all hallows eve
Through the years the roots of All Hallows Eve or Hallowmas lives on and takes shape in new and sometimes outlandish forms each year. [1]
It was in Ireland and Scotland and England that All Hallows’ Eve became a combination of prayer and merriment. [2]
If indeed the veil between the living and the dead fades after dark on Monday, All Hallows’ Eve presents a welcome opportunity to raise old spirits and dance under the moon with them for one night. [3]
All Saint’s Day on November 1st together with All Souls’ Day on November 2nd was marked on the Christian calendar to honor and celebrate saints but especially loved ones who had passed in the year. [1]
Now it is possible that Halloween was abused for such a purpose; nevertheless, during all the Christian centuries up until the simplification of the Church calendar in 1956, it was a liturgical vigil in its own right and thus has a reason for being. [2]
November 1 became All Hallows Day - hallows is Old English for saints, or holy person. [3]
In Western Christian theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. [4]
Celtics believed that the night before the New Year the chasm separating the living and the dead was bridged, allowing spirits of the dead, both good and bad, to join with the living. [1]
At the same time they saluted Samhain, their “lord of death,” who was thought to gather together at last the souls of the year’s dead which had been consigned to the bodies of animals in punishment for their sins. [2]
The school also bans masks or long-flowing costumes that might lead to a child tripping. [3]
It was in the eighth century that the Church appointed a special date for the feast of All Saints, followed by a day in honor of her soon-to-be saints, the feast of All Souls. [2]
The irony is that in different countries all over the world there are variances of meaning to All-Hallows-Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day that have also merged with our present day meaning of Halloween. [1]
Like many elementary schools, Bridget’s forbids costumes that might scare other kids. [3]
Then the two holidays of Samhain and All Hallowmas were combined and celebrated as Hallowmas, which is known today as Halloween. [1]
Begging at the door grew from an ancient English custom of knocking at doors to beg for a “soul cake” in return for which the beggars promised to pray for the dead of the household. [2]
Sources:
[1] ORIGIN OF HALLOWEEN OR ALL-HALLOWS’-EVE - Los Angeles Christian …
[2] All Hallow’s Eve - Catholic Education Resource Center
[3] TheSpec - Not your pagan druid All Hallows’ Eve
[4] All Saints - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia