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Where and how did it all start?

post #1 of 13
9/19/02 at 11:25pm
Thread Starter 
Can anybody tell me where and how Halloween started? And just why do we give out candy to ghosts and goblins?
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post #2 of 13
9/20/02 at 1:12am
I think it is an exceedingly old Celtic traditon. Called Samhein (sp)

All winter traditionally belonged to the dead in fact they didn't even count it in the calender originally, just hid indoors and tried to placate the spirits (hence giving out candy to the 'spirits' now). I think BC up to maybe 1000AD

The Pumpkin King (king of all the evil bad dudes) could see out of the Jack O Lanterns eyes.

The customes were designed to stop you being possessed by a spirit - apparently if they can't tell who you are they can't 'get' you. 1100 - 1200AD

Like most pagan festivals it was eventually taken over by the church and changed around a bit.

31st OCT became All Hallows Eve (Halloween) because all the bad spirits were allowed out to play for one time in the year bc 1st of Nov was a particularly holy day (I have no idea why)

OK those are all the little bits and pieces I can remember reading over the years, they are from memory so please don't shoot me if I have misremembered
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post #3 of 13
9/20/02 at 7:36am
Maree is right! Good memory Maree!

The jack o lanterns were made to scare the "demons" away, they would carve out the ugliest faces put candles in them to ward off evil spirits...
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post #4 of 13
9/20/02 at 8:02am
Thread Starter 
Gee ... who knew?!?

I need to find something on the internet ... so we can learn about it in school!! Thanks for the history lesson ladies!!
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post #5 of 13
9/20/02 at 8:22am
Here you go Roxanna

http://4halloween.4anything.com/netw...-18548,00.html

I'm sure there are more out there I just searched Halloween, this was the most informative link I found in the whole 5 - 7 minutes I spent looking
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post #6 of 13
9/20/02 at 9:07am
Maree, my Pagan heart is proud Wonderfully explained!!!!
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post #7 of 13
9/20/02 at 9:12am
Thank You Nicci, glad I got it right. I've always loved Celtic mythology and occasionally reading a lot comes in handy
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post #8 of 13
9/20/02 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everybody!!!!
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post #9 of 13
9/20/02 at 7:37pm
Glad I got my history lesson for the day!! Thanks girls!
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post #10 of 13
9/20/02 at 7:55pm
Here's another link. This is a good site to get info & history on any holiday you can think of:


http://www.holidays.net/halloween/story.htm
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post #11 of 13
9/29/02 at 4:23pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks again!!! Great links!

I also found this book at the library in the kids section ... veryeasy to read. It is called Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts By Edna Barth .. great book!!
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post #12 of 13
9/29/02 at 11:05pm
Wow, thanks for the info, Maree!!
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post #13 of 13
9/30/02 at 8:19am
I don't know if this was on the sites or not...but it was also believed that this was one of the days that the earth world and spirit world were closest and so an old tradition was to set and empty place at the table for a deceased relative. We have done this in the past to celebrate the holiday!

Oh and I think some Pagans see this as their new year.
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