eleothegreat Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 Halloween is one of the oldest celebrations in the world. Up to now, it is still celebrated by numerous countries and cultures all around the world - and has still have great influence on numerous cultures of today. Where Halloween Started? The ancient Celts had a festival called Samhain, and this is considered by a lot of people to be the predecessor of the contemporary Halloween that we have now. For the Celts, Samhain was they New Year's Day, and this was celebrated on November the 1st.It was a harvest festival that marked the previous year's death and the new year's beginning. At the same time, it was also a day to commemorate the dead - as it was believed that all the souls of the people who died the previous year would already be allowed access to the land of the dead. There are plenty of traditional customs and beliefs that have been associated with the Samhain, and among these are: - The belief that the night was the time when the dead would wander around. - The practice of leaving food offerings to costumed and masked revelers - The lighting of bonfires (All sounds familiar, eh?) So, Why Do We Wear Costumes? The costume wearing tradition has roots in both Celtic and European cultures. During the ancient European times, winter days were short, harsh and dark (therefore scary). People were filled with nagging and constant worry. So during Halloween (the day they believed the dead to go back and roam the earth), they would wear masks when they would leave their homes, so that the spirits would not recognize them. The ancient Celtic villagers would also wear costumes to look like the souls of the dead. They would dance all the way out of town in order to lead the dead that way. Halloween is Celebrated in plenty of countries all over the world, and each country has their own distinct approach. What does your country do on Halloween? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 When I was a kid Halloween was about trick or treating. And some kids would be up to mischief such as throwing eggs. These days it has become much more popular with young adults as women enjoy dressing up as French maids or naughty schoolgirls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 Seems Halloween is a very popular holiday in the US. Many families enjoy decorating their house and yard with scary skeletons, tombstones, spiders, ghosts and the sort. The most popular is buying a pumpkin and making it into a jack-o-lantern. This is done by gutting the inside and carving a face. They then illuminate the pumpkin, usually by lighting the inside with a candle. Kids love the holiday, not only because they have school and church sponsored parties but also because they can dress up and go around the neighborhood receiving free candy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WannaGo Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 When I was a kid Halloween was about trick or treating. And some kids would be up to mischief such as throwing eggs. These days it has become much more popular with young adults as women enjoy dressing up as French maids or naughty schoolgirls. Same here...it was alllll about the candy and scary houses for us.Speaking of scary and the ancients traditions that started Halloween, I recommend a new movie out on DVD called Trick 'r Treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 I was surprised to hear that behind Christmas, Halloween in the US is the second largest consumer spending holiday. I bet the candy and costume makers love this time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvdkeyes Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 Don't forget the florists, pumpkin growers and greeting card makers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finebyme Posted October 28, 2009 Report Share Posted October 28, 2009 In the Philippines halloween is observed in many different ways depending on the age group. To kids, halloween is observed in its most traditional sense (patterned from the west) where the kids go trick or treating,and do most of the costume partying. Teenagers on the other hand do the same things on a whole new level, usually with parties held in appropriately themed venues with rock and roll bands, and enjoy the scare and dare. These venues for heaven's sake, most of the time are in cemeteries. For yuppies, it's like any night out after work with their own groupies and dates in bars and clubs overflowing with beer and cocktails. For the elderly? They are better off spend the eve at home preparing for the festive events in the days that follow. Filipinos have November 1 and 2, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day respectively, for their "Piyesta ng Patay" or Feast of the Dead, and it is during this occasion that our families go out to the cemeteries and visit our beloved dead. Food like rice cakes and rice puddings or anything made of sticky rice, and of course some picnic food and intoxicating drinks, are served and eaten atop the blanket covered niches of the dead where family members are sat around as if to share in the great banquet of life. The dead are sat too where they are not seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eleothegreat Posted October 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2009 We went to my brother's school Halloween Party last night. His school is new, so there are only 10 students, but the party was a blast. The school owner had guests (to promote their school perhaps), it was very fun. The kids went trick or treating in all the classrooms, some were completely scared and started crying - but they did get lots of candies. The food was great. Can't wait till next year. I dressed up as Valentina, the local version of Medusa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Chang Posted November 1, 2009 Report Share Posted November 1, 2009 These venues for heaven's sake, most of the time are in cemeteries. Too politically incorrect for the good ole USA but I think an excellent venue for a Halloween party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WannaGo Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Good thing I forgot to buy candy...apparently, no kids trick-or-treat in this neighborhood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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