Why do we celebrate Halloween?

Answer 1

The current Halloween holiday comes from an old Celtic celebration called All Hallows Eve (translated to All Saints Day). During the festival they would bless and convert Pagans. We call it "Halloween" because "Hallow" means saints, and "-een" (originally e'en) means Evening. All Hallows Eve.

The Celtics were the ones who originally wore masks to scare away evil spirits and prevent demons from identifying them as humans. Trick-or-treating represents how the spirits would visit Celtics' homes disguised as people in hopes of claiming a new soul. The treat part is for the feast after the whole fiasco was over.

Bobbing for apples originally came from honoring a Celtic fruit god.

Here are some popular reasons for celebrating Halloween from our community:

• The word Halloween is derived from All Hallow's Eve. November 1 is All Hallows' Day, or All Saints' Day.
• The festival has its roots in Pagan festivals surrounding the Autumn season as well.
• Various traditions of singing, lighting candles, and rituals to ward off evil spirits or put the dead at peace evolved in several different cultures.
• The commercialization of Halloween originated in North America.
• It has something to do with All Hallows Day. They would dress up as scary things to scare away the evil monsters and spirits. Halloween is the evening before All Saints' Day. For me it's just a day for me to wear costumes and trick or treat for free candy.
• Well to celebrate Halloween you need a couple of friends around the house, some kids... get ready with the spookiest trick o treats and amazing Halloween games... and yes not to forget the scary Halloween costume.
• Another reason is because in the earlier times they had gatherings and would dress up in a costume. That was out of the country at that time, but when the immigrants came to this country they brought their culture. So that's how Halloween came about.
• We dress up honoring the Celtics, who would wear masks to scare away evil spirits & not have the demons identify them as humans. Almost everything has to do with this whole celebration.
• Because it's fun!

Halloween comes from the Pagan holiday of Samhain (sow-in). It was the Celtic new year, and it is believed to be the time when the portals between the spirit world and our world are the thinnest. People dress up on Halloween today because the original Pagan tradition was to dress up to scare off evil spirits. There are many differences between today's celebration of Halloween and the holiday that Pagans celebrate, including the fact that some pagan families leave an extra plate out at dinner for each of the family members lost that year. They put food on the plates and (at least in my family) they leave the food outside of the porch or on the alter so that the souls of the family members can find their way back to the family and be at peace.

Answer 2

The current Halloween holiday comes from an old Celtic celebration called All Hallows Eve (translated to All Saints Day). During the festival they would bless and convert Pagans. We call it "Halloween" because "Hallow" means saints, and "-een" (originally e'en) means Evening. All Hallows Eve.

The Celtics were the ones who originally wore masks to scare away evil spirits and prevent demons from identifying them as humans. Trick-or-treating represents how the spirits would visit Celtics' homes disguised as people in hopes of claiming a new soul. The treat part is for the feast after the whole fiasco was over.

Bobbing for apples originally came from honoring a Celtic fruit god.

Here are some popular reasons for celebrating Halloween from our community:

• The word Halloween is derived from All Hallow's Eve. November 1 is All Hallows' Day, or All Saints' Day.
• The festival has its roots in Pagan festivals surrounding the Autumn season as well.
• Various traditions of singing, lighting candles, and rituals to ward off evil spirits or put the dead at peace evolved in several different cultures.
• The commercialization of Halloween originated in North America.
• It has something to do with All Hallows Day. They would dress up as scary things to scare away the evil monsters and spirits. Halloween is the evening before All Saints' Day. For me it's just a day for me to wear costumes and trick or treat for free candy.
• Well to celebrate Halloween you need a couple of friends around the house, some kids... get ready with the spookiest trick o treats and amazing Halloween games... and yes not to forget the scary Halloween costume.
• Another reason is because in the earlier times they had gatherings and would dress up in a costume. That was out of the country at that time, but when the immigrants came to this country they brought their culture. So that's how Halloween came about.
• We dress up honoring the Celtics, who would wear masks to scare away evil spirits & not have the demons identify them as humans. Almost everything has to do with this whole celebration.
• Because it's fun!

Halloween comes from the Pagan holiday of Samhain (sow-in). It was the Celtic new year, and it is believed to be the time when the portals between the spirit world and our world are the thinnest. People dress up on Halloween today because the original Pagan tradition was to dress up to scare off evil spirits. There are many differences between today's celebration of Halloween and the holiday that Pagans celebrate, including the fact that some pagan families leave an extra plate out at dinner for each of the family members lost that year. They put food on the plates and (at least in my family) they leave the food outside of the porch or on the alter so that the souls of the family members can find their way back to the family and be at peace.