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The Actual History of Halloween 3

What's the Actual History was eventually shortened to "Halloween," which evolved into more lighthearted fun and games.
we know and love to this day. For example, the somewhat heavy concept of
of Halloween—and Why The pagan and Christian occasions connecting to the dead was replaced with the
hadn't always been back to back, though. Up more lighthearted idea of telling the future.
Do We Celebrate It on until the 7th century CE, All Hallow's Eve fell Apple bobbing, for example, became popular as

October 31? actually on May 13. Perhaps in an attempt to a fortune-telling game on All Hallows' Eve:
offset the occasion with a religious celebration, Apples would be selected to represent all of a
Pope Boniface IV ultimately made the call to woman's suitors, and the guy—er, apple—she
It's a longer story than you change the observance to its current November ended up biting into would supposedly represent
1 date. her future husband. In fact, Halloween
might think.
previously posed a huge (albeit rather
Why Do We Celebrate Halloween on superstitious) matchmaking opportunity for
By Blair Donovan and Marissa Gold October 31? young women in the 19th century.
Another popular All Hallows' Eve ritual
It's here, it's here! (No, not pumpkin spice latte Halloween falls on October 31 because the was mirror-gazing, as people hoped to catch a
season—though we're glad about that as well.) ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, considered vision of their future by looking into the mirror.
Halloween has officially crept up on us, and the earliest known root of Halloween, occurred There are also reports of fortune-cookie-like
there’s so much to look forward to, from on this day. It marked a pivotal time of year favors being given out during earlier times.
brainstorming our costumes to carving jack-o'- when seasons changed, but (more importantly) People wrote messages on pieces of paper in
lanterns with the kids and, of course, eating observers also believed the boundary between milk, and the notes were then folded and placed
unfathomable amounts of treats, candy, and this world and the next became especially thin at into walnut shells. The shells would then be
chocolate. this time, enabling them to connect with the heated over a fire, causing the milk to brown just
dead. This belief is shared by some other enough for the message to mystically appear on
No matter how old you are or how many times cultures; a similar idea is mentioned around the the paper for the recipient.
you've been around the block, the holiday Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which also
simply never gets old. The littlest ones get a typically occurs in October and involves saying History of Halloween Costumes and
chance to dress up and go trick-or-treating, and prayers for the dead. This is also where Trick-or-Treating
parents have an excuse to sip on a boo-zy Halloween gains its "haunted" connotations.
Halloween cocktail. Many people were said to dress up as saints and
But in the midst of the parties and games The History of Halloween Activities recite songs or verses from door to door.
and sugar rushes, have you ever stopped to Children would also go from door to door asking
wonder what the history of Halloween even is in for "soul cakes," a treat similar to biscuits.
The early pagan holiday of Samhain involved a
the first place?
lot of ritualistic ceremonies to connect to spirits, Technical note: Soul Cakes originated as part of
Here, we're sharing Halloween's origin
as the Celts were polytheistic. While there isn't a the All Souls' Day holiday on November 2nd
(and Halloween's meaning too) in the hopes that lot of detail known about these celebrations, (Yep, a third holiday!), but eventually became a
it'll make your celebrations even more, many believe the Celts celebrated in costume part of Halloween night as the concept evolved
er...meaningful. After all, this old-fashioned into trick-or-treating. The candy-grabbing
(granted, they were likely as simple as animal
holiday actually dates back many, many years. concept also became mainstream in the U.S. in
hides) as a disguise against ghosts, enjoyed
It's a lot older than you might think! And as for the early to mid-1900s, during which families
special feasts, and made lanterns by hollowing
the witches and wizards that you've come to would provide treats to children in hopes that
out gourds (hence, the history of jack-o'-
associate with it? Yeah, they're part of the story they would be immune to any holiday pranks.
lanterns). Over time, as Christianity took over
too! Here's the true tale of how Halloween
and the pagan undertones of the holiday were As for the costumes, they evolved too.
officially came to be. lessened, the basic traditions of the holiday While they began as earnest tributes to saints,
You already know that Halloween takes remained a part of pop culture every year, they that tradition likely fell out of favor at some
place on the last day of October, but here's simply evolved and modernized. point…until young Scottish and Irish pranksters
something you might not know: The word itself got the idea to dress up in scary-looking garb
The mystical rituals of earlier times
literally means "hallowed evening," and was again as a way to spook unsuspecting neighbors.
previously known to early European celebrators The world of the Paranormal And just like that, thanks to these local
as All Hallows' Eve. All Hallows' Eve (October 24 / 7 / 365 hooligans, Halloween costumes became scary,
31) and All Saints' Day (November 1) both paid The ‘X’ Zone Broadcast Network spooky, funny, and creative all at the same time.
homage to saints ("hallows" = saints). The name www.xzbn.net []