In the countries of the former Union, the Halloween feast has only recently become fashionable. He already had quite a few admirers, especially among the youth. In clubs and discos on the night of October 31 to November 1, there are mass themed parties and carnivals, in which dressed up in terrible and funny costumes people have fun until the morning. These events can not yet be compared with how Halloween is celebrated in the countries of the West. There thousands of people come out to parades in the costumes of vampires, witches and goblins. Bright and noisy festivities cover almost all major cities. Residents spend large amounts of money on pumpkins, outfits, candles, greeting cards. The children run around the streets, dressed up in ghosts, frightening adults, and they buy sweets from them.
History of the origin of the holiday Halloween
Many people are wondering how such a fun tradition could have appeared in the Christian world, for the church has fought for many centuries with all such evil spirits. To find her roots, you need to set off on a long journey in time. To visit the dark era when the wild tribes of the Celts, who had not yet accepted Christianity, dominated Western Europe. They worshiped their ancient gods and tried to live in harmony with the surrounding world. Christian preachers have not yet pressed the Druids, who were for their people all-powerful doctors, prophets and magicians.
The Druids claimed that on the night of the first of November, a door opens between the worlds, and the inhabitants of the world of the dead come to our land. Simple people can become victims of terrible aliens. There is only one way out - to scare away spirits from their homes. All the inhabitants put on themselves this night animal skins. They bred big bonfires and brought along with the sacrifices of the priests to pay off the dead. Why is the pumpkin so popular in Halloween, which for most people is its symbol? Simply, it symbolized in those days the collection of a generous harvest and the end of a warm summer. And the candle lit inside her should scare the spirits, take them away from the threshold of the house.
The history of the origin of Halloween could be interrupted with the advent of Christianity. But by coincidence, Pope Gregory III moved the holiday of All Saints Day on the first day of November. His name All Hallows Even gradually changed to the usual Halloween. With the pagan rituals and the custom of scaring the spirits of the dead, the church tried to fight all the time, but people never forgot the traditions of their ancestors. The national holiday gradually grew together in their understanding with the church.
Among the first settlers in America were many devout people. Pilgrims were opponents of all occultism and banned Halloween. But it was in the USA that he got his new birth, spreading later all over the world. The fact is that thousands of Irish people flocked here from hunger and unemployment, revered to their last national ancient customs. Here they are then brought to the New World Halloween. A cheerful holiday fell to the hearts of the rest of the Americans, and quite quickly it began to celebrate all other inhabitants of the country, regardless of race.
Halloween has its ancient traditions and rich history, but it has not yet become an official holiday in the United States or other countries. Nevertheless, note it here with almost the same scale as Christmas . Even in distant China, there is a tradition of commemorating ancestors. They called this holiday Teng Chieh. On this day, people put a lantern, which should illuminate the road to the spirits of the deceased. It's no wonder that in our country also gradually began to adopt the traditions of Americans and Europeans, even if they celebrate Halloween mostly only in clubs and bars. For most of our young people - this is just another reason to have fun with friends, dressed up in carnival costumes.