Facts About Halloween

Re-Publish this Article

<h1>Facts About Halloween</h1><strong> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Steve-0.aspx'>Steve-0</a></strong><br /><p>Facts About Halloween are as follows: Halloween Fact 1 - Halloween is celebrated on 31 October Fact 2 - Halloween (also referred to as All Hallows Eve or Hallowe'en ) is the night, or evening before All Hallows' Day which is a Catholic feast day now referred to as 'All Saints Day' which falls on 1st November Halloween Fact 3 - All Souls' Day (also called Feast of All Souls or Day of the Dead) commemorates the dead on November 2 Halloween Fact 4 - The modern day customs and traditions for celebrating Halloween are rooted in ancient times and Pagan religions Halloween Fact 5 - The Ancient Celts and Druids had an important harvest festival called Samhain which was held on October 31–November 1 in Gaelic cultures Fact 6 - Samhain "summer's end" was the name of a Celtic celebration. Their lord of death was thought to gather together the souls of the year's dead at this time of year Halloween Fact 7 - Samhain was a day sacred to the death of the sun, on which had been paid a sacrifice of death to evil powers. Fires, or bonfires, were built as a thanksgiving to their pagan god Baal for harvest Halloween Fact 8 - Romans also had a celebration for the dead called Feralia which celebrated Roman spirits of the dead, particularly the souls of deceased individuals Halloween Fact 9 - In these old pagan religions spirits were believed to roam and torches were carried as protection Halloween Fact 10 - The traditions of old Pagan festivals were incorporated with Christian festivals so bonfires, torches, ceremonies for the dead souls and and feasting on apples and nuts and harvest fruits were remembered on Halloween Halloween Fact 11 - Trick or Treat: The origin of Trick or Treat came from an ancient English custom of children knocking at doors to beg for a "soul cake" (a form of shortbread) in return for which a promise was made to pray for the dead of the household Halloween Fact 12 - These early Trick or Treaters would say "a soul cake, a soul cake, have mercy on all Christian souls for a soul cake" which led to the later rhyme: Soul, soul, an apple or two, If you haven't an apple, a pear will do, One for Peter, two for Paul, Three for the Man Who made us all. Halloween Fact 13 - Jack-o'-lanterns: The use of jack-o'-lanterns continued the tradition of carrying torches. Carving vegetables such as Pumpkins and inserting candles to frighten off evil spirits Halloween Fact 14 - Skulls and bones are common in Christian art recalling those dead - symbols used at Halloween. Halloween Fact 15 - In early religion vigils were kept by the graves and lights, fruit and bread left for the dead Halloween Fact 16 - The custom, or tradition, of masquerading on Halloween dates back to the Middle Ages when Mummers and "guisers" (performers in disguise) performed mystery plays. In mummers’ plays, the central event the killing and restoring to life of a main character Halloween Fact 17 - Witches: Goblins and witches with cats (ancient symbols of the devil) were remnants of pagan times when Christians believed that spirits were loosed from hell to keep track of their own and herd them back at cockcrow Fact 18 - To Witches, Halloween is still one of the four High Holidays and referred to as 'The Great Sabbat' </p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br />Wikipedia, Modern Witchcraft, Halloween, Catholic Customs<p> Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Facts-About-Halloween_95591.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Facts About Halloween_95591.aspx</a></p>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Facts About Halloween_95591.aspx

Keywords : Witches, Halloween, Catholic, Celts, Pagans, roam, dead, torches, protection, Baal, harvest, roman, spirits, evil, powers, Samhain, souls, gob,

Category : Society : Religion