The Pagan Roots of Halloween

[p_rehbein]

FYI: Information concerning the pagan roots of Halloween. I truly believe no Christian should celebrate or subject their children to the celebration of Halloween.

EXCERPT;

What is the origin of Halloween? According to this article, many believe it began with the ‘Summer’s End’ festival, or Samhain celebrated 2,000 years ago as the beginning of the Celtic year. During this festival time, Celtic farmers brought livestock in for the winter and harvested their crops. They sacrificed fruits of the harvest and the best of their flocks to appease pagan gods.
Celts Believed the Dead Could Walk on October 31
Celtic legends taught that fairies cast spells and the dead walked among the living during Samhain. On October 31, these ancient Northern Europeans believed they could visit the dead and discover their future from immortal spirits.
The Celts were highly superstitious and thought these evil spirits could damage crops, possess the living, and spread incurable sickness. That’s why they dressed up in scary costumes and animal hides while hovering in fear around bonfires.



HERE:

What Are the Pagan Roots of Halloween and Why Should …

ADDITIONAL INFO HERE:

True Origins of Halloween - Pagan Druid or Christian?

Oct 31, 2020 · Halloween is a pagan rite dating back to some pre-Christian festival among the Celtic Druids that escaped Church suppression. Even today modern pagans and witches continue to celebrate this ancient festival. If you let your kids go trick-or-treating, they will be worshiping the devil and pagan gods. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Scripture asks us "what fellowship has light with darkness...." I wonder also......

2 Corinthians, Chapter 6:

14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

[kaylagrl]

FYI: Information concerning the pagan roots of Halloween. I truly believe no Christian should celebrate or subject their children to the celebration of Halloween.

EXCERPT;

What is the origin of Halloween? According to this article, many believe it began with the ‘Summer’s End’ festival, or Samhain celebrated 2,000 years ago as the beginning of the Celtic year. During this festival time, Celtic farmers brought livestock in for the winter and harvested their crops. They sacrificed fruits of the harvest and the best of their flocks to appease pagan gods.
Celts Believed the Dead Could Walk on October 31
Celtic legends taught that fairies cast spells and the dead walked among the living during Samhain. On October 31, these ancient Northern Europeans believed they could visit the dead and discover their future from immortal spirits.
The Celts were highly superstitious and thought these evil spirits could damage crops, possess the living, and spread incurable sickness. That’s why they dressed up in scary costumes and animal hides while hovering in fear around bonfires.



HERE:

What Are the Pagan Roots of Halloween and Why Should …

ADDITIONAL INFO HERE:

True Origins of Halloween - Pagan Druid or Christian?

Oct 31, 2020 · Halloween is a pagan rite dating back to some pre-Christian festival among the Celtic Druids that escaped Church suppression. Even today modern pagans and witches continue to celebrate this ancient festival. If you let your kids go trick-or-treating, they will be worshiping the devil and pagan gods. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Scripture asks us "what fellowship has light with darkness...." I wonder also......

2 Corinthians, Chapter 6:

14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Oh no you di' in't ... !

 

[tourist]

I guess that I will have to eat all of the candy and not pass any out. Actually, I have already eaten some.

 

[Jase]

History of Halloween

Two thousand years ago, the Celts, living in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and
Northern France, celebrated November 1st as their New Year's Day.

New Year's represented the end of the summer and the harvest.
It was a time associated with death.
The Celts celebrated October 31st as Samhain, a day when ghosts returned to the earth and
when Celtic priests--Druids--could make predictions about the future.
In celebration of the event, the Druids built bonfires and the people who participated
wore costumes.

When the Romans conquered the Celtic lands, they introduced two of their celebrations: one in
late October honoring heir dead and another day--Pomona--to honor the goddess of fruits and trees.
Pomona's symbol is an apple, which may explain how bobbing for apples became part of
today's Halloween tradition.

In the 800s, Christianity spread to the former Celtic regions.
Pope Boniface IV designated November 1st All Saints' Day, in honor of saints and martyrs.
The holiday was also called "All-hallows" or "All-hallowmas"(from Middle English Alholowmesse, which means
All Saints' Day).
The night before became known as All-hallows Eve, which eventually evolved into Halloween.

 

[Jocund]

For the not so Gaelic-inclined, it is spelt "Samhain" or "Sauin" but is ofen pronounced "Sah-ween" which rhymes with Halloween. The etymology of Halloween is attributed to "all Hallows' eve" but the name could have come from a blurring of both. We see the same thing with Saint Bridget, where the official origin is from a Christian saint but in some respects it represents a remnant of the Celtic goddess Bridget. Or the term Easter which was repurposed for Christianity but is a throwback to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar (perhaps as a remnant of when the Hebrews were living in Babylon under Nimrod).

Paul speaks of things of idols being nothing by themselves unless they tempt someone into idolatry. Without the intention or inclination to idolize Samhain spirits, Bridget or Ishtar, there doesn't seem to be a scriptural problem with the ritual elements being repurposed for the glory of God. It makes sense that different converts over millennia might honour their father and mother by carrying forward some vestigial or repurposed aspects of their cultures. This might come in the form of family names, traditions, or superstitions. So long as it doesn't contradict the law of Christ, there doesn't seem to necessarily be an issue with it (it isn't necessarily true that these are "evil" things in every case).

Paul spends a good chunk of scripture discussing the 'nothingness' of idolatry, uncleanliness, but also how we are to act around neighbours that might be affected (to abstain while around them).

 

[Lanolin]

huh

well the Chinese have Ching Ming which is honoring your ancestors day.

The tradition is you go the cemetery/graveyard and clean the headstones, and maybe take a picnic to appease the hungry ghosts. Not lollies or candy though real food like roast pork.

Not sure exactly what day it is in spring have to consult my chinese calendar....

 

[tourist]

huh

well the Chinese have Ching Ming which is honoring your ancestors day.

The tradition is you go the cemetery/graveyard and clean the headstones, and maybe take a picnic to appease the hungry ghosts. Not lollies or candy though real food like roast pork.

Not sure exactly what day it is in spring have to consult my chinese calendar....

Lollies and candy are real food.

 

[Blik]

I don't see how any Christian can choose to celebrate witchcraft. We are to choose living for God and belonging to Him, living by the laws of the kingdom of heaven not the laws of the world.

It is fun, entertainment, candy and worldly pleasure. It is like Esau choosing the pot of stew instead of his birthright. Our birthright is heaven, not witchcraft.

 

[BonnieClaire]

I can't wait to learn how deadly Christmas and Easter are for the children.

 

[Blik]

I can't wait to learn how deadly Christmas and Easter are for the children.

Are you making fun of the people who have turned their backs to living as belonging to the world to living for God by how the kingdom of heaven is operated?

 

[Zdenek]

In my country it's Halloween already (its 0:31 here).

I never celebrated it.

 

[tourist]

I can't wait to learn how deadly Christmas and Easter are for the children.

I like the marshmallow Peeps for Easter. Perhaps the yellow ones are best. Right now I'm thinking jelly beans.

 

[tourist]

In my country it's Halloween already (its 0:31 here).

I never celebrated it.

I used to when I was a lad growing up outside of Detroit. Used to go out just before sunset with two pillow cases for the candy. There were many houses one after another and hundreds of kids. It was awesome.

 

[p_rehbein]

I can't wait to learn how deadly Christmas and Easter are for the children.

You may see some say they are, however......there is one HUGE DIFFERENCE.

Christmas and Easter/Resurrection Sunday ARE BASED ON CHRISTANITY/JESUS

NOT DEMONIC BEINGS...........

 

[kaylagrl]

I like the marshmallow Peeps for Easter. Perhaps the yellow ones are best. Right now I'm thinking jelly beans.

I always knew you were a closet peep lover (sinner) tsk tsk

 

[kaylagrl]

Are you making fun of the people who have turned their backs to living as belonging to the world to living for God by how the kingdom of heaven is operated?

So you buy no products from the following companies...

Nike, Marathon, Pandora, Starbucks, Dove, Amazon, Saturn, Trident (gum), Venus or anything else from the Gillette company, Ajax or anything made by Colgate- Palmolive. Also Goodyear, Mobil, Midas, Subaru. Just to name a few. I don't celebrate Halloween, but I have no issue with those that take their kids to church events or private events that aren't themed with witches and demons. We have to watch using the "pagan argument".

 

[Lucy-Pevensie]

Halloween is very American.
Harvest festival. That was what we used to celebrate when I was a child. It was carried over from an earlier time.
We would bring non-perishable food items to school or church to be donated to those in need.
Happy Celtic New Year! 1st November. My dad could say it in Gaelic but I can't remember how.

 

[Kavik]

PART 1
Guess this needs to be in parts due to size -

Modern Halloween as we know it today is just that – a modernly invented secular ‘holiday’ combining elements of an earlier American tradition called “Hell Night”, along with a healthy dose of good old “Hollywood” thrown in for good measure. Virtually _all_ American customs associated with Halloween originated right around the 1920’s - 1930’s or so. While there are some vestigial elements from pre-Christian religions in some of the customs (the "apple" traditions - bobbing for apples for example, but that's from the Romans (via Pamona), not the Celts), the modern costumes, the blood, the gore, the reveling in death and destruction, the candy, even the phrase and concept of ‘trick or treat’ itself, dates no earlier than 1900’s America. In short, it’s a relatively new phenomenon and represents a mix of cultures, capitalism, and accommodation.

Contrary to what most believe (thanks, for the most part, to the misinformation on the internet) It is not a holiday that has close ties to the ancient past, nor does it have some ‘pagan’ antecedent, nor is a continuation of several ancient customs, as some would have one believe.

To be completely fair, the former American tradition known as ‘Hell Night’ had its ultimate origins in Mischief Night; a night of relatively harmless pranks originating in Ireland and Scotland in the late 1700’s originally on May Day, but later shifting to Halloween (31.October). It is only here in America where it became extremely destructive and vandalistic in nature. A social and physical manifestation of the frustrating economic times of the post-depression era. The carving of root vegetables on Halloween originated in the Scottish highlands and in Ireland, but is not historically evidenced prior to about 1800.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of researching the various origins, traditions, and ‘assumed truths’ about Halloween, is sifting through all the data and doing a ‘deep dive’ into the historical records. In short, separating what is historical _fact_ from what is historical ‘myth’ and ‘(urban) legend’. What we find, is that the origin of most Halloween traditions/beliefs comes from latter (historical fiction), rather than the former (historical fact).

Many people associate modern Halloween primarily with three things: The old Celtic celebration of Samhain (in asserting that most of Halloween’s customs can be traced to Samhain celebrations); Satanism (asserting that Halloween’s origins are Satanic as evidenced by the many Satanists who use this day to promote their beliefs); and All Saints Day (asserting that the early church established the holiday to “Christianize” Samhain). Upon a more critical examination however, these associations fall more into the categories of folk-lore, myth, legend, wishful thinking and urban legend than actual historical fact.

As an aside, the name, of course, goes back to the Scots English rendering of All Hallows Evening, but that's just the name derivation; not the traditions associated with it.

Let’s briefly cover these three supposed origins –

*Halloween and Samhain* – To say that modern Halloween’s connection to Samhain (that’s “SAH-win” by the way) is incredibly tenuous at best, would be an overstatement. Despite the horror stories one typically hears, the truth is, that painfully little is actually known about it. To attempt to connect Samhain to the traditions of modern Halloween is, for the most part, wishful thinking – it’s just not possible. The connection just isn't anywhere near as strong as some would apparently like it to be, but it seems that this supposed connection is also from where the bulk of the absurdities describing Halloween’s “pagan past” derive. The shift now seems to be away from the erroneous and utterly ludicrous “Samhain as Celtic Lord of the Dead” to the equally erroneous “Samhain as the Celtic Feast of the Dead”.

Most accounts we have of Samhain come from early Christian Irish monks who, for obvious reasons, painted it in the worst light possible, embellishing their stories with folk-lore, superstitions, and "urban legends" that were current in their day. The reality is, that they really knew nothing more of Samhain then than we do today. By most documented historical accounts, Samhain proper was preceded by three days and followed by three days (for a total of 7 days). Samhain seems to have been a time to prepare for winter, and celebrate the final harvest of the year. Part of those celebrations even included horse racing. That sounds a lot like most European holidays from October-January. Indeed, the word ‘Samhain’ itself in Irish Gaelic (_Samhuain_ in Scotts Gaelic, and _Sauin_ in Manx Gaelic) simply means “summer’s end”. In these languages, it is also the name for the entire month of November (e.g. _mìos an t-Samhain_ in Scotts Gaelic). Ancient Gaelic texts also speak of it as a time to pay tithing, gather taxes, and a holding of a judicial assembly (much like the Manx ‘Tynwald Day’). Samhain shares a date with Halloween and perhaps a “feeling”, but really not much more. Indeed, so much of Halloween “feels” Pagan that attempts to connect those things to ancient Samhain simply “feels right”.

*Halloween and Satanism* – Halloween's association with Satanic worship and practices though real, is a very *modern* phenomena (1960's to present), and, of course, has zero connection to the pre-Christian Celtic holiday Samhain. Most people do not realize that the connection here is no more than 50-60 years old. For those who observe Samhain, Satanists are regarded with just as much disgust and disdain, indeed, if not more so, than Christians regard them - Satanists are responsible for appropriating this day to not only promulgate their beliefs, but to completely twist the day into something it simply never was. *Not* to defend them in _any way_ , but, again, to be completely fair, it should be noted that most supposed practices of these groups are, again, based upon complete misinformation and supposition; not actual fact.

Many of their assumed and supposed practices stem from the so-called “Satanic Panic”, a conspiracy theory that swept across America in the 1980’s and early 90’s. It seems however, that some Christian denominations are unfortunately doing their darndest to bring it back. Interviews and ‘testimonies’ from ‘Satanic Panic’ holdovers, as well as newcomers such as John Ramirez, are just one of many examples. Others, such as the late Anton LeVey, completely capitalized to the extreme on people’s fear and assumptions about Satanism. LeVey’s brand of Satanism actually had nothing to do with Satan at all. LeVey was an atheist; his brand of Satanism is an atheistic philosophy and is not at all theological.

 

[Kavik]

PART 2

Lastly, *All Saint’s Day* - All Saint’s Day/All Souls Day/Halloween, and Samhain developed _completely independent_ of each other. That’s just historical fact. No matter how much some people like to promote and honestly believe that just the opposite is true.

To state it briefly, the date of 1. November for All Saint's Day was practiced in continental Europe _long_ before the date was formerly fixed by the RCC to November 1st, and _long_ before said change got to what is now the UK & Ireland; which was _centuries_ after the time of Druids and Samhain proper.

In addition, most people are not aware that Samhain itself is a _movable_ feast day; the exact date varies from year to year depending on when the autumnal equinox and winter solstice fall. In 2020, Samhain proper fell on 6/7.Nov. Samhain was associated with the ‘Seven Sisters’, the Pleiades – it is said to have occurred at the culmination of the Pleiades (when they reach the highest point in the sky). In modern times that equates to about 21.November, but in more ancient times (992-1064) to 1.November (currently 6/7 November).

To assert that the establishment of All Saint’s Day (and All Souls Day on 2.NOV) was the early church’s attempt to “Christianize Samhain” just does not stand to reason. Think about this logically for a moment, why would the church change a major feast day affecting _all_ of Western Christendom just to accommodate a small group of Christians who lived on, what would be considered at that time, some remote group of islands in the middle of nowhere centuries after their indigenous religion was displaced by Christianity?

Again, all three holidays, Halloween, All Saint’s Day, and Samhain share a common date and perhaps a “feeling”, but that’s really about it. Indeed, so much of Halloween “feels” Pagan that attempts to connect those things to ancient Samhain simply “feels right”.

I completely agree in that if you celebrate a holiday, you are, in a sense, honoring the occasion; however, like many holidays that do actually have pre-Christian antecedents, I would argue that the “pagan-ness” has been effectively ‘bred out’ of these holidays for centuries. Holidays such as Halloween have become more “cultural events” than religious holidays.

When one participates in Halloween, one is not participating in ‘evil’ or ‘death’ per se; rather one of the points of the modern holiday is to mock these things. I think that’s a major point many people seem to completely miss or not quite understand. In a way, it’s remotely akin to the Medieval “Feast of Fools”.

On another philosophical/psychological level, it allows people to explore their “darker side/psyche”, if you will. A time to explore a side of themselves they would not normally expose or perhaps even consider. It’s a part of being human. A time to play on a few of the basic/core fears of man – fear of the dark, and fear of death, etc. – the aspects of these fears that people just don’t like to think about, are now exposed for all to ‘see’ and ‘experience’. A sort of annual self-check to make sure that part of our humanity is still there, so to speak. In the end, most people realize it for what it is.

Another cultural tradition bears mentioning here as well. There seems to be a relatively new ‘tradition’, if you will, of associating Halloween with the Central American ‘Dia de los Muertos” – “The Day of the Dead”. The assertion here is that people are “worshiping the dead”, or something along those lines. This is yet another cultural celebration that has absolutely no connection to Halloween but shares a common “theme” or “feeling” (the date, of course, is a result of the introduction of Christianity as the traditions of Dia de los Muertos closely resemble All Saints’ Day).

I’m not suggesting that Halloween does not have its share of ‘evil’ – unfortunately, there are people who seem to be doing their darndest to make it that way.

As a quick note in response to a post further above, Easter has zero to do with Ishtar.

 

[kaylagrl]

Halloween is very American.
Harvest festival. That was what we used to celebrate when I was a child. It was carried over from an earlier time.
We would bring non-perishable food items to school or church to be donated to those in need.
Happy Celtic New Year! 1st November. My dad could say it in Gaelic but I can't remember how.

It is my favorite time of year, even more the older I get. I love the colors, decorating with pumpkins and gourds. Just love it all. I act like a kid, lol and love having my nephews up and having hay rides, doing mazes. Halloween is just a blip near the end of it. I 'm already planning Thanksgiving.