HALLOWEEN - Origin and signification
Joul Raul.
A harmless celebration?
Halloween has come, at least for Americans, the most important holiday after the Christmas. Annually, Americans spend on this occasion about $ 2.5 billion and, given the influence of American culture over the world, the trend is that the holiday will be "imported" most nations of the earth.
At first glance, everything seems fun and harmless: the illuminated pumpkins, sinister masks, costumes of vampires and witches, skeletons, spiders, ghosts and black catsIt seems a child's playIt is the day when adults become children again, in engaging the jokes and pranks that evoke smiles and laughter into a life so full of sadness.
Rightly celebrate the advocates of this increasingly prevalent asks: "What's so wrong with Halloween? It's just a harmless game for childrenWhat's wrong with a little fun fact to us? "
And yetHalloween with its spooky costumes, accessories and intended to arouse fear or lugubrious air, although it looks like an innocent child's game, has its roots in a history sinister and demonic, that it promotes people who are not aware.
A little history
What is the origin of Halloween?
Its history begins with the ancient Celts - the people who lived two millennia ago in the territories of today's Ireland, Great Britain and in northern France. Devotees of nature and having a large number of gods (among whom we have an important role the sun), the ancient Celts celebrated their new year on November 1. The day marked the end of harvest season and warm (sun season) and early winter cold and dark.
From October 31 until November 2, the Celts had a dedicated festival of Samhain, the pagan god of the dead. They believed that during this period, Samhain gathered all the souls of those who died last year, deciding what will take shape next year. It is believed that these souls could take the form of a human body or, depending on the decision of god, could be sentenced to live in animal bodies. The worst of people (their souls) would take the form of a black cat. Celebration was intended to deceive him Samhain, prompting him to give softer sentences, for which his worshipers were praying and his offerings.
According to the Encyclopedia of British ocombrie between 31 and Nov. 2 Celtic was perceived as a time fraught with danger, fear and supernatural events. It is believed that when the world became visible the gods to get through this period, the Celts had to bring many offerings and sacrifices of all kinds.
On the night of October 31 (Celtic New Year's Eve), after crops had been gathered and made available to shelter, the Celts began the celebration itself. First fires were lit in the house. Then the Druids (Celtic priests) would meet on top of hills, deep forests of oak, igniting the sacred fire in order to frighten evil spirits and honor the sun god. Then, people offered sacrifices to their gods of harvests and of the animals, this time in her dancing around fires. The next morning, people rekindle the fire in their homes with fire "holy" to ward off evil spirits and protect them in winter.
It was believed that the souls of the dead visited October 31 own homes, which makes the festival to gain a sinister significance. Dismal aspect was stressed and all sorts of "enhancements" that aroused revulsion and horror: ghosts, black cats, witches, demons of all kinds who walked in that night. Meanwhile, the celebration of Samhain was considered the best time of marriage, luck, health and death, she became the forerunner of today's Halloween.
In conclusion, the origin of Halloween is not so innocent.
After the Romans invaded the British Isles and Ireland, has been a fusion of Celtic celebration of Samhain and Pomona Feral and Roman holidays. Feral, celebrated on February 21 was a day dedicated to the Roman dead. In reality it was nothing more than a day of drunkenness and debauchery, like many other Roman holidays.
Pomona (goddess of fruit and fertility Romanian) was celebrated on November 1, its symbol is the apple.For three centuries after the Romans conquered the Celts, customs and traditions related to the Celtic celebration of Samhain were mixed with those of Roman holidays Feral and Pomona, resulting in a hybrid that will be based on pagan celebrations of the future "Christian" Halloween.
"Christianization"
After the Roman persecution directed against Christians during the first three centuries, the Christian church, supported by civilian authorities, began to borrow various pagan traditions and customs, giving them a Christian clothing.
An important role in the transition from the old pagan holiday Samhain and Pomona to the current celebration of Halloween has had the custom of Christians celebrating the Christian martyrs during the Roman persecutions. There were special days to commemorate the martyrs, but there was a major problem: the number of martyrs who had to be commemorated was much higher than the days of the year. That led the Christian church leaders in the fourth century to designate a day for celebrating all martyrs common.
Thus in 609 AD, Pope Boniface IV declared Feral old Romanian celebration that became Christian. With this change, Feral was not an occasion to honor all the dead, but only the "saints" died. In place of debauchery, drunkenness and alcohol Feral day became an occasion for prayer and meditation, which was not a bad thing. Also, the Feral old name was changed to All Saints Day. This was followed by modification date: Pope Boniface IV moved the celebration of All Saints on 21 February to 13 May, for Pope Gregory III (731-741) to move again celebrate All Saints on November 1 - the same day that the old pagan holidays Celtic's Samhain. Thus, the November 1st All Saints Day has officially adevenit (in English: All Hallows Day), hence the current name of Halloween.
"Christianization" of the old pagan holidays was not the end. In 988, the Western church has established a new day: Day of the dead, in order to commemorate the dead all baptized believers who is thought to be in limbo, to be accepted by God. Since the 13th century, the celebration has become universal.
Thus, 1 November became a celebration of all the dead which were thought to be in heaven, and became the commemoration of the dead on November 2 which is believed to be suffering in purgatory. Overall, eve
(31 October), All Saints Day (November 1) and Day of the Dead (November 2) make up what the British call "Hallowmas" - a reflection of ancient Celtic and pagan festivals of Samhain. What today is considered a Christian holiday, really clean and holy comes from a pagan festival and full of orgies and superstition.
Over time, the festival became so popular that Martin Luther chosen because during the Halloween show in 1517 to his theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. This action was the beginning of the Reformation that has shaken the pillars of the Christian church.
As the number of European settlers arrived on U.S. soil growing, number of traditions, superstitions and religious practices of European penetrated into new territories. In terms of Halloween, a strong inflenta was felt in America along with millions of Irish immigration during the drought of 1846. Halloween has become like Christmas, a national sarbataore, being accompanied by parades, parties, specific costumes, disguises, tricks, fireworks and many other customs.
In light of its pagan origins, history shows, can be considered Halloween as just a harmless child's play?
Meanings of symbols and customs of Halloween
Although most of us know most of the symbols that accompany Halloween, few of us realize their hidden meanings and pagan origin. Here is a list of some of the main symbols that accompany the celebration:
1) hoaxes
The Celts believed the souls of the dead returned to earth on the night of October 31, causing unrest and Incidence Sky crops. May also believed that this time the gods were playing tricks on them. Hence the custom of this holiday-related hoaxes.
2) Pumpkin
It is without doubt the most famous symbol of Halloween. The origin of the habit of using the illuminated pumpkins on Halloween night comes from the old Irish tradition for centuries. Cinema and it had a decisive role in promoting the habit, as with other symbols: skeletons, ghost stories, magic, witches, vampires, black cats, demon
Cioplirii custom pumpkins as heads of monsters has its origins in old Irish traditions. Candle lit inside makes this idol to gain a demonic appearance. In Irish folklore, there is a legend that explains the origin of this custom: the story of Jack's lantern. Legend says that a drunken man and joker named Jack has managed to fool Satan to climb a tree. Then, to prevent Satan to fall from the tree and come after him, Jack carved a cross into the tree trunk. Satan could not descend the tree until after he promised Jack not to tempt him again.
After a while, Jack died. His heart was not received nor bad, because its sireteniei nor hell, because of the promise made by Satan. The only concession was made was that you can get a brand with which to illuminate the road between heaven and hell, remaining forever in the darkness between two worlds.
From this legend comes the habit of putting into Halloween pumpkins carved candle, recalling the "lantern" Jack. The custom can be found in Transylvania, in Romania just before Halloween to get, its purpose being to banish evil spirits begin to roam the world with the coming winter.
3) Apple
Apple symbol is linked to the old Pomona Romanian holiday, celebrated on November 1. The Romans considered the apple as a symbol of the holy goddess Pomona. By combining old celebrate Samhain (a Celtic) and Pomona (the Roman) has resulted in what today we call Halloween. Has the same origin and habit (the game) to catch the apples with their teeth in a large bowl of water.
4) Bats
Being nocturnal animals that feed on blood (some species), their association with Halloween has not been difficult. They are considered symbols and representatives of the river, accompanied him on vampires and witches, which are believed to turn into bats very easy to fly at night.
5) Black Cats
Since ancient times are considered bearers of evil spirits, for which during the Middle Ages, they were hunted and burned to drive away evil spirits that ruled.
Black cat is a symbol closely related to Halloween, receiving occult overtones.
6) human skeletons
Given that the old Celtic festival of Samhain was a festival of the dead, this skeleton was inevitable. Popular belief was that spirits of the dead Halloween night back to earth, bringing unrest and harm people.
7) witches
They are important symbols of Halloween, it is believed that the night they have powers bigger than the rest of the year. Matura combination makes them even more poignant symbol. A witch riding a broom in the moonlight is the most classic images associated with Halloween. Matura was considered a symbol of fertility, from which housewives habit of jumping over it during Sabbath witches. As the jump was high, the harvest would be even richer.
Owl
The symbol derives its reputation from the superstition that owl feeds on the souls of the dying. Until today it is believed that screaming owl is a sign of death and disaster, for which these birds have become symbols of evil.
9) Masks
Used since ancient times in religious ceremonies, they were meant to protect people from evil spirits. Made of various materials (paper, plastic, etc..) Masks used during Halloween usually represented a false front in order to confuse evil spirits and protect the people of their influence.
10) Month
Is also an important symbol of Halloween, the star at night is associated in mythology with the souls of the dead and a part of the horror scenario of the story.
11) Spider and spider net
As an insect that prefers darkness, confusion and emptiness, the spider became another important symbol of Halloween, suggesting instead the idea ofhowling, haunting and forgotten people.
All these symbols, then and practices are found together in celebration of Halloween, create a sinister atmosphere, sinister and scary. They have nothing in common with Christianity, the Gospel of salvation, with the beautiful promises of God, nor the beauty of a life lived in Christ.
Halloween in light of the Bible
Halloween comes from a biblical truth opposite belief: belief in the immortality of the soul. The Bible teaches that death is death, not life lived in another sphere of existence. No question that some of our beings go after death in heaven, purgatory or hell. Unconsciousness during the death is suggested in the Word of God by using the noun "sleep" and the verb "to sleep" (see 1 Kings 15, 8, 14.31, 16.28, Daniel 12, 2, John 11, 11 -14, etc.).. The fact that death is in a state of total unconsciousness is clearly outlined in the Bible
"Those living in truth, know that they will die. But the dead know nothing and no further reward, because even the memory of them is forgotten. And their love and their hatred and their envy have perished long ago and will never again be part of everything under the sun
All that your hand finds to do, do with all your strength! For the hell you go there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge nor wisdom. "(Ecclesiastes 9, 5-6. 10)
As far as Christians tend to borrow all sorts of traditions, superstitions and pagan traditions, the Bible is again very categorical:
"Thus says the Lord:" Do not learn the way of the Gentiles and not fear the signs of heaven, because nations fear them. For desserts habits of the people are"
(Jeremiah 10 2-3)
Saviour our attention that traditions and customs which have their source in divine truth have no value in God's eyes:
"In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of menEvery plant
(Habit, tradition-author's note) that not my heavenly Father planted will be rooted up. "
(Matthew 15, 9.13)
After his release from Egyptian bondage rough, Israel received a clear command from God:
"Do not do what is in Egypt where you lived and do not do what the land of Canaan, where it will go away! It will not take after their habits!Keep my commandments and do not in any bad habits that you did before so you do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God. "(Leviticus 18, 3.30)
The same principles are valid even today, among Christians who took the treasure from ancient Israel truth.Unfortunately, the Christian church adopted easily and invisibly, all kinds of pagan practices, among which and Halloween. In this way, false doctrines have gained a garment satanic "Christian", giving them greater power of delusion.
In spite of so many biblical and historical arguments, Halloween continues to attract, being viewed as just a fun game of children. Such a "whitewashed tomb" (Matthew 23, 27), Halloween is bright and attractive on the outside, but in God's eyes he is nothing but a pile of dirt and spiritual-are unseemly and disgusting.
No man, no institution or church is not free to "Christian" a habit, tradition or superstition, which has its source in Scripture. The only attitude acceptable to God in the face of such practices and habits is their unconditional rejection.
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