Name (required):

  Expression ^{(Optional mood/title along with your name) Examples: (happy, sad, The Joyful, etc.) help)}

  E-mail address (required):

* Type your message here:
>>  >>A MAGIC TIME AT THE CELTIC NEW YEAR >> >>Although the last day of October is celebrated in many >>different countries and cultures, the modern day >>festivities surrounding Hallowe'en are distinctly >>Celtic in origin. >> >>From dooking for apples to going guising (or trick and >>treating as it is known outside Scotland) the customs >>now associated with October 31 stem from the ancient >>celebrations of the Celtic New Year. >> >>Samhain, as it is known in Gaelic, marks the end of >>summer and the onset of the long dark nights of >>winter. It was at this time of year that the last >>harvest took place and fires were extinguished and >>then relit. >> >>In ancient Celtic belief the turn of the year was the >>most magical of times when the veil between this world >>and the next was at its thinnest and the dead could >>return to the earth and futures could be foreseen. It >>was also regarded as a time of mischief and trickery >>when pranks would be played and roles reversed. >> >>Many of these practices were considered with suspicion >>and fear by the early Christian Church and in an >>attempt to put a stop to such ungodly goings on the >>church created its own festivals to take place at the >>same time of year as Samhain. >> >>As a result October 31 became all Hallows Eve or >>Hallowe'en and November 1 became All Hallows Day, All >>Saints Day and All Souls Day, a time of remembrance >>and celebration not a million miles away from its >>pagan predecessor. >> >>Although Hallowe'en has become the favoured modern day >>title for the festivities the Celtic influence is >>still prominent in many of the games and traditions >>carried out at this time of year. >> >>Hallowe'en lanterns, for example, were originally a >>means of lighting the dark nights and keeping >>travellers safe from wandering spirits and fairies >>while "dookin" for apples may have been a form of >>predicting the future. >> >>This Hallowe'en favourite, which challenges >>participants to retrieve apples from a basin of water >>with their hands tied behind their backs, is believed >>to have once been used to foretell coming marriages. >>Being the first person to bite an apple out of the >>basin was considered a sign of impending nuptials. >> >>Predicting the future with lucky charms is another >>ancient tradition which has survived in the form of >>special Hallowe'en cakes and mixtures containing >>coins, thimbles and miniature horseshoes. >> >>Guising too derives from Celtic tradition. The pagan >>Celts would leave gifts for the fairyfolk they >>believed wandered the countryside at Samhain and it >>was customary for people to go round their neighbours >>asking for donations for the New Year feasting. >> >>Add to this the belief that the world was in a state >>of chaos at the turn of the year and capers and >>carryings on were commonplace and it is not too >>difficult to spot the influences on modern day guisers >>and trick or treaters. >> >>Even the habit of dressing up in costumes and >>organizing fancy dress parties at Hallowe'en can be >>traced back to pagan times when participants in the >>new year festivities would disguise themselves as the >>ghosts, fairies and spirits who were believed to be >>present at that time of year. >> >>Although the traditions are centuries old their appeal >>still endures with parties, films, cakes, toys and >>recipes all devoted to Hallowe'en. However, despite >>many of the traditions having strong Scottish and >>Celtic roots the celebration of Hallowe'en has become >>more popular outside Scotland, particularly in >>countries like the USA. >> >>In Scotland itself the bonfires that used to be lit to >>herald the start of the new Celtic year have made way >>for the fires and fireworks marking the downfall of >>Guy Fawkes and his doomed attempt to destroy the >>English Parliament in 1605. >> >>But many of the other customs remain and with two >>celebrations inside a week it's perfect preparation >>for the modern day festive season of Christmas and the >>new Scottish New Year. >> >>Nancy
Choose Message Icon: None :-) Happy ;-) Wink :-D Joy :} Smirk <:-} Innocent ☮ Peace >:) Mischief B-) Shades <3 Heart |O Yawn <:P Sick >:-( Angry :~( Sad ? Question *!* Alert Thumbs Up Thumbs Down (!) Idea [Info] Info Oo. Talk [ View Emoticons ]

Notice: Copies of your message may remain on this and other systems on internet. Please be respectful.