Apples, popular at this time of year for both eating and games, have long been associated with magic, form the Garden of Eden through the myths and legends of Europe. In ancient times the apple was thought of as a magical fruit.
According to Norse myth, the Gods of Asgard kept their health and youth by eating the apples from their garden..
The Celt believed in a paradise, now called Avalon (apple land, derived from Old Welsh abal meaning "apple") where apple trees carried fragrant blossom and ripe fruit at one and same time.
Games and Folklore
Apple Magic: Halloween was traditionally a night to see into the future and many young girls and boys followed ancient customs to find out who they might marry.
Apple peel spell - Peel an apple in one continuous piece and throw it over the left shoulder. The peel should form the initial letter of the name of a future wedding mate
Apple pip spell - Naming apple pips for each potential suitor a young girl would stick them onto her cheeks. The last to fall from her face would represent the man she would marry
Ducking For Apples: A well-known Halloween game is ducking or bobbing for apples, where some apples are floated in a large tub or bowl of water and players take it in turns to try to pick up and apple from the water using only their teeth.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Monday, 11 October 2010
Halloween
The History of Halloween
It is the second most popular holiday in America after Christmas and is once again growing in popularity in the UK, but where does Halloween, with its image of children dressed up as hags or ghouls going trick or treating, originate from?
There are many different versions regarding the beginnings of this tradition however it is mostly agreed by historians and folklorists that the roots of this festival can be traced as far back as 2000 years ago to the Celtic Druids.
The people referred to as the Celts lived across Britain and Europe during the Iron Age. Considered violent barbarians by the Romans they actually had a highly developed social structure and were skilled artists and famers as well as warriors. The Druids were the part of the Celtic elite, the law makers and religious leaders and many of our modern day customs can be traced back to their beliefs and rituals.
Halloween, or Samhain (pronounced soween) to give it its pagan name, on the 31st October, signifies the end of the summer, a time when preparations were made ready for the harsh winter ahead. Suggestions that the names comes from the old Celtic word for summer Samrad, and Fuin, meaning end would tie in with this but an argument has been put forth to say it can also be linked to a Celtic God called Saman, Lord of Death, though no archaeological evidence can be found for this, the most well known Celtic God of the dead being Gwyn Ap Nuad.
The Celts believed that the veil between this world and the otherworld where spirits reside, was thinnest at this time and that the spirits of all those who had died in the previous year would cross over. Offerings of food were left out to honour the passing ancestor spirits or to pacify any returning during this time in case of any ill intent directed towards the living.
As the weather becomes colder and animals are culled ready for winter is it any surprise that the thoughts of these, our ancestors, turned to death and endings rather than the new life that comes with spring and the opposite festival of Beltane or May Day.
The image of the carved pumpkin is very American and again there is some debate on its origins. Some saying it comes from the old belief that the head or skull of a person held their soul or essence and therefore was revered in ancient times, others that images were carved into turnips to scare away any mischievous spirits.
Following the Roman invasion of Britain in the first century AD these Celtic practises were combined with the Roman festivals Feralia, celebrating the Manes or Roman spirits of the dead and for Pomona, the Goddess of Plenty, both of which took place during the winter months. One of Pomona’s symbols was the apple a fruit now commonly associated with witchcraft and may go towards explaining the custom of apple bobbing at Halloween.
Later, this festival was assimilated with the Christian All Saints Day or All Hallows Day on the 1st November, the word Halloween being a corruption of Hallows Eve.
In Medieval England it was believed that the more prayers said for a person, the more likely they were to be received in Heaven. From this comes the custom called ‘souling’ where the poor would travel from village to village on All Soul’s Day, the 2nd of November, asking for ‘soul cakes’ in exchange for prayers. This tradition continued in some parts of Britain right up until the twentieth century and is often thought to be one of the forerunners of the modern day custom of trick or treating, where practical jokes are played out on anyone unwise enough not to provide the treats requested on the night.
Where the custom of dressing up came from is a little more vague but is linked to ancient believes that disguise is one of the best ways to protect against spirit possession. This can also be seen at another major celebration, as is often thought to be the reasons behind the bridal veil.
Of course in modern pagan circles, Samhain is still an important celebration, one of eight sabbats marking the wheel of the year, the beginning of both the Celtic and Wiccan New Year.
So pagan festival or party night, enjoy your celebrations and remember to be kind to any visitors, after all you might never know who you are entertaining.
It is the second most popular holiday in America after Christmas and is once again growing in popularity in the UK, but where does Halloween, with its image of children dressed up as hags or ghouls going trick or treating, originate from?
There are many different versions regarding the beginnings of this tradition however it is mostly agreed by historians and folklorists that the roots of this festival can be traced as far back as 2000 years ago to the Celtic Druids.
The people referred to as the Celts lived across Britain and Europe during the Iron Age. Considered violent barbarians by the Romans they actually had a highly developed social structure and were skilled artists and famers as well as warriors. The Druids were the part of the Celtic elite, the law makers and religious leaders and many of our modern day customs can be traced back to their beliefs and rituals.
Halloween, or Samhain (pronounced soween) to give it its pagan name, on the 31st October, signifies the end of the summer, a time when preparations were made ready for the harsh winter ahead. Suggestions that the names comes from the old Celtic word for summer Samrad, and Fuin, meaning end would tie in with this but an argument has been put forth to say it can also be linked to a Celtic God called Saman, Lord of Death, though no archaeological evidence can be found for this, the most well known Celtic God of the dead being Gwyn Ap Nuad.
The Celts believed that the veil between this world and the otherworld where spirits reside, was thinnest at this time and that the spirits of all those who had died in the previous year would cross over. Offerings of food were left out to honour the passing ancestor spirits or to pacify any returning during this time in case of any ill intent directed towards the living.
As the weather becomes colder and animals are culled ready for winter is it any surprise that the thoughts of these, our ancestors, turned to death and endings rather than the new life that comes with spring and the opposite festival of Beltane or May Day.
The image of the carved pumpkin is very American and again there is some debate on its origins. Some saying it comes from the old belief that the head or skull of a person held their soul or essence and therefore was revered in ancient times, others that images were carved into turnips to scare away any mischievous spirits.
Following the Roman invasion of Britain in the first century AD these Celtic practises were combined with the Roman festivals Feralia, celebrating the Manes or Roman spirits of the dead and for Pomona, the Goddess of Plenty, both of which took place during the winter months. One of Pomona’s symbols was the apple a fruit now commonly associated with witchcraft and may go towards explaining the custom of apple bobbing at Halloween.
Later, this festival was assimilated with the Christian All Saints Day or All Hallows Day on the 1st November, the word Halloween being a corruption of Hallows Eve.
In Medieval England it was believed that the more prayers said for a person, the more likely they were to be received in Heaven. From this comes the custom called ‘souling’ where the poor would travel from village to village on All Soul’s Day, the 2nd of November, asking for ‘soul cakes’ in exchange for prayers. This tradition continued in some parts of Britain right up until the twentieth century and is often thought to be one of the forerunners of the modern day custom of trick or treating, where practical jokes are played out on anyone unwise enough not to provide the treats requested on the night.
Where the custom of dressing up came from is a little more vague but is linked to ancient believes that disguise is one of the best ways to protect against spirit possession. This can also be seen at another major celebration, as is often thought to be the reasons behind the bridal veil.
Of course in modern pagan circles, Samhain is still an important celebration, one of eight sabbats marking the wheel of the year, the beginning of both the Celtic and Wiccan New Year.
So pagan festival or party night, enjoy your celebrations and remember to be kind to any visitors, after all you might never know who you are entertaining.
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