The birth of Halloween and superstitions

Some Halloween superstitions that were once major include:

– If an unmarried girl put under her pillow rosemary flowers and a silver coin on Halloween night, it’s believed that she will dream her future husband
– If you hear footsteps or noises in the back, on Halloween night, do not turn around because it was said to be a spirit came from the other side to take you with him;
– On the night of Halloween peanuts are used for spells, because the devil was enjoying these fruits;
– If during the Halloween night you find bats flying in the house it is said that the house has evil spirits;
– The candle inside the pumpkin from Halloween night, was meant to keep away evil spirits;
– If you see a spider on Halloween night in the house means that the spirit of a loved one is watching you.
– It is said that on Halloween night when attending dinner is good to talk during meals so nearby spirits can’t participate at the discussion.
– If bells are beating on Halloween night spirits and ghosts would be scared;
– People who were born on Halloween night where meant to see and communicate with spirits, etc.

How was born this celebration?

Halloween. The belief that spirits of the dead could sing through the body of someone alive was terrifying.
In fact, it seems that the ancient inhabitants of Britain and Ireland often resorted to burning of those suspected of being possessed as a sign of warning the spirits.

On the eve of October 31, the Irish Celts built fire high in young oak branches which they considered sacred and made sacrifice ritual. At the same time, houses were kept cold
and people painted their faces to be confused with evil apparitions that haunt among them. The same ceremony was held in Scotland except that, Scots natives, thought they could read the future on these pyres.

The first changes occur on Celtic tradition when Roman invasion come to Britain, with their imperial troops and latin beliefs.

The next 500 years bring in Britain and Ireland the first Christian influence, who enter into a conflict with strong local traditions which they labeled as pagan manifestations. The first one who tries to change local traditions – Shamhain festival, will be Pope Boniface IV (550-615 AD), best known for ruthlessly battled barbaric beliefs.

For nearly seven centuries controversy continued to exist between the two camps, each one believing that managed to express their point of view. The mixture of the two parties was so strong that, around 1500, no one could distinguish between them. In fact, both Shamhain – All Saints Day had become simply All Hallows Day or on the sort way, Halloween.

Tradition would be kept unchanged until the nineteenth century with the great European population migration to North America. No fewer than eight million immigrants had to disembark in the New World, bringing with them, among others, old habits. Seven hundred thousand of them were Irish Catholics.

The first state that Halloween will be celebrated would be Minnesota, in 1921, closely followed by New York and Los Angeles in 1923 and 1925. From here to the global celebration today was only a step.

So what are you waiting for? Look for the most terrifying costume and come in Transylvania, the land of Dracula!