone respected them. They practised magic and religious rituals.
Samhain, October 31, the Druids predicted the future. The Celtic people dressed in scary costumes to frighten the spirits. They dressed as witches, ghosts and skeletons. They also played games to bring good luck in the new year. The Celts believed that the night of October 31, ghosts came out of their tombs. The spirits of the dead returned to earth. After the Roman invasion in 43 AD., Samhain also became a harvest festival. The Romans had a harvest festival called Pomona. Pomona was the Roman goddess of garden and orchards. Nuts, fruits and apples were part of the Samhain ceremonies. Apples were sacred and lucky! The coulous of Halloween are orange and black. They represent the harvest (orange) and death (black).
After the Roman invasion, Christian rites substituted pagan rites.

The first day of November was the day of all saints for the Christians. It was called "All Hallaow´s Day"(the day of all saints). The evening of October 31 was All Hallow´s Eve. This was shortened to Halloween.

The Druid religion went on for a long time in Ireland and Scotland. Halloween continued to be important in both places.
In the 19th century, Irish immigrants brought their Halloween customs to the United States. Now Halloween is one of the biggest festivities in the United States. The day is on every American calendar!