Halloween
October 6, 2014 | By Val Heier | No Comments
Some History Of Halloween
Did you know that the celebration of Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain (pronounced sow-en or saw-in) which marked the end of the harvest and beginning of winter? Over the centuries the holiday transitioned from a somber pagan ritual to a day of merriment, costumes, parades and sweet treats for children and adults.
The current celebration of Halloween in the United States is a fairly recent phenomenon. Early national attention to trick-or-treating appeared in October 1947 issues of the children’s magazines and on Halloween episodes of network radio programs. The custom had become firmly established by 1952, when Walt Disney portrayed it in the cartoon Trick or Treat and UNICEF first conducted a national campaign for children to raise funds for the charity while trick-or-treating.
Something To Think About:
Sunset on Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic New Year. Traditionally, Samhain was a time to take stock of the animal herds and food supplies.The old year has passed, the harvest has been gathered, cattle and sheep have been brought in from the mountain grazing fields, and the leaves have fallen from the trees. The earth slowly begins to die around us.
This is a good time for us to look at wrapping up the old and preparing for the new in our lives. Think about the things you did in the last twelve months. Have you left anything unresolved? If so, now is the time to wrap things up. Once you’ve gotten all that unfinished stuff cleared away, and out of your life, then you can begin looking towards the next year.
How To Celebrate:
If you want to celebrate Halloween or Samhain in the Celtic tradition, spread the festivities out over three consecutive days. You can hold a ritual and feast each night.
Some unique ideas for Halloween is to host a ‘Dumb Supper’, have an ‘End of Harvest’ celebration, ‘Honor the Ancestors’, conduct a ‘Ritual for Animals’, or ‘Hold a Séance’. For details on the proper way to do these ctrl+click the following links:
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/p/Dumb_Supper.htm
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/ht/Harvest_End.htm
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/ht/Ancestor_Rite.htm
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhainoctober31/ht/Animals_Samhain.htm
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccanandpaganrituals/ht/Hold_Seance.htm
If you need Halloween decorations (pumpkins, straw, lights, etc.) or help in planning a Halloween party, submit a work-order using the ‘work order request’ form on this website or call (814) 880-3131. You can also email us at gxb021@yahoo.com.
To order party items (tables, chairs, dinnerware, etc.) use the ‘rental request’ form on this website.
Happy Trick or Treating!
Best Regards
Val Heier
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