Friday, October 19, 2012

Getting in the Halloween spirit.

Halloween like any other celebration has a very interesting past, and as like most north american holidays has nothing to do with what we find traditional about them.

"On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter."
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

Now a days we dress up in cotton and polyester costumes and go door to door for candy............I think we have the better idea!




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