What is Halloween?

Halloween is the oldest holiday in the English-speaking world, second only to Christmas in popularity. Millions of people celebrate All Saints' Eve without knowing the origins of this holiday. An appeal to the sources of the history of Halloween, the myths and legends associated with it, makes this creepy-jolly holiday even more interesting.

The attitude of the population to the annual event could be clearer. Some people consider it a great way to have fun and have fun and therefore celebrate with pleasure. Some perceive it as a time of superstition and all sorts of devilry.

What date is Halloween celebrated?

The date when Halloween is celebrated is October 31, the last day of the Celtic calendar. Initially, it was a pagan holiday - honoring the dead. Halloween was called All Hallows Eve (the eve of All Saints' Day), and its roots went back centuries, no less - to the beginning of our era.

Another name for the holiday is All Saints' Eve. Its appearance is because on November 1 (All Saints Day or All Saints Day), Christians thanked their patron saints and converted pagans to their faith.

Why do people start celebrating Halloween?

According to one version, the authorship of the holiday is attributed to the Druids, a Celtic people who lived in Ireland, Britain, and Northern Europe. The progenitor of Halloween was the Samhain holiday, celebrated in early October. Samhain meant the end of summer: This day, they thanked for the harvest, burned sacred fires, saw off the old year, and met the new one.

The Celts believed that on this day, the souls of the dead roam among the living. For the spirits of ancestors to contribute to a good harvest the next year, they tried to appease them with treats and gifts. This custom transformed into trick-or-treating, "muck or sweetness" - a children's Halloween tradition of going from house to house, begging for candy.

Many people think that Halloween is a Christian holiday because it is celebrated on the eve of All Saints' Day.

Free photos of Halloween

Myths and symbols of Halloween

It's hard not to remember the must-have Halloween accessories that are so fun to celebrate. These are unusual outfits and a candy bag, black cats and witches, spiders, bats, and a potion cauldron. And what about the obligatory tradition of lighting the "Jack's lantern"? Yes, yes, you guessed it, the same bright orange pumpkin with a funny or scary carved face, inside of which a single candle flame burns—so, more about each Halloween symbol.

Witches

The witch outfit is the most popular Halloween costume for women, and the silhouette of a witch on a broom against the background of the full moon is one of the typical symbols of the holiday. It is believed that on November 1, witches' power increased many times. The image of an old witch in a pointed hat, stirring her brew in a huge cauldron, was transformed from the pagan notion of the goddess Mother Earth or the Crone, symbolizing wisdom and the change of seasons.

Black Cats

The black cat is the most popular Halloween image, an eternal symbol of bad luck. The reputation of black cats was tarnished during the witch hunt: the furry companions of witches were considered the embodiment of demonic entities. And many believed that sometimes the image of a black cat was taken by Satan himself.

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