Hallows Evening

We often encounter people who say that Hallowe'en is their favorite holiday. In this case, as in so many others in our culture (candidates put up for public office who are poorly informed about politics and the world), ignorance breeds folly. How many of those folks who adore Hallowe'en really know what they're doing -- going all out to celebrate a pagan festival day occasion originally known as Samhain, which was the most important feast day in the Celtic year, when the souls of the dead were thought to mingle with those of the living? Its original purpose was to pacify these dark wandering spirits by setting out food and drink to appease them. In other words, you're giving out candy to living beings impersonating dead spirits so they won't harm you. What's so great about that?

"All Hallows" on Nov. 1, which we now call All Saints Day, was invented by the Christian church to sap away energy from Samhain, but it didn't work. Hallows Eve, or Hallowe'en, far overshadows All Saints.

You can read a great little article about the origin of Hallowe'en here:

http://www.loc.gov/folklife/halloween.html

Plus, now that most communities don't even celebrate Hallowe'en on the right day, it makes even less sense than before.

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