September 2000, Our Visit to the Austin Zoo
Halloween
September 2000, Our Visit to the Austin Zoo
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| Long before 600 A.D. people all over Europe celebrated four major holidays. One of these holidays was celebrated at the end of the crop harvest, when livestock were brought close to home and the harvests were stored. This holiday marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween) was the festival that marked this, the biggest of all holidays through out the year. The Celtic people of Europe believed that on this holiday that loved ones who had died during the year traveled to the other world during this time. For that reason, they believed that ghosts and spirits were able to contact the living on this date more easily than any other date during the year. They also believed that fairies and demons walked among the ghosts at this time. The holiday was celebrated with bonfires, which were thought to help the deceased loved ones find their way to the other world. Along with the bonfires, sacrifices were made. All of these activities were thought to protect the living from evil spirits. The Druids were Celtic priests, poets, scientists and scholars. Around 600 A.D., Christianity began to be spread throughout Europe. In 601 A.D., Pope Gregory the First issued laws to convert people to Christianity. Since Samhain beliefs were contrary to the church, Pope Gregory wished to lessen its impact. To weaken the celebration of Samhain, November 1st (the day after Samhain) was declared All Saints Day. On this day, every Christian saint was to be honored. It was hoped that the Celtics would become devoted to the new holiday and forget past traditions. Over time, the Celtics continued to celebrate Samhain. In the 9th century, another pope created a new holiday to honor loved ones who had passed away. All Souls Day, November 2, became a day to pray for the souls of those who had died. Despite the new holiday to commemorate loved one Samhain continued, but took on additional traditions and new names. All Saints Day, or All Hallows, on November 1st continued to follow Samhain, which became known as All Hallows Eve. Hallowed is defined as sanctified or holy. The Celtics still celebrated Samhain (All Hallows Eve) and set out food and drink to keep the spirits, ghosts, fairies and demons happy. They began to dress up like the legendary beings that were said to roam the earth on this night. The scary dress was supposed to scare away evil. In England "soul cakes" were made for the wandering souls and the Celts went from house to house "a' soulin" to get the cakes. In later centuries, performing a trick for food and drink, became common
practice. This ancient trick or treating was called mumming. |
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