HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

This power point is not intended to promote or glorify Halloween, it is simply teaching the basic history of a holiday.

The Origins of Halloween trace back to the ancient Celtic festival called Sawhain.

THE ANCIENT CELTS• Lived 2,000 years ago in what is now the United Kingdom and Ireland.

November 1st marked the end of summer and the start of a long, cold, dark winter. On this day, the Celts believed the spirits of the dead would come back to earth on Oct. 31

Because of the spirits walking around on earth, the druids believed they could make predictions about the future, this would give comfort to those who were worried about the long winter ahead.

Druids were Celtic Priests

At Sawhain festivals, Druids and the towns people built huge bonfires and burned crops and animals as a sacrifice to their paranormal visitors.

People wore costumes consisting of animal heads and skins to “disguise” themselves so the spirits would think the are evil and STAY AWAY!

On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.

Roman Conquest

• The Romans conquered most of the Celtic territory by 43 A.D. and celebrated Samhain in similar ways.

Feralia•A day in late October to commemorate the deceased.

POMONA• Roman goddess of fruit and trees.• This is how we got the idea of “Bobbing for Apples.”

7th Century- Pope Boniface IV

•Declared November 1st “All Saints Day”–Honored saints and martyrs–Similar to Samhain, Big bonfires, dressing up as saints, devils and angels–October 31 declared “ALL HALLOWS EVE”