In Medieval England, people went “a soulin’” and prayed for the souls of the dead in exchange for a piece of “soul cake.” For years I enjoyed this song at Christmas instead of Halloween and never understood its significance: In the ninth century, November 2 became All Souls’ Day, the Christian Day of the Dead, when the living pray for the souls of the departed. October 31, All Hallows’ Evening, became All Hallows’ E’en, and finally Halloween. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III moved the feast of All Saints’ Day, “All Hallows” or “All the Holy”, from May l3 to November l. And they kept their bonfires burning to protect themselves from the dead. So the Celts dressed as animals themselves and danced through the night, hoping to lead the ghosts into paradise at dawn. On trial and angered by their animal state, the souls of the dead hovered in the air, capable of great mischief and wicked tricks. He would decide if they were to remain in animal form for another year or be allowed to enter paradise. The God Samhain transformed those who had died in sin into animals, and this night he summoned them for judgment. ![]() In their compassion, the living Celts sought to comfort the departed spirits in their pain.īut the Celts also feared the dead. Room was made around the fire for the wandering souls to warm themselves, and food and drink were laid out for them as well. On the one hand, the fires honored the dead and aided them on their journey. The bright bonfires served a dual purpose and expressed both the Celtic people’s fear and awe of the dead. On this night, the souls of those who had died the year before traveled to the underworld. Horses were sacrificed, too, until the seventh century when Pope Gregory the Great issued a decree against it, suggesting that the people kill oxen instead for food “to the praise of God, and give thanks to the Giver of all gifts for His bounty.” Celtic Day of the DeadĪt Samhain, more than any other time of the year, the Celts believed that the ghosts of the dead mingled with the living. Julius Caesar describes more terrifying aspects of the Samhain celebration when the Druids burned wicker cages of men, women, and animals, along with bread, wine, and honey, seeking the gods’ favor by sacrificing their most valuable gifts. They slaughtered surplus cattle for the feast and burned the bones in “bone fires.” The “bonfires” were also kindled in honor of the departed Sun God. ![]() With the autumn harvest came the dying of the year as well as the dying of the land, the coming of the dark season, and the cold of winter, under the rule of Samhain, Lord of the Dead.īefore the Festival of Samhain (also the Celtic name for the winter season), the people stored their summer crops and secured their livestock for the winter, moving cattle, sheep, and horses to closer pastures. ![]() The Celtic New Year’s Eve Festival was called Samhain (literally “summer’s end” and pronounced “Sah-ween”) and began at sunset on October 3l, continuing through the night until dawn on November l, first day of the Celtic New Year. until conquered by Julius Caesar and absorbed by Rome. The origins of Halloween date back to the Druidic Celts who lived all over Europe between 1000 and 100 B.C. Surely there’s more to it than my love of crisp autumn air, the color orange, and Halloween costumes. So I’ve continued to explore why the jack-o’-lantern makes my heart soar. Psychologist Carl Jung teaches us to pay careful attention to signs, symbols, and myths that trigger powerful emotions. The depth of meaning revolves around the jack-o’-lantern. As I grew older, I became progressively haunted by that sense of “something more.” In recent years I’ve come to understand consciously and theologically what I subconsciously intuited as a child. The pirate remains a favorite costume, but I’ve also added the clown, a Spanish flamenco dancer one year, and more recently, a mime dressed all in black and white except for a red cap.Įven as a child I had a vague sense that there was something deep and mysterious about Halloween. In my adult life I’ve continued to enjoy Halloween. ![]() I have fond childhood memories of my favorite costumes: the gypsy, draped in soft flowing scarves, wearing earrings long before I was old enough in “real” life the pirate, with a black patch over one eye, front teeth and chin blackened with charcoal the Japanese princess, wearing chrysanthemums my mother cut from the backyard and pinned to each side of my head.
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