DISTURBING NURSERY RHYMES

Let’s laugh at Death

since nobody asked about the meaning of halloween or really knows it, i'm bringing it back even if halloween has passed away already!

The Word ‘Halloween’ means ‘the Eve of All Saints’, the word ‘Hallow’ meaning sacred refers to the Saints, while ‘‘een’’ or ‘’e’en’’means eve, and refers to the day before. Most people believe that these festivities have developed from a Christian festival. It is the first day of a three-day celebration in which Christians remember the Saints and the Martyrs of their faith. Traditionally, parts of these activities are dedicated to using humour and ridicule to confront the power of death.

But some people believe that Halloween has its origins in a Celtic harvest festival with pagan roots, possibly the Gaelic Samhain which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year.

Given the roots of this Christian/pagan holiday, one has to ask if Halloween has been high-jacked. Modern day Halloween parties seem to have little in common with the original concept seen in the Christian/pagan festivals. It’s a bit like Christmas these days, where the centre of attention is Santa Claus rather than Jesus Christ. At a modern day Halloween party you would meet Frankenstein, Dracula, Werewolves, Goths and zombies. 

These are 20^th century inventions. However, there are still some traces of the original festival; traditionally we eat nuts, turnips, apples and pumpkins and use them also as decorations. The use of these vegetables originates from the celebration of Halloween as a harvest festival and the Christian tradition of not eating meat over that three-day period.

Some people express concern about Halloween and its links with the occult. I think that as long as people are sensible it is just harmless fun. So let’s dress up, play games, tell scary stories and keep the original meaning of Halloween by laughing in Death’s face!