By the middle of the 19th century, millions of Irish
came to the USA escaping from the potato famine (a starvation period that took place in Ireland between 1845
and 1849). They brought with them their costumes and traditions, including their celebration to the dead, which
mingled with the autumn celebrations in America.
The celebrations were public events where people would
tell ghost stories, make mischiefs of all sort, tell each other's fortunes, dance and sing.
Following the Irish and English traditions, Americans
began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became
today's "trick-or-treat" tradition (more about this below). Young women believed that, on Halloween, they could
divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple
parings, or mirrors.
Isto faz lembrar um pouco o folclore
brasileiro, não faz? As histórias de fantasmas lembram as de Curupira, Boitatá, Caipora e outros seres
encantados; as travessuras, lembram as do Saci-Pererê; as roupas que viraram fantasias lembram as das Festas
Juninas; e as moças querendo adivinhar o nome e a aparência de seus futuros maridos, através de superstições,
lembram as crenças e brincadeiras do dia de Sto. Antonio, intitulado o "Santo Casamenteiro". Vale lembrar que
essas tradições brasileiras também são celebrados no inverno. Seria a antiga tradição celta
readaptada??
At the turn of that century Halloween lost most of its
religious and superstitious aspects. The frightening and grotesque were replaced by parties animated with
games, seasonal food and funny costumes.
And "Trick or Treat", of
course!
Qual a origem de "Trick or Treat" ("Doces ou
Travessuras?")
Trick or treat is a modified tradition. Let's go back to
the pagans for a minute. During their festivities, called Samhain (lê-se sow-in), the pagans used to
leave food and wine for the roaming spirits.
When the Romans (and the church) took influence over the
Celtic regions the Samhain festivities were modified and renamed. There is where the name Halloween comes
from (more about this below). During the ancient festivities, poor citizens would beg for food, and families
would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead
relatives.
The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the
church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for the spirits. The practice, which
was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their
neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.
There is where Trick or Treat comes
from!
Origem do
nome Halloween: in the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1st to be All
Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to
replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was
called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night
before it, the night of Samhain (October 31st), began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
(to hallow = sanctify; eve = véspera. 31 de outubro ficou sendo a "véspera da santificação", ou a 'véspera do
dia de todos os santos'). This is the origin of the word Halloween.
Later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2nd
All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in
costumes as saints, angels, and devils.
So, the word Halloween comes from a degeneration of the
words All-hallows Eve, which was a designation given by the Catholicism in an attempt to dominate another
culture.
Origem dos símbolos de
Halloween:
* pumpkin symbolizes the fertility and
wisdom... but what about Jack O'Lantern? Tells the legend that Jack was an old farmer and made some
deal with the devil. Jack didn't honor his part on the deal, and when he died he couldn't get to heaven
because of the deal with the devil; and couldn't get to hell either, because he betrayed the devil. So, he
was given a candle to illuminate his way, and he put the candle inside a carved turnip to serve as a lantern. The turnip progressed to a pumpkin, and that's how we have today's
Jack O'Lantern. (Lampião Velho do Jack).
* colors: orange, because of the pumpkin and it's an
Autumn color; black and purple are colors used in magic rituals.
* cauldron and black cats, obviously related to the
witches, which are unfairly taken as evil symbols.
* sweets (candies, chocolates...) have their origin
in the soul cakes explained above.
Well, this is not a trick! I didn't mean to write so
much today, but the subject is very interesting, don't you think? You don't need to read it all at once! Break
your sessions in parts, so you don't get tired.
I must go now, have the candies and my witch
outfit ready! My dear black cat, Onyx, is already waiting for the fun!
I
hope you have got a good deal of knowledge about this aspect of the American culture. Many schools are
celebrating Halloween in Brazil but I don't think they explain what it is all about. And, just do it because
everybody else is doing, is not a wise thing! You know better now!
Inglês com Imagens
Click no Jack para ver fotos do Halloween-2008
Back to "Halloween - Origin"
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