Halloween is a light-hearted and fun holiday today, but did you know that it is a whimsical combination of religion, history and ancient rituals? We've put together some fun Halloween facts that you will be curious to know.
1. The dark side of an innocent childhood custom
Today on Halloween, children dress up as ghouls, ghosts and witches and go to neighbors, demanding "treats". But did you know that this custom was largely borrowed by Americans from Irish immigrants in the 19th century? Dressing up in masks and costumes ensured that they were not recognized by members of their own community. This allowed participants in such "masquerades" to take part in violent and often antisocial activities.
2. Halloween was originally a pagan celebration of the dead
For the Celts and Anglo-Saxons, the end of the year was the time when they brought herds home from the pastures. This happened at the end of October. Thus, the new year began in November and was celebrated at the Samhain Festival, a celebration during which cleansing fires were lit. People believed that on the night before Samhain, the souls of the dead could temporarily return to their homes, and ghosts and demons roam the Earth freely.
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3. The Catholic Church used the holiday to their advantage
To counter the influence of this pagan holiday, in the 9th century the Church instituted the Feast of All Saints, which fell on November 1. Therefore, October 31 became known as All Saints' Eve Night, or Halloween.
4. Pagan holiday transformed into All Souls Day
In 998, the abbot of the Abbey of Cluny in France approved November 2 as All Souls Day (also known as All Souls Day and Day of the Dead). On this day, it is customary to remember the dead and read prayers for them. This decision of the abbot strengthened the connection between Samhain and Christian holidays.
5. Mexico has its own holiday called Day of the Dead
In the 16th century, the Spanish colonialists introduced Catholicism to Mexico, but here it adopted elements of local religions, which were included in Christian rituals. One of the great celebrations is the Day of the Dead, which is celebrated on November 1st.
6. Apple fishing appeared in the UK
Most Halloween traditions in Britain disappeared with the rise of Puritanism in the 16th and 17th centuries, but games such as apple-catching are still practiced. The essence of the game is to catch with your teeth an apple that floats in a bowl of water. Fortune telling on apple peel is also practiced. Throwing it over your left shoulder curls the peel into a shape that resembles the first letter of your true love name.
7. Celebration of All Saints Day was banned by English Protestants
Instead, Protestants created their own autumn festival. In 1606, Guy Fawkes was executed, who was accused of a Catholic conspiracy to blow up the House of Lords. The conspirators were supposed to do this on November 4, 1605. Parliament soon passed legislation to celebrate the failure of the so-called Gunpowder Plot.
By law, every person was required to go to church on the morning of November 5 to celebrate the failed conspiracy that soon became known as Guy Fawkes Day. By the 1630s, bonfires were part of the celebration. Initially, stuffed animals of the Pope or the Devil were burned in the fires, but since the 19th century they have often symbolized Guy Fawkes himself.
8. Orange and black became the colors of Halloween for a reason
Orange and black are well-known contrasting colors for Halloween. Orange symbolizes harvest and black symbolizes death.
9. In the past, you would have had to work harder to get the "treat"
The custom of going from house to house and collecting sweets also has a history. Earlier in Europe, people dressed up in costumes and walked the streets performing various dances and songs in exchange for treats. At the same time, such dressing up was often associated with people who ask for money on the street.
10. People used to use animal skins and heads
Ancient tribes traditionally wore costumes made from animal skulls and skins. People believed that this would help them connect with the spirits of the dead. Consider yourself lucky, because now there is an opportunity to buy any costume in the store and you do not need to kill animals for this.
11. It used to be not only pumpkins for holiday lanterns
The story of how the term Jack-o'-lantern came to be has to do with a man named Stingue Jack. It was he who first invented the traditional holiday lantern, but put a piece of coal in a turnip, not a pumpkin. That is why people used turnips, beets and potatoes and only later started carving lanterns from pumpkin.
12. Some animal shelters refuse to give people black cats on the eve of Halloween
Black cats are a classic symbol of Halloween, and as such, many animal shelters worry that people might harm or even sacrifice these animals on the eve of or during All Saints' Day. That is why many refuse to give black cats to people who want to take them, all October. However, people have begun to realize how ridiculous this looks, and therefore they want to find a permanent home for the cats, not a temporary shelter. Therefore, many cat shelters make a special offer before the holiday, hoping to find a new home for the cats. Of course, people who want to take an animal are carefully checked.
Anna Pismenna