Happy Halloween, or should I say Samhain. Parents always say, "Don't take candies from strangers." So why is Halloween an exception to receiving candy from people you don't even know? Samhain meaning "summers dead" dates back to 800 b.c. A day to honor saints and pray for the souls of the dead. Why do we celebrate Halloween? It can be traced back from ancient times as the day in which the dead would rise up and roam the Earth. It was also said that on that day, the "gates" between the two would open allowing the spirit world to interact with the natural world so that both dead and alive would intertwine. Celebrations of Samhain included lighting of bonfires and the offering of sacrifices and the Druids danced around the fires. Well we're not doing anything wrong, because we don't do that. That's because before Halloween, All Hallow Eve was celebrated by Catholics as a celebration of the saints. It began as a Christianity celebration but was adopted, shifted and mixed into modern holiday throughout history. Modern celebrations of Halloween include Trick or treat, carving pumpkins, visit of haunted housed, dress up and Halloween parties. Trick or treat was a form of souling; where children and poor people would pray for the dead in return for treats of cakes. Why would Christians pray for the dead? Yet Halloween is the top 3 celebrated holidays in America. (Not including Christmas) Carving pumpkins comes from the old myth of stingy Jack, to keep evil spirits away. (Look up myth) etc. Some celebrate it because they don't believe in the superstitious reason behind it; others, like Satanist take pride in celebrating death. Some just do it because they enjoy getting free candy and gift. But do the ends justify the means? Is candy worth putting your faith aside? And even those who have no faith, does death sound like a legitimate reason to celebrate? So...What's your plan for this Halloween?
