Big Think

Cody POWPOW on January 16, 2008, 12:53 PM

I think sharon might be a little off… first up the halloween traditions of the celts is serously different from that of india.its original form was the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. after roman conquest of the celts it merged with 2 other roman festivals. All saints day wasnt introduced to celtic halloween clebration until almost 800ad…and its wasnt alwasy based around the equniox which is useually in sept…the ancient celts celebrated it in late oct or nov. which was considered thier new year. This lady is a little mixed up and seems to be all over the place drawing her ideas from everywhere.

a a on January 16, 2008, 4:03 PM

Wow, I think the air she's breathing is thin. Time to take that crystal off your rearview mirror and drive to the library for the facts. Your close on some of the roots of Halloween, but some of that stuff is pure nonsense.

Cody POWPOW on January 16, 2008, 5:53 PM

I think sharon might be a little off… first up the halloween traditions of the celts is serously different from that of india.its original form was the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. after roman conquest of the celts it merged with 2 other roman festivals. All saints day wasnt introduced to celtic halloween clebration until almost 800ad…and its wasnt alwasy based around the equniox which is useually in sept…the ancient celts celebrated it in late oct or nov. which was considered thier new year. This lady is a little mixed up and seems to be all over the place drawing her ideas from everywhere.

a a on January 16, 2008, 9:03 PM

Wow, I think the air she’s breathing is thin. Time to take that crystal off your rearview mirror and drive to the library for the facts. Your close on some of the roots of Halloween, but some of that stuff is pure nonsense.

Steve Durham on January 17, 2008, 12:35 PM

This is typical superstitious clap-trap. Dis-embodied spirits, veils between worlds. I grew up in a fundamentalist tradition, which completely sucked. One day a few years ago at a "New Age" convention while listening to the presenter go on about "the angels on your shoulder" as the other participants reeled in their supposed spiritual ecstasy, I realized that it's just like the crap I grew up with- imagining Jesus guiding us through life.

Ugh – vomit. What's worse about this person (I almost said moron, but after all, she is rich) is that she is rich, so I can pretty much promise you is that what she really believes in is money, and she has learned how to manipulate those willing to be manipulated – through superstitious clap-trap like this. I've been a part of circles like this so I know exactly what I'm talking about.

Again – Ugh vomit

Steve Durham on January 17, 2008, 5:35 PM

This is typical superstitious clap-trap. Dis-embodied spirits, veils between worlds. I grew up in a fundamentalist tradition, which completely sucked. One day a few years ago at a “New Age” convention while listening to the presenter go on about “the angels on your shoulder” as the other participants reeled in their supposed spiritual ecstasy, I realized that it’s just like the crap I grew up with- imagining Jesus guiding us through life.

Ugh – vomit. What’s worse about this person (I almost said moron, but after all, she is rich) is that she is rich, so I can pretty much promise you is that what she really believes in is money, and she has learned how to manipulate those willing to be manipulated – through superstitious clap-trap like this. I’ve been a part of circles like this so I know exactly what I’m talking about.

Again – Ugh vomit

J Bud Lewis on January 19, 2008, 8:56 PM

Because both tricking and treating were symbolic of seeing how capable an individual is around or at the end of Harvest time…it has become more lopsided towards treating in recent years, obviously.

J Bud Lewis on January 20, 2008, 1:56 AM

Because both tricking and treating were symbolic of seeing how capable an individual is around or at the end of Harvest time…it has become more lopsided towards treating in recent years, obviously.

Jules Febre on March 3, 2008, 12:51 PM

Greetings. I thought Sharon Gannons quick talk about the origins of "Trick or Treat" very interesting. I also liked CodyP's reply. I have yet to do my own research into it. Whats being pointed at in either case is a ritual in observance with a subtle realm, a higher power, nature, each other was practiced. Does anyone know more specifically the origin of trick or treat?

Jules Febre on March 3, 2008, 5:51 PM

Greetings. I thought Sharon Gannons quick talk about the origins of “Trick or Treat” very interesting. I also liked CodyP’s reply. I have yet to do my own research into it. Whats being pointed at in either case is a ritual in observance with a subtle realm, a higher power, nature, each other was practiced. Does anyone know more specifically the origin of trick or treat?

Rima Rabbath on March 10, 2008, 9:08 PM

Dear Sharon,

Your explanation is so magically wonderful and it makes so much sense… Why not look deeply into the meaning of Halloween? Why not look beyond what is advertised by Hallmark cards? All beings want peace as much as we do, all beings %u2013 those with a physical body and those with a less tangible body %u2013 are "hungry for peace". We ask for the protection of Saints through prayers. So in the same way,in ancient times, people used to ask protection of angels, saints and holy beings on Halloween nights….

Rima Rabbath on March 11, 2008, 1:08 AM

Dear Sharon,

Your explanation is so magically wonderful and it makes so much sense… Why not look deeply into the meaning of Halloween? Why not look beyond what is advertised by Hallmark cards? All beings want peace as much as we do, all beings %u2013 those with a physical body and those with a less tangible body %u2013 are “hungry for peace”. We ask for the protection of Saints through prayers. So in the same way,in ancient times, people used to ask protection of angels, saints and holy beings on Halloween nights….

Edward C on April 1, 2008, 5:30 PM

Please visit: "What is the Difference between Men & Women?"

Edward C on April 1, 2008, 9:30 PM

Please visit: “What is the Difference between Men & Women?”

Jon Jacobs on July 6, 2008, 11:49 AM

The negative reaction to Sharon Gannon's thoughts are strange. It is clear that the original festival of Halloween was most likely celebrated on the Autumnal Equinox, in Germanic cultures this is called October Fest, and is celebrated at the end of September. One might presume "October Fest" is in reference to what comes after the Equinox. The fact that Halloween is off by a month isn't necessarily unusual given the constant mistakes of Chrisitianity(i.e. STATE SPONSORED faith) would MANDATE of ALL PEOPLE, often under penalty of death. The stars(heavens) are in precession. Halloween is perhaps a bit late, roughly one week. Likewise, the Vernal Equinox used to be celebrated April 1st and not on March 21. And the vernal eqinox is the start of the new year, hence it is still refered to as April's Fools day, since Christians thought themselves superior to the native folk and their ignorant ways. The Christians being very eager to blame, accuse, or attack anyone but themselves of being ignorant. Gosh so many deadly mistakes by the Christians.

BTW, October Fest may be a relatively recent phenomena, I haven't studied it in any great detail but most religious holidays are borrowed(i.e. stolen) from other cultures.

Jon Jacobs on July 6, 2008, 11:49 AM

The negative reaction to Sharon Gannon's thoughts are strange. It is clear that the original festival of Halloween was most likely celebrated on the Autumnal Equinox, in Germanic cultures this is called October Fest, and is celebrated at the end of September. One might presume "October Fest" is in reference to what comes after the Equinox. The fact that Halloween is off by a month isn't necessarily unusual given the constant mistakes of Chrisitianity(i.e. STATE SPONSORED faith) would MANDATE of ALL PEOPLE, often under penalty of death. The stars(heavens) are in precession. Halloween is perhaps a bit late, roughly one week. Likewise, the Vernal Equinox used to be celebrated April 1st and not on March 21. And the vernal eqinox is the start of the new year, hence it is still refered to as April's Fools day, since Christians thought themselves superior to the native folk and their ignorant ways. The Christians being very eager to blame, accuse, or attack anyone but themselves of being ignorant. Gosh so many deadly mistakes by the Christians.

BTW, October Fest may be a relatively recent phenomena, I haven't studied it in any great detail but most religious holidays are borrowed(i.e. stolen) from other cultures.

Jon Jacobs on July 6, 2008, 3:49 PM

The negative reaction to Sharon Gannon’s thoughts are strange. It is clear that the original festival of Halloween was most likely celebrated on the Autumnal Equinox, in Germanic cultures this is called October Fest, and is celebrated at the end of September. One might presume “October Fest” is in reference to what comes after the Equinox. The fact that Halloween is off by a month isn’t necessarily unusual given the constant mistakes of Chrisitianity(i.e. STATE SPONSORED faith) would MANDATE of ALL PEOPLE, often under penalty of death. The stars(heavens) are in precession. Halloween is perhaps a bit late, roughly one week. Likewise, the Vernal Equinox used to be celebrated April 1st and not on March 21. And the vernal eqinox is the start of the new year, hence it is still refered to as April’s Fools day, since Christians thought themselves superior to the native folk and their ignorant ways. The Christians being very eager to blame, accuse, or attack anyone but themselves of being ignorant. Gosh so many deadly mistakes by the Christians.

BTW, October Fest may be a relatively recent phenomena, I haven’t studied it in any great detail but most religious holidays are borrowed(i.e. stolen) from other cultures.

Jon Jacobs on July 6, 2008, 3:49 PM

The negative reaction to Sharon Gannon’s thoughts are strange. It is clear that the original festival of Halloween was most likely celebrated on the Autumnal Equinox, in Germanic cultures this is called October Fest, and is celebrated at the end of September. One might presume “October Fest” is in reference to what comes after the Equinox. The fact that Halloween is off by a month isn’t necessarily unusual given the constant mistakes of Chrisitianity(i.e. STATE SPONSORED faith) would MANDATE of ALL PEOPLE, often under penalty of death. The stars(heavens) are in precession. Halloween is perhaps a bit late, roughly one week. Likewise, the Vernal Equinox used to be celebrated April 1st and not on March 21. And the vernal eqinox is the start of the new year, hence it is still refered to as April’s Fools day, since Christians thought themselves superior to the native folk and their ignorant ways. The Christians being very eager to blame, accuse, or attack anyone but themselves of being ignorant. Gosh so many deadly mistakes by the Christians.

BTW, October Fest may be a relatively recent phenomena, I haven’t studied it in any great detail but most religious holidays are borrowed(i.e. stolen) from other cultures.

catspajamas on July 30, 2008, 11:50 PM

Coming a little late to this thread, but what the heck: Hallowe'en was originally called Samhain, which is gaelic for November (also called the Festival of Remembrance, the Festival of All Souls, or the Feast of the Dead. The ancient Celts, and the Druids, celebrated 4 major and 4 minor festivals throughout the year, all bound to the changing of the seasons and the harvest. Celts believed that on Samhain the barriers between the living and the dead, two realities, were thinner, and that the dead could sometimes come through. The festival also celebrated the end of the harvest and the beginning of storing food and preparing for the coming winter. On Samhain people would light candles in the windows to lead dead relatives home and put out of offerings of food for the dead. Hollowed-out turnips with candles inside had scary faces carved on them to frighten away evil spirits. These were called Pookie or Punky lights, after the evil goblins they were meant to scare away. The idea of trick or treat originated in Britain where children went door-to-door begging for "soul cakes". No cakes to hand out often meant damage to ones garden. The Christian church tried to counter the traditional celebrations by naming November 1st All Hallows Day, thus making Oct 31 All Hallows Eve, which was shortened to Hallowe'en. The custom has largely died out in Britain but was brought over to North America, where turnips are replaced by pumpkins, and "soul cakes" by candy.

catspajamas on July 30, 2008, 11:58 PM

And I think the festival in September, at the autumnal equinox, is one of the four minor festivals, called Mabon.

catspajamas on July 31, 2008, 3:50 AM

Coming a little late to this thread, but what the heck: Hallowe’en was originally called Samhain, which is gaelic for November (also called the Festival of Remembrance, the Festival of All Souls, or the Feast of the Dead. The ancient Celts, and the Druids, celebrated 4 major and 4 minor festivals throughout the year, all bound to the changing of the seasons and the harvest. Celts believed that on Samhain the barriers between the living and the dead, two realities, were thinner, and that the dead could sometimes come through. The festival also celebrated the end of the harvest and the beginning of storing food and preparing for the coming winter. On Samhain people would light candles in the windows to lead dead relatives home and put out of offerings of food for the dead. Hollowed-out turnips with candles inside had scary faces carved on them to frighten away evil spirits. These were called Pookie or Punky lights, after the evil goblins they were meant to scare away. The idea of trick or treat originated in Britain where children went door-to-door begging for “soul cakes”. No cakes to hand out often meant damage to ones garden. The Christian church tried to counter the traditional celebrations by naming November 1st All Hallows Day, thus making Oct 31 All Hallows Eve, which was shortened to Hallowe’en. The custom has largely died out in Britain but was brought over to North America, where turnips are replaced by pumpkins, and “soul cakes” by candy.

catspajamas on July 31, 2008, 3:58 AM

And I think the festival in September, at the autumnal equinox, is one of the four minor festivals, called Mabon.

Lisa Morton on November 7, 2008, 4:06 PM

This is entertaining as a work of fiction, but has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the real history of Halloween.

Halloween never had anything to do with an equinox celebration. “Trick-or-treat” is a distinctly American ritual which is less than a century old (and which evolved as a response to the destructive Halloween prankplaying of the 1930s). All Saints’ Day was not about “thanking” the saints for protection; in fact, this author doesn’t even seem to realize that “Halloween” is a diminutive form of “All Hallows’ Eve”, or the night before All Saints Day. And of course drawing a correlation between Halloween and any eastern religion is patently false, since Halloween’s origins are European and western.

BTW, my name is Lisa Morton, and I’m the author of THE HALLOWEEN ENCYCLOPEDIA and A HALLOWE’EN ANTHOLOGY: LITERARY AND HISTORICAL WRITINGS OVER THE CENTURIES.

Rachele Antenucci on December 14, 2008, 11:01 AM

I am 45 years old and I refuse to stop dressing up and trick-or-treating with my children!

cosmic illusion on October 31, 2009, 4:43 PM

Sharon might have a valid point here. Halloween has been more like a ritualistic tradition in ancient India over thousands of years. It was never meant to be a festival but a way of life to calm the spirits of the ancestors and the dead. Apart from India, this tradition still continues in some form or the other among non-christian Indo-European and Aryan cultures.