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Halloween
source: Wikipedia (adapted
from)
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History
Halloween has its origins in
the ancient Celtic festival, which is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic
culture, and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year".
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The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known
as Halloween, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the
living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires,
into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals
in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or calm them.
Symbols
The carved pumpkin, lit by a candle inside, is one
of Halloween's most prominent symbols in America, and is commonly called a "jack-o'-lantern". Originating in
Europe, these lanterns were first carved from a turnip or rutabaga. Believing that the head was the
most powerful part of the body containing the spirit and the knowledge, the Celts used the "head" of
the vegetable to frighten off any superstitions. The name jack-o'-lantern has its origin in the Irish
legend of Stingy Jack, a greedy, gambling, hard-drinking old farmer. He tricked the devil into climbing a
tree and trapped him by carving a cross into the tree trunk. In revenge, the devil placed a curse on
Jack, condemning him to forever wander the earth at night with the only light he had: a candle inside of a
hollowed turnip. The carving of pumpkins is associated with Halloween in North America, where pumpkins
were readily available and much larger, making them easier to carve than turnips. Many families that celebrate
Halloween carve a pumpkin into a frightening or comical face and place it on their home's doorstep after
dark.
Halloween imagery tends to involve death, magic, or
mythical monsters. Traditional characters include ghosts, ghouls, witches, owls, crows, vultures, pumpkin-men,
black cats, spiders, goblins, zombies, mummies, skeletons, and demons.
Particularly in America, symbolism is inspired by
classic horror films, which contain fictional figures like Frankenstein's monster and The Mummy. Elements
of the autumn season, such as pumpkins and scarecrows, are also prevalent. Homes are often decorated with these
types of symbols around Halloween.
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