![]() Since the time of the early Church, major feasts in Christianity (such as Christmas, Easter and Pentecost) had vigils that began the night before, as did the feast of All Hallows'. The English word 'Halloween' comes from "All Hallows' Eve", being the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows' Day (All Saints' Day) on 1 November and All Souls' Day on 2 November. ![]() Halloween is thought to have influences from Christian beliefs and practices. ![]() History Christian origins and historic customs The word halloween comes from the Scottish form of All Hallows' Eve (the evening before All Hallows' Day): even is the Scots term for "eve" or "evening", and is contracted to e'en or een (All) Hallow(s) E(v)en became Hallowe'en. The word Halloween or Hallowe'en (" Saints' evening" ) is of Christian origin a term equivalent to "All Hallows Eve" is attested in Old English. " Halloween" (1785) by Scottish poet Robert Burns, recounts various legends of the holiday. Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve, a tradition reflected in the eating of certain vegetarian foods on this vigil day, including apples, potato pancakes, and soul cakes. Some people practice the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, although it is a secular celebration for others. Popular Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising and souling), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins or turnips into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror or Halloween-themed films. Celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, Irish and Scottish immigrants took many Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century, and then through American influence Halloween had spread to other countries by the late 20th and early 21st century. Other academics believe Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, being the vigil of All Hallow's Day. Some go further and suggest that Samhain may have been Christianized as All Hallow's Day, along with its eve, by the early Church. One theory holds that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which are believed to have pagan roots. It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints ( hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed. Halloween or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. Samhain, Hop-tu-Naa, Calan Gaeaf, Allantide, Day of the Dead, Reformation Day, All Saints' Day, Mischief Night ( cf. Trick-or-treating, costume parties, making jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, divination, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions.Ĭhurch services, prayer, fasting, and vigil Rooms from £107.Western Christians and many non-Christians around the world Another resident is William McGonagall, not Scotland’s finest poet: “For the stronger we our houses do build The less chance we have of being killed.”Īccommodation: To get you in the mood before the five-minute walk to the graveyard, it has to be House of Gods. Several names on gravestones are said to have inspired characters in Harry Potter books. Take care near the George Mackenzie mausoleum: there’s a poltergeist that scratches. Stroll around the gothic collection of dark stone memorials and obelisks at dusk. At the wonderful Greyfriars Kirkyard, a 10-minutes walk from Princes Street, can be seen the mortsafe, a kind of iron grille that was locked over graves for at least six weeks, until the decomposing corpse was safe from the anatomists’ minions. Photograph: Alan Wilson/AlamyĪ few years before his vampiric literary tendencies emerged, Polidori was a medical student in Edinburgh (his thesis was on sleep-walking), and no doubt he dissected corpses provided by bodysnatchers. There’s a poltergeist that scratches … Greyfriars kirk, Edinburgh.
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