Halloween Research Paper
Halloween Research Paper In today’s world October 31st is a holiday known globally as Halloween. The Halloween season over the years has acquired many traditions such as dressing up in costumes, trick or treating for candy, watching scary movies, attending haunted houses, and also ancient superstitions. The idea of Halloween can be traced back to over 2,000 years ago. The ancient Celtics called this time the “Samhain” and was used to celebrate the beginning of the Celtic New Year. November 1st marked the beginning of the New Year. During the night of the “Samhain” the Celtics believed that the living and the dead came together. Like the Celtics, the Europeans of that time also believed the spirits of the dead would visit Earth on Halloween. The Europeans worried that the evil spirits would harm them; so on that
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night the people would dress like ghosts and other evil creatures in hopes that the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them. More than a 1,000 years ago the Christian church named November 1st All Hallows Day. The night before All Hallows day was called Hallows Eve. Later being changed to what is now known as Halloween. The activity of Halloween is not only popular in the United States but the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada due to the increase of American cultural influence shown through United States television shoes and other American media. Although Halloween has spread to the United Kingdom there is a resistance as well. The United Kingdom police force have threatened to prosecute parents that allow their child to participate in the “trick” element of trick or treating. Trick or treating has also spread worldwide and is now practiced all the way in Dhahran and Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia. Many superstitions have evolved from the idea of Halloween but are practiced year round. One of the most common superstitions is based around the presence of black cats. It is believed that crossing the path of a black cat will bring bad luck. This idea comes from the Middle Ages, when it was believed that witches avoided being caught by turning themselves into black cats. Another popular superstition is that bad luck comes from walking under ladders. Ancient Egyptians believed that triangles were sacred and if you were to do so you would no longer be blessed. There are also superstitions that are practiced during Halloween. One tale is that if a young woman ate a sugary mixture of walnuts, hazelnuts, and nutmeg before bed on Halloween night she would then dream about her future husband. Also, at some Halloween parties, the first guest to successfully complete apple bobbing would be the first to get married. There are several decorations and symbols that have become associated with Halloween over time. As said before black cats were believed to have supernatural powers because they were witches avoiding getting caught. Another creature that is believed to have a supernatural power is the spider. It was believed that witches would invite spiders into their homes to enhance their spells. Also, spiders contain eight legs, which coincides with the eight symbolic cycles between summer and winter, which are when spiders are present. A popular Halloween decoration is the Jack-o-lantern. In Ireland and Scotland hollowed-out turnips with candles inside, became a very popular Halloween decoration. Tradition held that the Jack-o-lanterns would scare away Stingy Jack and other bad spirits on Halloween. Irish families who immigrated to America brought the tradition with them, but they replaced the turnips with pumpkins. People began to carve frightening faces and other designs into their jack-o-lanterns to add their own personality to their carving. Along with the Jack-o-lantern, bats are known to be a symbol of Halloween as well. During the “Samhain” festival they would have several bonfires lit. The bonfires attracted insects to the area, which attracted the bats to the area as well. Bats are viewed during this holiday to represent a person moving from one stage of their life to another after death. Halloween is also a time that people used to honor memories of those who have died. The skeleton is a symbolic reminder of the remnants of life. Halloween night is generally associated with the custom of trick or treating. An old Irish tradition was to go door to door to collect money, bread, cheese, eggs, and apples in preparation for the “Samhain” festival. Another old tradition was asking for cakes or other offerings for a promise of good luck. In the mid 19th century large numbers of immigrants from Ireland and Scotland helped popularize Halloween in America. In the early 20th century these communities revived the European traditions in the United States. During the Great Depression and World War II the importance of Halloween lessened and children had to refrain from trick or treating because of the sugar rationing. At the height of the post war baby boom trick or treating once again became an important Halloween costume. In Ohio, Iowa, and Massachusetts, trick or treating is often referred to as Beggars Night. Today Americans spend an estimated $6 Billion on Halloween a year, making it the United States second largest commercial holiday following Christmas. As you can see Halloween has evolved over many years. However, the original traditions, beliefs, and symbolic meaning of things continue to carry on each year. Halloween now is not only for one country or religion but is now celebrated worldwide.
Glossary of Terminology
Celtic – A tribal group of people in Medial Europe who spoke Celtic language.
Samhain - The first day of November, celebrated by the ancient Celts as a festival marking the beginning of winter and the Celtic New Year.
European - native or inhabitant of Europe.
Middle Ages - The period of European history from the fall of the Roman Empire in the West (5th century) to the fall of Constantinople (1453), or, more narrowly, from c.1100 to 1453.
Superstitions - A widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences of an action or event, or a practice based on such a belief.
Immigrated – Come to live permanently in a foreign country.
Prosecute - Institute legal proceedings against.
Sacred – Connected with God (or the gods) or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneratio.
Remnants – A small remaining quantity of something.
Baby Boom - A temporary marked increase in the birth rate, esp. the one following World War II.
Bibliography
History of Halloween - Halloween History. (n.d.). History of Halloween - Halloween History. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://www.halloweenhistory.org/
Maughan, J. (n.d.). A Simple Halloween History for Kids - Life123. Articles and Answers about Life - Life123. Retrieved October 2, 2012, from http://www.life123.com/holidays/halloween/halloween-history-traditions/halloween-history.shtml
Meaning of Halloween Symbols . (n.d.). What's your sign? Discover the world of signs and symbolic meanings. . Retrieved October 2, 2012, from http://www.whats-your-sign.com/meaning-of-halloween-symbols.html
The History of Halloween. (n.d.). FREE HALLOWEN STUFF FOR KIDS, TEACHERS & ADULTS.. Retrieved October 2, 2012, from
http://www.1halloween.net/html/history.htm
The History of Halloween. (n.d.). Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More! Find a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay ride and more near you!. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/halloweenhistory.php
night the people would dress like ghosts and other evil creatures in hopes that the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them. More than a 1,000 years ago the Christian church named November 1st All Hallows Day. The night before All Hallows day was called Hallows Eve. Later being changed to what is now known as Halloween. The activity of Halloween is not only popular in the United States but the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada due to the increase of American cultural influence shown through United States television shoes and other American media. Although Halloween has spread to the United Kingdom there is a resistance as well. The United Kingdom police force have threatened to prosecute parents that allow their child to participate in the “trick” element of trick or treating. Trick or treating has also spread worldwide and is now practiced all the way in Dhahran and Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia. Many superstitions have evolved from the idea of Halloween but are practiced year round. One of the most common superstitions is based around the presence of black cats. It is believed that crossing the path of a black cat will bring bad luck. This idea comes from the Middle Ages, when it was believed that witches avoided being caught by turning themselves into black cats. Another popular superstition is that bad luck comes from walking under ladders. Ancient Egyptians believed that triangles were sacred and if you were to do so you would no longer be blessed. There are also superstitions that are practiced during Halloween. One tale is that if a young woman ate a sugary mixture of walnuts, hazelnuts, and nutmeg before bed on Halloween night she would then dream about her future husband. Also, at some Halloween parties, the first guest to successfully complete apple bobbing would be the first to get married. There are several decorations and symbols that have become associated with Halloween over time. As said before black cats were believed to have supernatural powers because they were witches avoiding getting caught. Another creature that is believed to have a supernatural power is the spider. It was believed that witches would invite spiders into their homes to enhance their spells. Also, spiders contain eight legs, which coincides with the eight symbolic cycles between summer and winter, which are when spiders are present. A popular Halloween decoration is the Jack-o-lantern. In Ireland and Scotland hollowed-out turnips with candles inside, became a very popular Halloween decoration. Tradition held that the Jack-o-lanterns would scare away Stingy Jack and other bad spirits on Halloween. Irish families who immigrated to America brought the tradition with them, but they replaced the turnips with pumpkins. People began to carve frightening faces and other designs into their jack-o-lanterns to add their own personality to their carving. Along with the Jack-o-lantern, bats are known to be a symbol of Halloween as well. During the “Samhain” festival they would have several bonfires lit. The bonfires attracted insects to the area, which attracted the bats to the area as well. Bats are viewed during this holiday to represent a person moving from one stage of their life to another after death. Halloween is also a time that people used to honor memories of those who have died. The skeleton is a symbolic reminder of the remnants of life. Halloween night is generally associated with the custom of trick or treating. An old Irish tradition was to go door to door to collect money, bread, cheese, eggs, and apples in preparation for the “Samhain” festival. Another old tradition was asking for cakes or other offerings for a promise of good luck. In the mid 19th century large numbers of immigrants from Ireland and Scotland helped popularize Halloween in America. In the early 20th century these communities revived the European traditions in the United States. During the Great Depression and World War II the importance of Halloween lessened and children had to refrain from trick or treating because of the sugar rationing. At the height of the post war baby boom trick or treating once again became an important Halloween costume. In Ohio, Iowa, and Massachusetts, trick or treating is often referred to as Beggars Night. Today Americans spend an estimated $6 Billion on Halloween a year, making it the United States second largest commercial holiday following Christmas. As you can see Halloween has evolved over many years. However, the original traditions, beliefs, and symbolic meaning of things continue to carry on each year. Halloween now is not only for one country or religion but is now celebrated worldwide.
Glossary of Terminology
Celtic – A tribal group of people in Medial Europe who spoke Celtic language.
Samhain - The first day of November, celebrated by the ancient Celts as a festival marking the beginning of winter and the Celtic New Year.
European - native or inhabitant of Europe.
Middle Ages - The period of European history from the fall of the Roman Empire in the West (5th century) to the fall of Constantinople (1453), or, more narrowly, from c.1100 to 1453.
Superstitions - A widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences of an action or event, or a practice based on such a belief.
Immigrated – Come to live permanently in a foreign country.
Prosecute - Institute legal proceedings against.
Sacred – Connected with God (or the gods) or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneratio.
Remnants – A small remaining quantity of something.
Baby Boom - A temporary marked increase in the birth rate, esp. the one following World War II.
Bibliography
History of Halloween - Halloween History. (n.d.). History of Halloween - Halloween History. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://www.halloweenhistory.org/
Maughan, J. (n.d.). A Simple Halloween History for Kids - Life123. Articles and Answers about Life - Life123. Retrieved October 2, 2012, from http://www.life123.com/holidays/halloween/halloween-history-traditions/halloween-history.shtml
Meaning of Halloween Symbols . (n.d.). What's your sign? Discover the world of signs and symbolic meanings. . Retrieved October 2, 2012, from http://www.whats-your-sign.com/meaning-of-halloween-symbols.html
The History of Halloween. (n.d.). FREE HALLOWEN STUFF FOR KIDS, TEACHERS & ADULTS.. Retrieved October 2, 2012, from
http://www.1halloween.net/html/history.htm
The History of Halloween. (n.d.). Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More! Find a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay ride and more near you!. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/halloweenhistory.php