I thought I'd share a bit of the history of this fun holiday with you this month. Did you know that Halloween originated in Europe? And that it was created by the Pagans and the Celts? Did you know that the Pagans worshipped Earth and Sky similar to the Native Americans? (Nope theyre not witches and devil worshipers). Did you know that Halloween was originally a family or adult celebration in honor of the harvest? The folks that inhabited a good part of the United Kingdom, Ireland and parts of northwest France (as they are today) developed this holiday probably close to 2,000 years ago as a festival called Samhain, which is pronounced sow' ehn, and means "summer's end." This big party was to thank mother earth for the harvest, to signify the end of summer, the start of the dark months - the winter season - and was originally celebrated on November 1. In the 800s, the Christian church created a new holiday to compete with the already popular Samhain called All Saints Day or All Hallows. Did you know that Hallow means Saint (or one who is holy)? This "new" Christian holiday had the Pagans pushing back their holiday to October 31, and it became known as All Hallows Evening or Hallow e'en. So, while Halloween is actually a summers end celebration and All Saints day honors the dead, it is Halloween that has gotten the spooky rap! This year on 10/31, I will honor mother nature and my garden (or harvest) by bringing in some seeds and saving them for next years garden. How will you celebrate Samhain this year? Blessings in your start to fall - I look forward to seeing you at some of the many events happening the last quarter of this year!
Trish Woods at www.Trishwoods.com
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