Interviews

Samstag, 29. Oktober 2016

Trick or Treat!!!!

Trick or Treat! -- It's the same, each year! Kids stroll from house to house, waiting for you to hand over the candy. To avoid the havoc, you routinely meet their request. Some of us, the grown up adults, also like to celebrate the spooky night. But instead of collecting candy, we enjoy the night with family and friends. Either there is a fantastic party around the corner, or we meet in front of the TV to watch some creepy horror movies; and, of course, not without our creative costumes. It's great, right? Of course, it is! But, did you ever wonder what all of this is actually about? Why do we celebrate the dead each year?
                          (http://buzzymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/halloween-1.jpg)

Let me tell you...

Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve, has Celtic, as well as Christian roots. Some 2.000 years ago, the Celtic believed that October 31st marked the end of harvest season. Back then, they celebrated that day and called it Samhain. They also believed that the barrier between the living and the dead would be weakened that night. To protect themselves and their crops from evil, they wore costumes. By pretending to be no human beings, they thought they'd be able to fool the demons. 
Around 609 AD, Christians celebrated their dead on All Saints Day. It actually began on May 13. The date was changed to Nov. 1, in 800 AD.
                                         (Source: http://dawd.nvrdns.com/celtic-halloween/)

It is important to note that Allhallowtide became a three-day event in the Middle Ages (1556). During that time, criers dressed in black to mourn the departed. Treats, called soul cakes, were given out in return for prayers. This practice was called "souling". Only at the very beginning of the 18th century did Samhain start to transform into the modern festivity we know. Poeple in costumes started to go from door to door to collect food in exchange for prayers. When they got disappointed, they played pranks to imitate the evil spirits. 
                                         (Source: http://dawd.nvrdns.com/celtic-halloween/)

Halloween reached the U.S at the beginning of the 19th century. Irish and Scottish immigrants shared their tradition, and  it became more than popular all around the continent. 

(Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRNS5_b-lwIERUv-6rroQGepHCdlm4QhPVTmSXheERudAeOrBe9D44EXW7OR-JUQJ2jte3OtdYmLMT2XkUxP-HGEvZzKjXgftb9N3vmIr0KROioYrBk9AHCuVljsEDAutvoq5qIDMLG1A/s1600/Halloween.gif)

Fascinating how old that tradition is, isn't it?

Have a spooky time ;)

Key (Picture compilement) and H. El-Tahwagi (Research and content) 

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