Halloween

Origins and Traditions

Origins

ö Halloween began two thousand years ago in Ireland, England, and Northern France with the ancient religion of the Celts (Paganism).

They celebrated their NewYear on November 1st.

This day marked the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death.

Samhain (sow-in)

On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain (sow-in), when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

CostumesPeople thought that they would

encounter ghosts if they left their homes… so that the ghost could not recognize them

The Christian Influence

As the influence of Christianity spread into Celtic lands, in the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs, to replace the Pagan festival of Samhain. It was observed on May 13th.

A change to the date occurred…In 834, Pope Gregory III moved All Saint's Dayfrom May 13th to Nov. 1st. Oct. 31st thus became All Hallows' Eve ('hallow' means 'saint').

All Souls Day

November 2nd, called All Souls Day, is the day set apart in the Roman Catholic Church for the commemoration of the dead.

Trick-or-treating began with the poor in the 15th century…

During the All Souls Day festival in England, poor people would beg for “soul cakes,” made out of square pieces of bread with currants

Families would give soul cakes in return for a promise to pray for the family’s relatives

then children…

The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.

Today…Children still go from house-to-house, but instead of ale, food, and money, they get candy.

With Irish Immigration…Halloween came to American

In 1848, millions of Irish emigrants poured into America as a result of the potato famine. They brought with them their traditions of Halloween.

They called Halloween Oidche Shamhna(`Night of Samhain'), as their ancestors had, and kept the traditional observances.

The Jack-O-Lantern…pumkins were available in America

The Irish used to carry turnips with candles in them to light their way at night and to scare away ghosts..

People have recently started carving less traditional Jack-O-Lanterns

If you don’t give candy to a trick-or-treater…

This could happen to you!

Bibliography

www.wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm

www.historychannel.com/halloween

www.fni.com/heritage/oct97/historyhall

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls_Day#Pagan_roots

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What Does the Word say

about all this…

Mark 7:13 1 Peter 2:9 Mat 8:22 Eph 5:6-12 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (“Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid

every kind of evil.”)James 1:27 (“keep oneself from being polluted by the world”)3 John 1:11 (“do not imitate what is evil”)Romans 12:9 (“abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”)Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (do not learn to imitate detestable ways, including spiritists, sorcerers and witchcraft)Ephesians 5:11-12 (“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness” / “live as children of light”)1 Timothy 4:1 (don't “follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”)

More Scripture

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (“what fellowship can light have with darkness?”)Philippians 4:8 (think about pure, lovely, noble things)1 Corinthians 11:1 (“follow the example of Christ”)1 Corinthians 10:31 (“whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God”)James 4:7-8 (submit yourselves to God / resist the devil / purify your hearts)Ezekiel 44:23 (“…teach my people… to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.”)Proverbs 22:6 (“train a child in the way he should go”)Matthew 18:6 (“if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin…”)Hosea 4:6 (“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”)John 3:19-20 (people love darkness instead of light)Romans 13:12 (“put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”)Ephesians 6:11-18 (“take your stand against the devil's schemes.”)1 John 5:192 Chronicles 7:14