EL HALLOWEEN

Halloween or Hallowe'en (contraction of All

Hallows' evening; literally in Spanish, "eve of All
Saints"), 1 2 also known as Eve of All Saints, 3 4
Night of the Dead, 5 Halloween or Allhalloween, 6
is an international celebration that is celebrated on
October 31, the eve of the western Christian holiday
of All Saints' Day. It appears especially linked to
the first section of Allhallowtide, 7 the time of the
liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead,
including the saints (through their relics), martyrs
and all the faithful departed. 8 9

It is celebrated internationally on the night of

October 31, especially in the Anglo-sphere, such as
Canada, the United States, Ireland or the United
Kingdom, and, to a lesser extent, in other places
such as Spain and Latin America. Despite belonging
to the Anglo-Saxon world, in Australia10 and New
Zealand this custom is not observed as much as in
other countries. [Citation needed]
One theory holds that many Halloween traditions
may have been influenced by ancient Celtic harvest
festivals, particularly the Gaelic Samhain festival,
with pagan roots; 11 12 13 14 some scholars argue
that it may be the result of syncretism caused by the
Christianization of Samhain as All Saints 'Day,
along with its eve, by the early Church.15 Other
scholars believe, however, that Halloween began
solely as a Christian holiday, being the vigil of All
Saints' Day.16 17 18 19

Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or

related costume and soul), attending Halloween
costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-
lanterns, lighting bonfires, wagging apples,
guessing games, making pranks, visiting haunted
attractions, telling scary stories, as well as watching
horror movies.20 In many parts of the world,
Christian religious celebrations of All Hallows' Eve,
including attendance at religious services and the
lighting of candles in Tombs of the dead are still
popular, 21 22 23 although elsewhere it is a more
commercial and secular celebration. 24 25 26 Some
Christians historically abstained from eating meat
on All Hallows' Eve , a tradition reflected in the
consumption of certain vegetarian foods on this
waking day, such as apples, potato pancakes, and
soul cakes

ORIGEN DEL HALLOWEEN

Halloween origins
Although it is currently a day of costumes, sweets
and children, its origins are not so happy. The
festival was celebrated in Ireland when the harvest
season was coming to an end and the “Celtic New
Year” began, coinciding with the autumn solstice. It
was believed that during that night the spirits of the
dead could walk among the living.

The ancient Celts believed that with the arrival of

Samhain the line that connects this world with that
of the dead was narrowed and good and evil spirits
could pass through it. It is believed that the use of
masks was to drive away evil spirits. Banquets were
also held at the graves of family ancestors.
The sacred rites celebrated had originally a
purifying and religious character, among which was
communication with the dead, who were helped to
find their way by placing lighted candles in the
windows.
When the Roman occupation arrived in Celtic lands,
the festival was mixed with those of the invaders,
such as the “harvest festival”, celebrated in honor of
the goddess Pomona.

Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV tried to supplant

Halloween by the Catholic holiday of All Saints'
Day which was moved from May 13 to November
1.

PINEDA HERNANDEZ ANGEL DANIEL3F