Why have we got a day that is supposed to do nothing except shock the dickens out of us? Why do we bob for apples or have frightful pumpkins sitting on our front porch? Why do we dress up like spook and orcs or other fancy creatures? All these questions can be answered by taking a break from deciding whether we are going to wear a Mortal Kombat Scorpion Costume and looking backwards at the provenance of Halloween.
More than 2000 years ago there lived a people known as the Celtics. They used to be a proud, cruel and combative tribe which inhabited Eire, the northern areas of France, and the UK. Their new year started on what you and I know as Nov the first. The beginning of November signaled the end of decent weather and the growing season. Additionally the hours of darkness ruled over the hours of daylight and the Celts being of a superstitious nature; believed that things which go bump in the night rambled and ruled the night hours.
As the hours of darkness overcame a lot of the time was spent spinning yarns and the retelling of folklore which had been passed on from generation to generation. One of the beliefs that had been passed on was the assumption that the dead returned on the night before the beginning of the New Year; October 31st. It was believed on this night they returned to revenge the incorrect deeds done to them and to bring forecast of the events to happen in the New Year.
Eventually over a period of time, October 31st came to be called SamHain (or sow-in). In order to mark this day, the Celts, had a horrendous bonfire in their villages. Every one of the townsfolk came to the bonfire, camouflaged in different animal skins. The party was a method of showing thanks to the Celtic "gods" for the crop and good things of the year past. It was also assumed, by the people, which by sacrificing a part of the last year's crop and an animal the "gods" would hopefully bestow good fortune and a copious crop in the approaching New Year.
As several or so centuries drifted by the Celtics, in turn were attacked by the Roman Empire. As we all know when in Rome, you do as the Romans do. So that the custom of "Sam Hain" was added to by the Romans. The Romans included the day of Parentalia, celebration of the dead, to coincide with the date of October 31st.
Eventually Christianity began to spread and entered the land of the Celts. The night before All Saint's Day, SamHain to the Celts, started to be called All Hallow's Eve or All Hallow's Mass. As the centuries passed and cultures were absorbed by other cultures, the origin of Halloween became known as Halloween night.
More than 2000 years ago there lived a people known as the Celtics. They used to be a proud, cruel and combative tribe which inhabited Eire, the northern areas of France, and the UK. Their new year started on what you and I know as Nov the first. The beginning of November signaled the end of decent weather and the growing season. Additionally the hours of darkness ruled over the hours of daylight and the Celts being of a superstitious nature; believed that things which go bump in the night rambled and ruled the night hours.
As the hours of darkness overcame a lot of the time was spent spinning yarns and the retelling of folklore which had been passed on from generation to generation. One of the beliefs that had been passed on was the assumption that the dead returned on the night before the beginning of the New Year; October 31st. It was believed on this night they returned to revenge the incorrect deeds done to them and to bring forecast of the events to happen in the New Year.
Eventually over a period of time, October 31st came to be called SamHain (or sow-in). In order to mark this day, the Celts, had a horrendous bonfire in their villages. Every one of the townsfolk came to the bonfire, camouflaged in different animal skins. The party was a method of showing thanks to the Celtic "gods" for the crop and good things of the year past. It was also assumed, by the people, which by sacrificing a part of the last year's crop and an animal the "gods" would hopefully bestow good fortune and a copious crop in the approaching New Year.
As several or so centuries drifted by the Celtics, in turn were attacked by the Roman Empire. As we all know when in Rome, you do as the Romans do. So that the custom of "Sam Hain" was added to by the Romans. The Romans included the day of Parentalia, celebration of the dead, to coincide with the date of October 31st.
Eventually Christianity began to spread and entered the land of the Celts. The night before All Saint's Day, SamHain to the Celts, started to be called All Hallow's Eve or All Hallow's Mass. As the centuries passed and cultures were absorbed by other cultures, the origin of Halloween became known as Halloween night.
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Enjoy Halloween WIth A Mortal Kombat Sub-Zero Costume or a Mortal Kombat Kitana Costume
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