MY CREATIVE SELF

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31. It started with the ancient Celtic festival Samhain, where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward of ghosts. Pope Gregory the III made November 1 the time when all the Saints would be honored, Eventually All Saints Day as it was called combined some of the traditions of Samhain, and the night before became known as All Hollows Eve which later turned into Halloween.

Eventually Halloween turned into this big deal which included things like trick or treating, carving pumpkins, wearing costumes etc. Today it is very commerciaized to a point and is celebrated more for the costumes and candy eating I think. Oh and scaring the crap out of everyone…lol But thats just my opinion. I love Halloween.

The Celts who lived 2000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the UK and parts of France, celebrated their new year on November 1. It marked the end of summer and the Harvest and the beginning of Winter, a time they associated with death.

The Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred, which meant that the ghosts of the dead could return to earth and everyone could interact together. This was the night of October 31 and celebrated as Samhain, a pagan religious festival. https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween

The following link gives you a look at Samhain, it’s history and myths associated with it. It includes tales of headless woman chasing people along with her pig. And headless men called Dullahan, simliar to what we think of when we talk about the Headless Horsemen. Remember him and Ichabod Crane, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow? I do, it’s one of my favorite Halloween shows. The cartoon Disney version, not the movie one.. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/samhain

Another interesting read is about Jack o Lanterns and Stingy Jack. https://www.history.com/news/history-of-the-jack-o-lantern-irish-origins

When we look at the history of our celebrations today, where they came from and how they were originally celebrated it really is rather fascinating. But Halloween is a favorite and always will be.

So how ever you choose to celebrate this day, or not. I hope you have a wonderfully Spooky Halloween. stay safe, dont eat to much candy and stay to the light..

Happy Halloween!

~ by Lencrest Photos on October 31, 2022.

Posted in Fall, family, Festivals, Halloween, history, holidays, Photography, States, travel, Travel Photography
Tags: blogober2022, blogtober, halloween myths, halloween origins, headless horseman, ichabod crane