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October 31, 2004
The History of Hallow'een
I knew about the Celtic origins of Hallow'een but there is another ancient holiday that has lent many traditions to our modern Halloween celebration; Pamona. Following the Roman invasion of the Celts, the Roman festivals of Feralia and Pamona were incorporated into the Celtic celebration of Samhain.
Over the ages Christian influences tried to get rid of this festival, as well as all things pagan. Church zealots hunted down witches in the 1400's but the holiday was too popular to abolish and persisted to cross the ocean and land in America.
Here the Protestants who has abolished all things related the the rest of the Christian traditions focused on the Salem witch trials but in Virginia where there was a Catholic influence, it was the birthplace of Halloween in America.
Halloween's biggest boost was the large swell of Irish immigrants in the 1800's and in the early 1900's it became a children's holiday in the United States. And the tradition of pranks caused new problems.
Here are some fun facts:
Anoka, Minnesta calls itself the Halloween Capital of the World.
New York City hosted the 31st Annual Halloween Parade.
What's next? Catapulting pumpkins?
Posted by photocartoonist at October 31, 2004 9:43 PM