Beginnings and

Superstitions of

HalloweenOctober 31, 2011

The History

Celtic Roots• Based on the Celtic

Calendar, the Gaulish Coligny, the 31st of October is the end of the harvest season.

• Samhain is a celebration of this day, which is the Celtic New Year.

• This was a time between years when the dead walked the earth.

All Saints Day

• At the Catholic Church became more influential, it did not approve of the pagan rituals and merged it with All Saints Day, which also celebrated the dead.

Irish Come to America

• During the Irish Potato Famine, many Irish came to America, bringing customs with them, including stealing and pranks.

• These pranks led to vandalism and became dangerous.

Trick-or-Treating

• The tradition of trick-or-treating began as a demand for candy or the house would be vandalized.

• Kids were encouraged to go house to house so as to take the bribe and not vandalize.

Superstitions

Black Cats

• Superstition: A black cat crossing your path brings bad luck.

• Reason: In the European Middle Ages, black cats were believed to be witches in disguise.

Broken Mirrors• Superstition: Breaking a

mirror brings 7 years of bad luck.

• Reason: Souls were said to dwell inside mirrors and when they were broken harm would be inflicted on the person. Seven years bad luck is given because it is said that the body renews itself every seven years.

13

• Superstition: The number 13 is unlucky to be around.

• Reason: One reason stems from the amount of people at the last supper, while the other comes from the Norse Mythology story of Loki killing the god balder.

Happy

Halloween