Quote:
Originally posted by Sazerac:
Hm, I was rather under the impression that England did NOT celebrate All Hallows Eve, but waited until November 5th for Guy Fawkes day. Apparently the trend has changed.
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No Saz, we have always celebrated it - as an old pagan festival it has a long history in these isles
I have happy childhood memories of going trick or treating with my mates dressed up as a ghost or somesuch, and apple-bobbing, carving out faces in pumpkins etc.
What's it about KT Ong?
It's Samhain - the old pagan New Year, when the 'veil' between this world and the next is thin and spirits of the dead can come back to feast with their loved ones still in this world. At least that's the origins of the festival. Candles in carved out turnips and cabbage stalks (and when settlers went to the US they used native squashes and pumpkins instead) were set alongside pathways and in windows to light the way home for good spirits, and to ward off evil ones. Places were set at the dinner table for all members of the family, living or dead. It was a time to celebrate a 'reunion' with loved ones long gone and to strengthen bonds with those still living. Similar to the 'Day of the Dead' festival in Mexico, which has similar origins, and like Halloween is now a mix of pagan tradtion and modern Christian belief.
Some of those traditions survive, and Christians have their own take on the modern festival of Halloween involving saints and somesuch, sorry that's not a good answer but hopefully someone who knows anything about Christianity will come and explain that bit of it!
As far as what happens at Halloween these days? Kids dress up and go door to door demanding money/sweets with menaces - they say 'trick or treat' and you have to give them sweets unless you want to end up with dogshit through your letterbox.
[ 10-01-2002, 12:41 PM: Message edited by: Epona ]