Why Celebrate Halloween: Facts and Myths

October 11, 2021 curiousadmin

Now is the season of Halloween and we are all set to celebrate All Saint’s Day. Halloween is all about Myths and there are some facts. Before we start the celebrations let’s explore this world of a scare. The cold depressing winter nights and the sounds of werewolves howling around. Usually, a rough idea about Halloween is that you have to dress like a scary character. Some say it is the celebration of Autumn, some call it All saints day. Hooooosh! Let’s go to the times immemorial and find out the roots of the scariest festival we all enjoy being a part of.

Why Celebrate Halloween: Facts and Myths

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The Roots

Irish immigrants in the mid-1800s, came to United States with the traditions of Halloween

The commercialized festival of this era has its roots deep in the 15th century, where, it was called All Saints Day or All Hallows Day. Hallow means a saint or a holy person. A belief that on Halloween day, the souls of the dead returned to their homes, in order to repeal the negative energy people, lit bonfire and dressed in costumes. Its origins are also considered to be Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland.

Why Celebrate Halloween: Facts and Myths

Halloween traditions

The traditions of Samhain were original but over the period of time things changed and the festival became more of activities to freshen up the mind and have fun. Following are some traditions followed on Halloween.

CARVING HALLOWEEN JACK-O’-LANTERNS.
GOING TRICK-OR-TREATING
BLACK CAT spooking
BOBBING FOR APPLES
PLAYING PRANKS
DECORATING WITH BLACK AND ORANGE
LIGHTING CANDLES AND BONFIRES

Halloween Myths

Celts and Halloween dressing

It is believed that the costumes which Celts wore were like animal heads and skins, which attempted to read each other’s fortunes.

Epithet Halloween came from Catholics

Besides the fact that the festival is more secular and commercial now

The Catholic origins of Halloween root back to more than 1300 years ago to the vigil of the Feast of All Saints. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica to all the saints. Then later, Pope Gregory IV declared this celebration as a holy day of obligation.

Hidden meanings behind Halloween symbols

It is believed that the souls of the dead visit earth and their nears and dears the Halloween night. People dress up in different horror costumes to repel the energy of the dead, and to ensure their safety.

Full moon and Halloween night connections

On Oct. 31, 2020, it was the first full moon on Halloween in 76 years. According to information from NASA Earth and the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the last time a full moon fell on Halloween was in 1944. It is also known as The Blue Moon, or HUNTERS MOON.

Halloween facts

Jack o’ lantern

The Irish legend of Stingy Jack makes “Jack o’lantern”.

For centuries people have been making jack-o’-lanterns at Halloween and this practice originated from an Irish myth that was about a man who was nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” As about the story Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him.

The most lit jack o’lanterns on display is 30,581

The most lit jack-o’-lanterns on display are 30,581. On 19 October 2013, the City of Keene USA was the original record holder of, ”The most lit jack-o’-lanterns on display(30,581). Since then the record is broken 8 times.

· Day of the Dead

Halloween and the Day of Dead are usually related events that differ greatly in traditions and tone. Halloween is a dark night of terror and mischief, while the Day of the Dead festivities is celebrated for two days in an explosion of color and liveliness.