HAPPY HALLOWEEN Monday's Music Moves Me style! Why Do We Celebrate Halloween on October 31?
Halloween falls on October 31 because the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain, considered the earliest known root of Halloween, occurred on this day. It marked a pivotal time of year when seasons changed, but more importantly, observers also believed the boundary between this world and the next became especially thin at this time, enabling them to connect with the dead. This belief is shared by some other cultures; a similar idea is mentioned around the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which also typically occurs in October and involves saying prayers for the dead. This is also where Halloween gains its "haunted" connotations.
The History of Halloween Activities
The early pagan holiday of Samhain involved a lot of ritualistic ceremonies to connect to spirits, as the Celts were polytheistic. While there isn't a lot of detail known about these celebrations, many believe the Celts celebrated in costume (granted, they were likely as simple as animal hides) as a disguise against ghosts, enjoyed special feasts, and made lanterns by hollowing out gourds (hence, the history of jack-o'-lanterns). Over time, as Christianity took over and the pagan undertones of the holiday were lessened, the basic traditions of the holiday remained a part of pop culture every year; they simply evolved and modernized.
The mystical rituals of earlier times evolved into more lighthearted fun and games. For example, the somewhat heavy concept of connecting to the dead was replaced with the more lighthearted idea of telling the future. Bobbing for apples, for example, became popular as a fortune-telling game on All Hallows' Eve: Apples would be selected to represent all of a woman's suitors, and the guy—er, apple—she ended up biting into would supposedly represent her future husband. In fact, Halloween previously posed a huge (albeit rather superstitious) matchmaking opportunity for young women in the 19th century.
An oldie, but a goodie. This next one is just too cool to pass up!
A MUST HAVE... BOBBY PICKETT "MONSTER MASH"!!!
Oh my! Some good picks, but I Put a Spell on You was in a different dimension. What a performer! I think this is the first time I saw him perform and it was good hearing the song that CCR later did a very successful cover of. And Monster Mash, of course, is a classic. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous playlist. I love your picks. Halloween is a fun time.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day, week and November. Love you to pieces, honey. ♥
Nice playlist!
ReplyDeleteI love your choices!
ReplyDeleteGreat playlists! I am always making new playlists do I can enjoy them with my husband. Good stuff. Have a great week and wonderful new month too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun Halloween post. Hope you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteI've friends who have had strong contact with those who have "passed over the veil" (the veil between this life and the afterlife, over this period. I love hearing about Celtic things too xxxx
ReplyDeleteMarie,
ReplyDeleteNicely done! I enjoyed your music and Halloween tid-bits, my friend. You're getting the hang of this thing again! ;) We're on our staycation break but I thought I'd pop in quickly for a little boogie session. Have a boogietastic week!
That's a good playlist and the little kids are adorable!!
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