Samhain, All Saints' Day, Days of Dead or Halloween?
That's it! Do these days have anything in common?
Everyone heads to the world of the dead or the world of entities somehow
“superior”. While, as we explained in column on the side, Samhain conceived the coming to world of mortals of their Gods who played pranks or threatened them with something In this way, All Saints' Day celebrates the Martyrs already canonized in the Church. Originating in Oriente in the 7th century, having been made official in Europe and the Vatican in the 14th century. Since November 2nd is celebrated as Valentine's Day Dead. This date that was initially celebrated on May 13th where the Pantheon (dedicated to the Gods of Olympus) became dedicated to Our Madam. In England during Charlemagne, It began to be celebrated on November 1st.
Samhain
In ancient Celtic creeds, this was one of his most important, festival to throughout the year. In this, celebrated on the 1st of November, the World of Gods became visible to your worshipers Humans.
They played tricks on them, making this day, a day lived in fear, fraught with danger and full of supernatural episodes. Sacrifices and appeasements of various
order were vital and that without them, they believed, it would be impossible to survive to the dangers of the station or counteract the actions of their Gods.
This festival was a great precursor to Halloween.
In Mexico, paganism mixes with practices of the Catholic Church. Celebrated during the November 1st and 2nd, are deposited in cemeteries offerings in the form of food, the graves are illuminated with candles and other decorative accessories. This belief has its origins in civilizations indigenous people who practiced these rituals to offer food to the dead for the your trip. Death is celebrated as integral part of life and allows the belief that loved ones who have passed away visit on these two nights.
All these rituals are related in some way
way being that the original Celtic and Meso-Americans taking advantage of the dates existing commemorative celebrations, adapting rituals and giving rise to new ones.
And then Halloween?
This has its origins in Europe and pagan beliefs originating from Samhain and its date is October 31st. Celebrated the entry into winter with the return of herds from the pastures and the votes of land ownership was renewed. With the ticket to Sagrado (Holy) or to his sanctification (Hallowed), the word Halloween. Initially prohibited the festival by the first settlers in North American continent due to
Reform, was due to emigration Irish in the 19th century that the tradition
began to take root and gain importance it has today.
Various symbols and beliefs remain today reaching a very fun and very commercial approach. The spirits who come to play tricks on us, or famous Jack O'Lantern - the famous pumpkin carved with a demonic look or we dress up as ghosts or other
terrifying characters... a little as in “Dia de Los Muertos”, but this being a very Mexican festival more colorful.
With Halloween came the “trick or treating” - trick or treat. During the Samhain people left it on the street food for the spirits that visited the land (in Mexico the tradition is the same). As time passes, people They dressed up as spirits and asked for food. What we now vulgarize as Sweet or Mischief, has the first record in Canada where children in costumes asked for sweets, chanting litanies and
when people don't graced them with them, the children they played tricks on them.
Our bread for God, despite its origins in the 15th century, it was cemented due to the earthquake of 1755. The earthquake having had place on November 1, 1755 - day
of All Saints, caused immense death and destruction.
People who lost everything walked down the street begging from the luckiest, bread. Begging – “Bread, by God”. Nowadays, for some, it is fun has already become widespread in Portugal, with Halloween celebrated more than Bread God and is understood from the perspective of a child, why, and for the others a belief or simply another day of calendar.
But there are cities that are worth it visit as they give special emphasis to the festivities for special reasons.
As a tribute to the Celts we have Derry, with which is considered the biggest parade of Halloween in Europe. Or Galway, with the Macnas stop. Both in Ireland.
In the United States, we can visit Salem - Massachusetts. Salem was during the 17th century, the site of a huge witch hunt eternalized in various Hollywood films. Hitchhiking of this dark period in history, is one of the places most linked to stories
ghostly and consequently to the Halloween.
Another location in the State of Nova York is Sleepy Hollow. Call initially North Tarrytown, changed the its name in 1996 to the current one. This due to the work of the writer Washington Irving, who was born here and grew up here
finds buried - “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” or the Legend of the Knight headless.
To be taken into consideration in your next trip to New York.
In Mexico, there are 4 cities where the Day de Los Muertos assumes greater importance. To the north we have the cities of Guanajuato and Aguas Calientes. To the center to capital - Mexico City. And the South Oaxaca. Oaxaca is considered the city where you can watch and participate in a more traditional way on this day.
Our invitation is here!