Topic: Halloween
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The Story of Halloween
Halloween is one of the oldest holidays with origins going back thousands of years. The holiday we
know as Halloween has had many influences from many cultures over the centuries. From the Roman's
Pomona Day, to the Celtic festival of Samhain ...
The November 1st festival was called Samhain (pronounced "sow-en"). The festival would last for 3
days. Many people would parade in costumes made from the skins and heads of their animals. This
festival would become the first Halloween.
During the first century the Romans invaded Britain. They brought with them many of their festivals and
customs. One of these was the festival know as Pomona Day, named for their goddess of fruits and
gardens. It was also celebrated around the 1st of November. After hundreds of years of Roman rule the
customs of the Celtic's Samhain festival and the Roman Pomona Day mixed becoming 1 major fall
holiday.
The next influence came with the spread of the new Christian religion throughout Europe and Britain. In
the year 835 AD the Roman Catholic Church would make November 1st a church holiday to honor all
the saints. This day was called All Saint's Day, or Hallowmas, or All Hallows. Years later the Church
would make November 2nd a holy day. It was called All Souls Day and was to honor the dead. It was
celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and people dressing up as saintâ s angels and devils But the spread
of Christianity did not make people forget their early customs. On the eve of All Hallows, Oct. 31,
people continued to celebrate the festivals of Samhain and Pomona Day. Over the years the customs
from all these holidays mixed. October 31st became known as All Hallow Even, eventually All Hallow's
Eve, Hallowe'en, and then - Halloween.
...
Source: www.shiloahbooks.com
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