In 835, it became the official date in the Frankish Empire. Alcuin of Northumbria, a member of Charlemagne's court, may then have introduced this 1 November date in the Frankish Empire. By 800, there is evidence that churches in Ireland and Northumbria were holding a feast commemorating all saints on 1 November. Some sources say it was dedicated on 1 November, while others say it was on Palm Sunday. īeginning in the 4th century, the feast of All Hallows' in the Western Christian Church commemorated Christian martyrs and in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III (731–741) founded of an oratory in St Peter's for the relics "of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors". This was the date of Lemuria, an ancient Roman festival of the dead. In 4th-century Roman Edessa it was held on 13 May, and on 13 May 609, Pope Boniface IV re-dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to "St Mary and all martyrs". Commemorations of all saints and martyrs were held by several churches on various dates, mostly in springtime. These three days are collectively called Allhallowtide and are a time for honoring the saints and praying for recently departed souls who have yet to reach Heaven. Since the time of the early Church, major feasts in Christianity (such as Christmas, Easter and Pentecost) had vigils that began the night before, as did the feast of All Hallows'. The name 'Halloween' comes from "All Hallows' Eve", being the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows' Day (All Saints' Day) on 1 November and All Souls' Day on 2 November. Halloween is thought to have roots in Christian beliefs and practices. History Christian origins and historic customs Although the phrase "All Hallows'" is found in Old English, "All Hallows' Eve" is itself not seen until 1556. Over time, (All) Hallow(s) E(v)en evolved into Hallowe'en. In Scots, the word eve is even, and this is contracted to e'en or een. It comes from a Scottish term for All Hallows' Eve (the evening before All Hallows' Day). The word Hallowe'en means " Saints' evening". The word Halloween or Hallowe'en dates to about 1745 and is of Christian origin. The word appears as the title of Robert Burns' " Halloween" (1785), a poem traditionally recited by Scots. Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve, a tradition reflected in the eating of certain vegetarian foods on this vigil day, including apples, potato pancakes, and soul cakes. For some people, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although it is a secular celebration for others. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising and souling), attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror or Halloween-themed films. Celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, Irish and Scottish migrants brought many Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century, and then through American influence, Halloween spread to other countries by the late 20th and early 21st century. Other academics believe Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, being the vigil of All Hallow's Day. Some go further and suggest that Samhain may have been Christianized as All Hallow's Day, along with its eve, by the early Church. One theory holds that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which are believed to have pagan roots. It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the departed. Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of "All Hallows' evening"), less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day.
Totensonntag, Blue Christmas, Thursday of the Dead, Samhain, Hop-tu-Naa, Calan Gaeaf, Allantide, Day of the Dead, Reformation Day, All Saints' Day, Mischief Night ( cf.
Trick-or-treating, costume parties, making jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, divination, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions.Ĭhurch services, prayer, fasting, and vigil Western Christians and many non-Christians around the world