http://blog.myheritage.com/2012/10/halloween-why-we-love-it/ Thu, 23 May 2013 13:30:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://blog.myheritage.com/2012/10/halloween-why-we-love-it/#comment-41702 Philip Russell Thu, 08 Nov 2012 23:04:08 +0000 http://blog.myheritage.com/?p=27797#comment-41702 There is a lot of nonsense written about Halloween and still more practised. Few people seem to be aware that this "celebration" originated in the religious part of the Celtic culture, the last remnants of which survived (and in many ways still survive) in Ireland. Halloween customs were brought to the Americas by Irish emigrants in the nineteenth century and took root there, though we in Ireland now regard what we see over there as a bastardisation of an ancient tradition. So, what and why? The Celtic calendar (which we, traditionally, still retain) divided the year into two main seasons: Summer, beginning on the 1 May and Winter on 1 November, the feast of Samhan, pronounced "SOW-un") god of death and the otherworld. On the eve of this feast the barriers between this world and the next were lifted and the dead could return to mingle with the living. The living, if they wished not to be recognised, disguised themselves (unpaid debts or injuries?), the origin of the modern "dressing up". There was no tradition of "trick or treat" except for the possible giving of small gifts to unrecognised callers to encourage them to go away, lest they be returning (and unwelcome) spirits The carving of pumpkins was unknown in Ireland until two or three years ago as were pumpkins. Our ancestors used to carve turnips into lanterns but when they went to America they found that pumpkins were much easier to work with and used them instead. As to decorating houses, anything more than a minimal display in the porch is regarded as gross vulgarity and is the subject of derision. It would appear that commercialisation has take over, Auri sacra fames! ! There is a lot of nonsense written about Halloween and still more practised. Few people seem to be aware that this “celebration” originated in the religious part of the Celtic culture, the last remnants of which survived (and in many ways still survive) in Ireland. Halloween customs were brought to the Americas by Irish emigrants in the nineteenth century and took root there, though we in Ireland now regard what we see over there as a bastardisation of an ancient tradition.
So, what and why?
The Celtic calendar (which we, traditionally, still retain) divided the year into two main seasons: Summer, beginning on the 1 May and Winter on 1 November, the feast of Samhan, pronounced “SOW-un”) god of
death and the otherworld. On the eve of this feast the barriers between this world and the next were lifted and the dead could return to mingle with the living. The living, if they wished not to be recognised, disguised themselves (unpaid debts or injuries?), the origin of the modern “dressing up”. There was no tradition of “trick or treat” except for the possible giving of small gifts to unrecognised callers to encourage them to go away, lest they be returning (and unwelcome) spirits
The carving of pumpkins was unknown in Ireland until two or three years ago as were pumpkins. Our ancestors used to carve turnips into
lanterns but when they went to America they found that pumpkins were much easier to work with and used them instead.
As to decorating houses, anything more than a minimal display in the porch is regarded as gross vulgarity and is the subject of derision.
It would appear that commercialisation has take over, Auri sacra fames!
!

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