Halloween (correctly spelt Hallowe’en) on 31 October is celebrated in many countries around the world and has become more popular as the years have gone by. What started as a religious pagan holiday has turned into a fun day for children dressing up and attending special Halloween parties.
Hallowe'en comes from All Hallow Even the eve of All Hallows day (1 Nov All Saints Day) - hallow is an archaic English word for 'saint'.
Where did it begin?
Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival (pre-Christian) known as Samhain which is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes regarded as the Celtic new year.
Halloween Today - the hype and commercialisation
Halloween today is a commercial enterprise making million of pounds for shops owners (second only to Christmas). Shops started selling their halloween merchandise several weeks ago, some even before it was October! Shelves are crammed full of plastic pumpkins, plastic skulls, dressing up clothes for witches, ghouls etc and loads of specially wrapped 'Halloween sweets'. Many items are scary, frightening, and as a result are very attractive to children.
Hallowen is fun
Many children in Britain look forward to Halloween. They enjoy dressing up, making pumpkin lanterns and going to Halloween parties. Some will go trick and treating with their parents.
Halloween is bad
Many people in Britain are becoming increasingly concerned about the potential for anti-social behaviour and criminal activity under the cloak of trick-or-treat. There are some young people who are unfortunately spoiling the 'fun' by using threatening behaviour.
Many Christians do not like the focus on evil/darkness.
Read more
The History of Halloween Why do we celebrate halloween?
Traditions of Halloween So why do we do what we do on Halloween?
Superstitions of Halloween
Fascinating facts about Halloween
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2 comments:
I'm sixty-three years old, born in north Wales, but spent most of my childhood in southeast London. This Hallowe'en business puzzles me, because it was non-existed when I was young. Guy Fawkes or Bonfire night was the living tradition at that time. The name 'Hallowe'en' was known academically, but the dressing-up and hocus pocus is an import from north America in the last thirty years - a tradition that goes back all the way to yesterday ! I'm not detracting from the origins in Britain, in the distant past, but there was no celebration by the young of Hallowe'en in my childhood.
I suspect that there is a subtle connivance on the part of officialdom and other destroyers of true traditions to eclipse Guy Fawkes because of the dangers of fireworks. Bonfire night was never celebrated on anyday but November the fifth, except if it fell on a Sunday. The idea of firework displays on the nearest weekend is also a new thing.
Let's support genuine traditions and not commercial gimmicks. Do you remember the stock request from children, fifty years ago, in London ? " a penny for the Guy , mister ? "
I am 49 and have moved abroad 7 years ago. I recently needed to give a talk at an English Language school and used your site for info. I have been reminded of the wonderful traditions we had as children with such things as Harvest Festivals and Bonfire Night, particularly ""Penny for the Guy"" Almost every second house had a bonfire and fireworks, so it was a wonderful evening. I do remember Halloween but not in the Trick or Treat style which has obviously been borrowed from our American cousins and seems to be a good excuse for South east children to throw eggs at your windows. Everything is so organised and commercial these days, it seems to have lost that home made and all in together appeal which is what the best memories are made of. I do remember peeling and orange throwing it over my shoulder and then sleeping with it under my pillow (Halloween night) You were then supposed to dream of your future love. There were a couple of other hocus pocus things that we did but certainly no Trick or treating.
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