Spirit Halloween interesting facts,
‘Halloween’ was first used in a poem. “Hallow”, meaning a holy person, which means a saint. The celebration of saints is on All Saints’ Day, which is on November first. So basically, Halloween implies “the night before All Saints’ Day”. Halloween is also referred to as Hallowmas or All Hallows’ Day. The celebration of Halloween is on October thirty-first October every year.
HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN
Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This festival is to ward off ghosts, and people celebrate it with bonfires and wear costumes. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III Marthe first of November November to honour all saints. Therefore, it is believed that All Saints Day imbibed some of the traditions and customs of Samhain.
The evening of the day before ‘All Saints Day is All Hallows Eve, and later people started referring to it as Halloween. As time went on, Halloween became full of fun activities such as; trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.
Halloween signifies the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Also, it was the time of year that was associated, frequently, with human death. The Celts believed that on new year’s eve, the barrier between the world of the living and the world of the dead become blurred. Then on the 31st night of October, they held the festival of Samhain because they believed that the ghosts of the deceased had returned to earth.
In addition, these spirits are believed to cause trouble and damage crops. Also, the Celts thought that the presence of souls on the earth made it easier for the Druids (Celtic priests) to predict the future. Therefore, the people relied on these prophecies for comfort and hope during the long, dark winter.
More Facts
The Druids were indeed the better for it, and to prove their support for the festival, the Druids built large sacred bonfires, where the people come together to make sacrifices by burning crops and animals to the Celtic deities. The Celts dressed in costumes in the celebration, mainly animal heads and skins, and attempts to tell each other’s fortunes.
After the celebration, they turned on their hearth fires, which they had put off in the evening, with flames from the sacred bonfire. This act also is believed to help protect them during the winter season. The Roman Empire conquered the significant territory of Celts in 43 A.D and the 400 years that they ruled. In addition, the Romans combined two festivals of Roman origin with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
Thus, the first festival the Romans merged with Halloween was Feralia. The celebration of Feralia is in late October. Also, in this festival, the Romans traditionally commemorates the passing of the dead. The other festival is the one held to honour Pomona. Pomona is the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. With the apple as a symbol. This addition to the celebration thus explains the tradition of bobbing for apples that are practised today on Halloween.
PRESENT-DAY HALLOWEEN
Today, Halloween activities are much more fun and less ritualistic. They include; trick-or-treating, attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, as well as watching horror films.
On All Hallows ‘ Eve, some people, mostly Christians, attend church services and light candles on the graves of the dead, while for others, it is purely a secular affair. Also, some Christians on this day have vegetarian meals. They abstained from meat, a tradition that led to eating certain foods, including apples, potato pancakes, and soul cakes. Halloween celebration comes to life with elaborate costumes, haunted houses and candies. However, Halloween is associated with many risks, which includes pedestrian fatalities and theft or vandalism.
Many things hathe October thirty-first October first may pose a danger to your children, home, car and health. On average, Halloween night has led to more pedestrian deaths than any other night of the year. In addition, according to research published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, children ages 4 to 8 are most vulnerable.
During this research, 42 years of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration were reviewed. It was discovered that, on average, there were four more pedestrian accidents between 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm on Halloween as against the one week before and after Halloween.
Did you know?
Researchers believe that kids wear reflective patches on their costumes during Halloween so oncoming vehicles can notice them on time. And also, they suggested that limiting on-street parking could make it easier to see pedestrians. According to them, “Halloween trick-or-treating encourages creativity, physical activity, and neighbourhood engagement”. Therefore, “Trick-or-treating should not be abolished in a misguided effort to eliminate Halloween-associated risk.”
According to information published by New York-based insurance company Travelers TRV, 17% of home insurance claims during Halloween are more crime-related as against -1.77% found on other days of the year. These crimes include theft and vandalism. Also, pick the best medical insurance cover for your family here.
HALLOWEEN IN THE PHILIPINO
After Christmas and New year, Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays in the Philippines. In the Phillippines, Halloween is a week-long celebration. It is a time to visit the tombstones of dead loved ones, meet the rest of the clan, play dress-up, do the trick or treating, tell stories of ghosts, attend events, and lots more!
In the old days, Most Filipino families used the holiday to visit their relatives’ graves in the province. There they light up candles, pray, and spend some time catching up with the other relatives. However, with the advent of Western influence, Filipinos have celebrated Halloween with parties and other fun activities. It sounds rather unusual, but the Philippines has a unique way of observing most celebrations, not just Halloween.
However, it is so much fun! The Philippines observe their customs; howbeit, they also engage in scary stuff during Halloween. A lot of frightening activities are open all over the Philippines! They love those terrifying encounters a lot! Also, you can check out some of their creepy activities if you are a lover of the dark (I’m not! I feel scared already). Also, they like to play dress-up. And during this occasion, they dress up as someone else for the celebration. For most businesses in the Philippines, particularly outsourcing companies, the Halloween party has become a part of their yearly event. Also, manage your flight bookings with Ethiopian Airlines.
HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS
A celebration is not complete without decorations. Here are some décor ideas:
Leaf Motif Pumpkins
A wheelbarrow is full of leaf motifs and undecorated pumpkins.
- How to make
Cut out papers: Cut the form in the shape of leaves and flowers from new wallpaper or gift wraps. Then, paste cut out pieces onto pumpkins using Modge Podge.
Outline leaves: Use a leaf-shaped stencil, paint fall coloured leaves on different colours of pumpkins. Allow to dry, and using a white paint pen, highlight the details of the leaves and add vein lines and other decorative elements.
Vine Topiary Pumpkin
This decor is the perfect way of greeting guests at your front door. Arrange the set directly on your porch or vintage ladder back chair decorated with different colour plaid blankets.
- How to make:
Buy a large, medium and small-sized pumpkin of any colour combo as long as they stack nicely. First, cut out the stems of the large and medium pumpkin. Then gradually draw a vine line on a pumpkin with a pencil. Next, carve out the pattern you have marked with a linoleum carving tool. Lastly, attach red berries or beads with hot glue over the design.
Bittersweet Wrapped Pumpkin
This decor takes a few minutes and is just suitable for your fall table. You can use grapevine if you can not assess bittersweet vine and attach the berries with hot glue. See more on how to travel on a budget.
- How to make:
Cover pumpkins with bittersweet vine, make them stay in place with t-pins and hot glue.
Candlesticks in Wine Bottles
This decor gives off a chill feel—an eerie flicker.
- How to make:
Colour wine bottles with black spray paint. Allow to dry, and then fix an orange taper candle on the top opening.
Bubbling Cauldron
Give your guests that spooky feel by creating an eerie fog. Just add dry ice and a little water to a cast-iron Dutch oven.
Horror Novel Door
Greet your guests with a bit of Halloween horror. By giving them the chills of a frightening horror novel. Get a spooky classic into your Halloween decor.
- How to make:
Cut out long, thin rectangular shapes from different colour craft paper. You can use red, grey, and black, or any other spooky combination you like. Sketch bizarre book titles on the form. Add details to the letters using gold paint pens. Colour the outlined pieces with a paint pen or gold acrylic paint, then attach them to your door using double-sided tape. Place large bushel basket by the door side and buffalo-check doormat.
Creepy Spiderweb Wall
Make your Halloween more exciting. Give it the creepiness of sticky looking spider webs and black painted branches.
- How to make
Cross fake spider web material across your wall. Wrap it around and through branches that you have spray painted black.
Silhouettes Party Buffet
Cut spooky silhouettes from black craft paper. And paste on the wall. Then, you can add creepy characters to your Halloween buffet.
BEST 10 HALLOWEEN COSTUMES 2021
- Cruella de Vil Costume.
- Beth Harmon from Queen’s Gambit Costume.
- Emily in Paris Costume.
- Money Heist Costume.
- Phoebe Bridgers’ Skeleton Onesie Look.
- Cassie from Promising Young Woman Costume.
- Bridgerton Costume.
- Wednesday Addams Costume.
- Jade from Mortal Kombat Costume.
- Black Widow Costume.
