The Origin of Halloween
October is here and it is time to gear up for that odd holiday we have come to love – Halloween. We figured we would research where it all started and it turns out the origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. 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. 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 and ward off roaming ghosts.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later simply became Halloween. By the 15th century, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities and dressing in costumes. Trick-or-treating as we know it today, is thought to have popped up in the 1920-1930’s in western part of North America and spread across the country following World War 2.
Halloween is fast approaching and Escape Frenzy has a Haunted House escape room to get your festivities started. Gather your friends and family for an escape game you won’t soon forget. Book now at WWW.ESCAPE-FRENZY.COM and let us give you a thrill.
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