The ancient Druids in Britain, the pagan Romans, Greeks,
the Babylonians and others kept the Halloween Festival.
The earliest Halloween celebrations were held by the Druids in honor of Samhain,
the so called lord of the dead, whose festival fell on November 1.
It was a Druidical belief that on the eve of this festival Samhain,
lord of death,
called together the wicked spirits that within the past 12 months
had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals.
"In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic festival of Samhain was observed on October 31, at the end of summer.This date was also the eve of the new year in both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon times and was the occasion of one of the ancient fire festivals when huge bon fires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits....the souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins,
black cats, fairiesand demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations concerning marraige, luck, health and death.
It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes.
The pagan observances influenced the christian festival of All Hallows Eve."
Ency. Brittanica Vol. IV p862.
It was a pagan belief that on one night of the year the souls of the dead return to their original homes, there to be entertained with food.
If food and shelter were not provided,
these evil spirits would cast spells and cause havoc toward those failing to fulfill their requests.
Literal sacrifices were offered on this night to the spirits of the dead,
as they supposedly visited their earthly haunts and their friends.
"There was a prevailing belief among all nations that at death the souls of the good men were taken possession of by good spirits and carried to paradise; but the souls of the wicked men were left to wonder in the space between the earth and the moon, or consigned to the unseen world. These wandering spirits were in the habit of haunting the living...
But there were means by which ghosts might be exorcised."
Folklore, James Napier p11.
To exorcise these ghosts that is to free yourself from their evil sway,
you would have to set out food and provide shelter for them during the night.
If they were satisfied with your offerings,
they would leave you in peace.
If not, they were believed to cast an evil spell on you.
Pranks and mischief began to be played out to represent the mischievous behavior attributed to witches and the fairies.
Trick-or-Treat came from and ancient Druid practice.
One of the basic tenets in witchcraft is to control the will of another by use of fear.
Even in jest,
when one threatens to punish if a treat or offering is not given,
they are imitating an occult practice of controlling the will of another by use of fear.
Prosperity was promised to all who were generous donors,
and tricks to all who refused during the Irish Druid event of trick-or-treat.
The contributions demanded were in the name of Muck Olla, and early Druid deity.
the Babylonians and others kept the Halloween Festival.
The earliest Halloween celebrations were held by the Druids in honor of Samhain,
the so called lord of the dead, whose festival fell on November 1.
It was a Druidical belief that on the eve of this festival Samhain,
lord of death,
called together the wicked spirits that within the past 12 months
had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals.
"In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic festival of Samhain was observed on October 31, at the end of summer.This date was also the eve of the new year in both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon times and was the occasion of one of the ancient fire festivals when huge bon fires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits....the souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins,
black cats, fairiesand demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations concerning marraige, luck, health and death.
It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes.
The pagan observances influenced the christian festival of All Hallows Eve."
Ency. Brittanica Vol. IV p862.
It was a pagan belief that on one night of the year the souls of the dead return to their original homes, there to be entertained with food.
If food and shelter were not provided,
these evil spirits would cast spells and cause havoc toward those failing to fulfill their requests.
Literal sacrifices were offered on this night to the spirits of the dead,
as they supposedly visited their earthly haunts and their friends.
"There was a prevailing belief among all nations that at death the souls of the good men were taken possession of by good spirits and carried to paradise; but the souls of the wicked men were left to wonder in the space between the earth and the moon, or consigned to the unseen world. These wandering spirits were in the habit of haunting the living...
But there were means by which ghosts might be exorcised."
Folklore, James Napier p11.
To exorcise these ghosts that is to free yourself from their evil sway,
you would have to set out food and provide shelter for them during the night.
If they were satisfied with your offerings,
they would leave you in peace.
If not, they were believed to cast an evil spell on you.
Pranks and mischief began to be played out to represent the mischievous behavior attributed to witches and the fairies.
Trick-or-Treat came from and ancient Druid practice.
One of the basic tenets in witchcraft is to control the will of another by use of fear.
Even in jest,
when one threatens to punish if a treat or offering is not given,
they are imitating an occult practice of controlling the will of another by use of fear.
Prosperity was promised to all who were generous donors,
and tricks to all who refused during the Irish Druid event of trick-or-treat.
The contributions demanded were in the name of Muck Olla, and early Druid deity.
2 comments:
I think the pumpkins were to scare the spirits away, right? I don't remember offhand...
Hi! my name is Miranda and i found your blog on Rachel Smih's blog. I think you have a beautiful family. We also do not celebrate halloween. We try to take the kids to Chuck E. cheese during trick-or-treat. My kids have been known to go around the neighborhood telling kids that halloween is the devil's holiday. (true, but not good for neighborly relations!)
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