All Hallowes Eve

We do not often hear this expression, this name for 31 October 2017, it more often being referred to as "Halloween".  When in fact "All Hallowes Eve" is the correct name when supposedly the  veils between the earth and the spirit world are at their closest and communication between the two worlds takes place.

The Wikipedia information says as follows:

"Halloween or Hallowe'en, also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed".

The Daily Express printed the following article:

"Where did All Hallows Eve come from? 

Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31, and takes its name from the Christian feast of All Hallows’ Eve, which falls on the same day.

The holiday dates back to the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, meaning Summer’s End, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the “dark half” of the year.

Gales believed that during Samhain the walls between our world and the next became thin enough for spirits to pass through".

These ghosts would come back to life for the day and damage crops.
Some would leave places set at the dinner table to appease the good spirits, with bonfires lit to ward off evil.

To mark the event, animals would sacrificed to the gods, feast would be held and fortunes told.

In the eighth century the Christian church began celebrating All Hallows to coincide with the Gaelic holiday.

Why do we do Trick-or-treat?

During Samhain, Celts would dress up in white and blacken their faces to trick the evil spirits they believed would pass through to the world of the living.
Druids would also dress up in costumes of animal heads and skins.

When the Christian church began to celebrate All Souls’ Day by the 11th century, this practice had evolved into souling – whereby the poor would visit wealthy families’ homes and promise to pray for their dead relatives in exchange for soul cakes.

These were sweet pastries with a cross on top, which when eaten represented a soul being freed from purgatory.

In the 19th century souling gave way to guising – where young people in Scotland and Ireland would dress up and perform songs, poems and jokes in exchange for fruit and nut.

When immigrants went to the US in the early 20th century, it evolved into modern trick-or-treating, with children threatening pranks in exchange for sweets.

Today, trick-or-treating is a multi-million pound industry.

Why do we carve pumpkins?

During Samhain, Gales would carve turnips to ward off spirits.

It is believed that Irish immigrants who travelled to the US in the 1840s began carving pumpkins as they were more readily available than turnips"

More commonly known as Halloween where these days the kiddies go out dressed up in fancy dress trick or treating. They will knock at the door and sometimes the little imps will play a trick if you do not answer.  Equally if you give them sweeties they will leave you alone.

When I was growing up we did not do such things.  Its funny how customs change but the kiddies seem to enjoy themselves these days, although whether they are aware of the true meaning or not seems neither here nor there these days.  Together with apple dunking, all sorts of scary treats on the tea table  it is a time to have fun for the littlies as long as they have responsible parents with them. However these days I think it is more a way of crossing palms with silver.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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