Why We Celebrate Halloween?

Every year Halloween we have a debate between those who argue that this day is just a remain of the pagan customs and those who see this as just good fun. However, a professor at the University of Sheffield, David Clarke, explored the historical roots of this "terrible" autumn festival and came to some interesting conclusions.

Pagan customs or Christian holiday?

Most people believe that Halloween is a pagan custom that has to do with some kind of supernatural phenomena. However, the truth is that it has religious connotation.

The only thing historians oppress is the time when emerged this holiday.

While some believe that it happened in the seventh century, as a prelude to the Catholic feast of All Saints, others claim that it began to be celebrated in the 9th century as a holiday in memory of the Christian martyrs and saints.

Carved pumpkins

Carved pumpkins are a trademark of this autumn festival, and many believe that it is a relatively recent tradition. However, historian David Clarke found that this is quite an old tradition that originated in some villages in England, where children every year, every last Thursday in October, to the same thing with different vegetables.

Supernatural phenomena

Most horrifying rumors of supernatural phenomena that accompany this holiday was invented in the 19th century. It is believed that these horror stories in America brought the Scots and Irish, and Americans are "shaped" in their own way.

Animal sacrifices

There is no historical evidence that this holiday is connected with the pagan festival known as Bloody month, when the Anglo-Saxons offered animal sacrifices.

At a time when Christianity has not reached Ireland, October 31, in these parts of the English-speaking world celebrated the last day of summer time.

Also, it was the last day of livestock and agricultural season when the character in the upcoming winter animal offerings as victims. Historians believe that this could be the root of today's modern holidays.

In the Middle Ages, Christians have believed that the souls of the dead can remain trapped in purgatory. In this case, the dead would be 31 October returned to the ground and asked the nearest to help them prayers.

Cakes for the Dead

On Halloween, it is common that children are dressed in scary costumes go from house to house looking for candy.

Historians have found a connection between this and the old customs, especially minority in the north of England, when they prepare cakes for dead on November 1st.