HALLOWEEN

HELLO EVERYONE! In some days England and most of English-speaking countries are about to celebrate "halloween festivity". Let's go with some definitions to discover in a thorough way this important celebration which is widespreading around the word in a kind of cultural transmition and a search of common roots (Celtic, tales and superstitions). Enjoy it!

What is HALLOWEEN?(or Hallowe'en) is an annual holiday celebrated on October, 31st. This is a holiday of legends, monsters, trick-or-treating, but originally it was the Celtic celebration for the beginning of the year after the harvest of summer and autumn were collected. It can be traced back 2,000 years. The Celts believed that winter was the time when living and the death were strongly linked.
This celebration ruled many sacred activities, for instance:

a) Samhain:

It was the name of the original Celtic celebration in the date of the current Halloween. They took two festivity days when they honoured Goddess. It can be, somehow, considered as the root of the festivity.

b) The Holy Fire: 

Druids lighted a fire which burned during all the night of offerings, prayings and celebrations. When the actions finished every family of the village took one ember of the Holy fire and used it to burn the fire of their house. In that way they felt protected by the spirits of their death relatives. That fire may last the whole year; so, what happened when the fire was extinguished naturally? They took one ember of the "holy fire" in the house of any of their neighbours and lighted their home fire again.

c) Costumes:

Actions and celebrations where animals (death or alives) took an important role were important at Halloween. People used animals' fur to disguise themselves and dance, tell their fortunes or don't be recognized whenever they participate in the celebration.

d) Pomona: 

Goddess of fruit and trees whose symbol was an apple. People made her some offerings of fruits and flowers in her honour. Some of the activities related to Pomona are made nowadays, such as "boobing for apples" (explained later)

Important terms related to that night:

Black cat, favourite company of witches ...

Boobing for apples

  

Trick-or-treating

Carved pumpkin

• Boobing for Apples: Amazing activity. Some apples are floating in a barrel full of water. People tries to catch them using their mouth (they cannot use their hands).
• Black cat: Symbol of demon and company of witches and wizards. As evil spirits could take the appearence they needed to make their incursion in human society they looked like cats.
• Witches and wizards: People with magical powers. They were somehow frightening for people. They were surrounded by mystery and magic.
• Spells: A kind of poems of magical words to get something or have influence on people.
• Costume: People disguise themselves like witches, skeletons, wizards, monsters and ghosts.
• Candy: Food is an important part of 
• Trick-or-treat: Famous saying at Halloween. Especially children knock the doors of their neighbourhood trying to get some candies.
• Pumpkin:Vegetable that gives its colour to the festivity. Carving the pumpkin is a typical ritual in almost all the houses and schools. They are part of the ornamentation, you can find them everywhere! 

ACTIVITY:

1. Look for some information about  Jack-on-Lantern Tale.