Версия 13:18, 5 апреля 2007

INTRODUCTION

Halloween is an annual celebration, but just what is it actually a celebration of? And how did this peculiar custom originate? Is it, as some claim, a kind of demon worship? Or is it just a harmless vestige of some ancient pagan ritual? The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year. One story says that, on that day, the disembodied spirits of all those who had died throughout the preceding year would come back in search of living bodies to possess for the next year. It was believed to be their only hope for the afterlife. The Celts believed all laws of space and time were suspended during this time, allowing the spirit world to intermingle with the living. Naturally, the still-living did not want to be possessed. So on the night of October 31, villagers would extinguish the fires in their homes, to make them cold and undesirable. They would then dress up in all manner of ghoulish costumes and noisily paraded around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to possess. Probably a better explanation of why the Celts extinguished their fires was not to discourage spirit possession, but so that all the Celtic tribes could relight their fires from a common source, the Druidic fire that was kept burning in the Middle of Ireland, at Usinach. Some accounts tell of how the Celts would burn someone at the stake who was thought to have already been possessed, as sort of a lesson to the spirits. Other accounts of Celtic history debunk these stories as myth. The Romans adopted the Celtic practices as their own. But in the first century AD, Samhain was assimilated into celebrations of some of the other Roman traditions that took place in October, such as their day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, which might explain the origin of our modern tradition of bobbing for apples on Halloween. The thrust of the practices also changed over time to become more ritualized. As belief in spirit possession waned, the practice of dressing up like hobgoblins, ghosts, and witches took on a more ceremonial role. The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish immigrants fleeing their country's potato famine. At that time, the favorite pranks in New England included tipping over outhouses and unhinging fence gates.

ORIGINS

WICKER MAN

SAMHAIN

CONTEMPORARY CUSTOMS IN THE U.S.A

Are you thinking about hosting a Halloween party? Set the scene with some tasty and fun foods using the best of fall produce, with a spooky twist. These recipes are all delicious variations on traditional fall foods, with some Halloween flavor thrown in for fun. Of course, all of these recipes taste delicious, no matter how gross they look. I like serving appetizers as the whole meal for parties. Your guests have more choices and can sample foods they might not otherwise try. Finger foods also encourage people to mingle, laugh, and talk as they eat, making a more fluid party. To create a haunting atmosphere, light your house with candles only, set up small portable fans to gently blow around fake spider webs, and fill plastic gloves with ice, freeze, remove the plastic, and place in your punchbowl. In a darkened hallway, tape long lengths of black thread to the ceiling, hanging low enough to brush faces as people walk by. Make sure you have lots of spooky Halloween music on the CD, light a fire in the fireplace if it's cold outside (or even if it's not) and carve lots of pumpkins with your kids to display inside and out. And chaperoning parents of trick-or-treaters would appreciate a treat too. You’ll be the most popular stop on the block when you offer some great hors d’oeuvres (portable, of course), to warm up those cold bones. Use your imagination when displaying these wonderful treats. Use organic, untreated fall flowers to garnish platters, display scary masks around your dining room, and don't forget Halloween colored twinkle lights. And of course we can’t forget sweets! These homemade goodies may even have the kids forsaking their bags of treats! (yeah, right). Have a safe, happy and spooky Halloween!

TRICK-OR-TREATING

The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated not with the Irish Celts, but with a ninth-century European custom called souling. On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven. The Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. As the tale is told, a man named Jack, who was notorious as a drunkard and trickster, tricked Satan into climbing a tree. Jack then carved an image of a cross in the tree's trunk, trapping the devil up the tree. Jack made a deal with the devil that, if he would never tempt him again, he would promise to let him down the tree. According to the folk tale, after Jack died, he was denied entrance to Heaven because of his evil ways, but he was also denied access to Hell because he had tricked the devil. Instead, the devil gave him a single ember to light his way through the frigid darkness. The ember was placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to keep it glowing longer. The Irish used turnips as their "Jack's lanterns" originally. But when the immigrants came to America, they found that pumpkins were far more plentiful than turnips. So the Jack-O-Lantern in America was a hollowed-out pumpkin, lit with an ember. So, although some cults may have adopted Halloween as their favorite "holiday," the day itself did not grow out of evil practices. It grew out of the rituals of Celts celebrating a new year, and out of Medieval prayer rituals of Europeans. And today, even many churches have Halloween parties or pumpkin carving events for the kids. After all, the day itself is only as evil as one cares to make it.

SYMBOLS

Bats - Large Halloween bonfires would encourage a large amount of mosquitoes to gather and bats could often be seen swooping above the bonfires. This begins the earliest known associations of bats with Halloween. Because they fly only at night and live in tombs and abandoned churches, bats are believed to be an omen of evil. They are commonly associated with witches and vampires. It is superstition that witches and vamps can take the form of a bat. The vampire bat is the only mammal that feeds on blood so it is no wonder they are linked to death and occult rituals.

Witches - Witches have long been a source of fascination for many. Witches are thought to be tellers of fortune and to cast spells, both good and bad. This frightened many because it was believed that supernatural powers were strongest on Halloween night. The implication of being a witch has greatly changed throughout the centuries. Thoughts of old wrinkled green skinned hags with grey stringy hair and a nose wart are what many think of. Others think of witchcraft and the negative propaganda associated with it. A more realistic view of the modern witch is a socially conscience individual who practices Wicca and is proud to be considered a Pagan. In the Wiccan religion, the word witch means wise one.

Broomsticks  -  Witches and broomsticks go hand in hand. They have been associated for centuries. Often witches are depicted riding them across the night sky with a black cat on the end. A more reasonable explanation may be that Halloween festivities happened during the rainy season. Women used their brooms to vault over the puddles and large amounts of water. As well, during the Witch's Sabbath, they performed a jumping dance while straddling the broom, using it to vault higher. It was thought that the higher the jumps, the higher the crop growth because in ancient time, the broom was thought to symbolize fertility. 

Jack-O-Lantern - Traditionally on Halloween, jack-o-lanterns are placed on porches and in windows, in hopes that Jack, the nasty Irishman that the lantern is named for (see Jack-O-Lantern history page), would take the light if needed instead of bothering anyone. The pumpkin jack-o-lantern has been an essential part of Halloween celebrations since the Victorian days and today is a universal symbol of Halloween.

Owls - Large Halloween bonfires would encourage a large amount of mosquitoes to gather, causing owls and bats to come out. They could often be seen swooping above the bonfires. This begins the earliest known associations of owls with Halloween.Superstitions suggest that owls ate the souls of the dying by swooping to earth. Owl screeches and their glassy stare are an omen of death and disaster. The owl is scarcely seen during the day and is affiliated with night behaviors.

Black Cats  -  Cats have been considered by many to be spiritual animals. They have been worshiped in many societies and are thought to have the ability to sense good and bad spirits. Western superstitions would have us believed that black cats have special powers, that they can represent spirits or even incarnated humans, thereby linking black cats to occultism. On Easter and Shrove Tuesday during the Middle Ages, black cats were routinely hunted down and burned. Cats accused of being witches' familiars were generally burned alive. The color black is also commonly linked to the dark realm.

Ghosts & Skeletons - Ghosts are universal symbols for the departed. Skeletons and bones are symbols of death and the shortness of life. Samhain is the festival of the dead, so it seems fitting that ghosts and skeletons would be used. It was thought that on this night of the year, the dead roamed the earth freely in their passage to the hereafter.

Spiders & Webs - While many nature/earth centered cultures feel that the spider and web represent the weaving of life, in reference to Halloween, they represent dark, spooky places and haunted houses long forgotten.

Masks - A mask is a whole or partial cover for the face. The use of masks dates back to man's earliest history. Symbolic masks were devised to be worn during ceremonies of many ancient peoples. Druids wore masks on Halloween to ward off evil spirits, witches, goblins and ghosts. One of the most commonly recognized types of masks is the false face. It represents another person or creature and made usually of papier-mвchй or plastic. It is most commonly worn on such occasions as Halloween and Marti Gras.

Moon - In mythology, the moon is thought of as a repository for souls. The ancient Greeks believed that the moon was the midway point for souls making the transition between realms. The moon has long been associated with death because of its cycles. Werewolves are said to be transformed by the moon during these cycles. Some astronomers believe jack-o-lantern carving was inspired by the rising, orange October moon. Full moons and moonlit nights are often described as settings for scary stories.

Orange & Black Colors - Both have ties to the occult and masses for the dead which were held in November. Unbleached beeswax candles are used in ceremonies and are orange in color. The color black ties in with the black cloths that were draped over ceremonial caskets (death). Orange is associated with fall harvests. Both colors compliment each other and allow for a color scheme that pops!

Scarecrows - Known by different names throughout the world, the scarecrow is commonly used as a means of scaring unwanted flying visitors away. Commonly they are dressed in ragged garb and mounted crucifix style to a pole or wooden stake. Though the origins are unknown, they are associated with Halloween and fall holidays in modern culture. Scarecrows have been rumored to be associated with the ancient ritual of human sacrifice for crop growth on Samhain, hence the crucifix style presentation.

JACK O’LANTERN

SUPERNATURAL BEINGS

• WITCHES
• WEREWOLVES
• VAMPIRES
• GHOSTS
• GOBLINS
• FAIRIES

BAD OMENS

• BLACK CATS
• BATS
• SPIDERS

Masks

Halloween is a time for all sorts of Make-Up. Here you will find Make-Up from A to Z. Pay special attention to our Character Theme Kits with full color instructions. You'll find latex masks, appliances, adhesives, creme makeup, fangs, blood, gore & more!

EMS Makeup / Severe Trauma Trauma make-up is its own art form. Used for serious business such as EMS/EMT training as well as for masquerade purposes, Graftobian's vast array of blood, gore and trauma make-ups is sure to impress. Our EMS Kit makes a great Haunted House kit too!

Face Painting Graftobian's Face Painting Make-Up selection includes our world famous Disguise Stix® Face Paint as well as dishes filled with the same easy-on, easy-off, mild cosmetic soap based formulation. Here you will find our other great face painting accessories.

Color & Glitter Hairspray Festival® Color and Glitter Hair Spray is made in Holland with old world quality. The coverage is unparalleled in the industry, the fluorescent shades are day glow in regular light and brilliant under Black Light. The Glitter sprays are simply fabulous

Monsters

Jack-o-lantern

PUBLIC HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES

NEW YORK GREENWICH VILLAGE HALLOWEEN PARADE

SAN FRANCISCO…

CALIFORNIA…

NEW ORLEANS…

LOUISIANA…

KEY WEST, FLORIDA…

MISCHIEF (DEVIL’S)NIGHT

TRADITIONAL DISHES AT HALLOWEEN

Foods

Food is considered indispensable for the celebration. The foods offered in the memorial are different according to the wishes and social status of the deceased. Typical foods include: bread, fruits vegetables, and sweets.

Other delicacies available for the celebration are: sugar skulls (bought from the bakeries with the names of each on of the members of the family who are alive and of the deceased), candied fruit and pumpkins, tamales (corn meal with meat or raising wrapped in corn husk) and maize dough cakes, as well as enchiladas and chalupas (thicker corn tortillas with topings).

Beverages which are placed on the memorial include: water, coffee, beer, tequila, and atole (corn starch fruit flavored hot drink, a special drink made from corn meal.)

Depending on how elaborate the display is, it will show the status of the deadest to the neighbors. While the tradition as stayed mostly the same throughout time, the foods have changed. Today, for instances they honor the dead with beer, enchiladas and chocolate, in ancient times it would more likely have been dogs and turkeys.

One thing has remained constant, and that is the use of bread. The custom of having a loaf of bread relates to the early custom in Spain of begging for souls. Some believe that the Spanish technology of bread-baking and the identical term used in Spain highly suggests that this tradition was Spanish in introduction. It has been written that the Zapotec Indians (State of Oaxaca) listed, bread for the dead, among their death offerings for the departed souls. It is believed that this ritual dates as early as the colonial period of Mexico

OTHER COUNTRIES’ HOLIDAYS HISTORICALLY RELATED TO HALLOWEEN

The Day of Death

ALL SOULS’ DAY

ALL SAINTS’ DAY

POETRY

Five Little Pumpkins Sitting On A. Gate.

Five little pumpkins sitting on a. gate.

The first one said,

"Oh my, it's getting late."

The second one said,

"But we don't: care."

The third one said,

"I see witches in the air."

The fourth, one said.

"Let's run, and run, and run,"

The fifth one said,

"Get ready for some fun."

Then, whoosh went the wind,

and out went the lights,

And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

Spooks

- by Sandra Liatsos

There's a goblin at my window,

A monster by my door.

The pumpkin at my table

Keeps on smiling more and. more.

There's a ghost who haunts my bedroom,

A witch whose face is green.

They used to be my family,

Till they dressed for Halloween.

Halloween

- by Mary Jane Can

Witches flying past on broomsticks,

Black cats leaping here and there,

White-robed spooks on even- corner,

Mournful moaning in the air

Goblins peering out of windows,

Spirit-things that rap and run-

But don't be scared-it's just October,

Helving one last hour of fun!

Haunted House

- by Jack Prelutsky

There's a house upon the hilltop

We will not go inside

For that is where the witches live,

Where ghosts and goblins hide.

Tonight they have their party,

All the lights are burning bright,

But oh we will not go inside

The haunted house tonight.

The demons there are whirling

And the spirits swirl about.

They sing their songs to Halloween.

"Come join the fun," they shout.

But we do not want to go there

So we run with all our might

And oh we will not go inside

The haunted house tonight.

The Scariest Thing

- by Mairi Tereas Gallagher

Some things are scary

Others are not,

Like ghosts and goblins,

And things that rot

Cats and dogs are not scary

At all,

All they do is play chase

And catch a ball.

But the scariest thing

Creeps around at night,

Looking for victims

To scratch and bite.

It hides its face

It's too ugly to see,

It rules all the monsters,

Both tall and wee.

Those who've seen his face,

Their eyes burst and bleed,

They beg for mercy

"Spare us, spare us," they plead.

But he's not a giver

He takes what he finds,

All sorts of people

Both sightseers and blind.

You've got the picture,

That he is the king

Of everything scary,

Every little scary thing.

So watch out at night 'cause if

By him you're seen,

He'll give you an evil grin

And say...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Pumpkin Time

Pumpkin time is here again,

Time to play trick or Treat.

Pumpkin time is here again,

Our Spooky friends we'll meet.

See the costumes we have on,

Monsters, ghosts, goblins too.

See the costumes we have on,

Hear us all shout "BOO!"

STORIES

SONGS

"In the Grave Yard"

(sung to the tune of "oh my darling")

In the grave yard,

In the grave yard,

When the moon begins to shine,

There's a doctor, crazy doctor,

and his monster Frankenstein.

Oh, my monster,

oh, my monster,

oh, my monster Frankenstein,

you are very, very scary, don't

come

near me Frankenstein.

"Three Black Cats"

(tune of Three Blind Mice)

Three black cats, three black cats,

In black hats, in black hats,

They all jumped into the Halloween brew.

They teased the ghosts & the goblins too!

Have you ever seen such a Hullabaloo??

On Halloween, On Halloween!

JOKES

Why won't anyone kiss Dracula? He has bat breath!

Why is it safe to tell a mummy your secret? It'll keep it under wraps!

What do you call a friendly mummy? Chummy!

What did Frankenstein say when he was struck my lightning? "Gee, that felt good!"

What did Frankenstein say to his sweetheart? "It was love at first fright!"

How does a werewolf sign his letters? Best vicious!

What should you do if a werewolf climbs in your window? Run out the door!

What can you find between Godzilla's toes? Slow runners!

Why wouldn't the ghost cross the road? He had no guts!

What did Godzilla have at the "All You Can Eat" restaurant? The waiters!

What kind of monster loves to disco? The boogieman!

What do you say to a monster with two heads? Hello, and hello to you too!

Where does a baby ghost go while its parents are at work? Dayscare!

How do you get to the monster's house? Walk down the street, then turn fright at the dead end.

What kind of dog does Dracula have? A bloodhound!

MOVIES

MARILYN MANSON :: This Is Halloween http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU6iP0WLsU8

HALLOWEEN MEMORIES

Kate Muir Traditionally the children dress up as witches, we have parties in the homes, perhaps bonfires in the garden. We roast potatoes and apples in the fire. There are games like Duck Apple (Halloween is often called Duck Apple Night) where apples are put in a big tub of water and everyone has to duck in catch apples in their mouth. Also apples are laced on strings and hung along a line, The apples are then covered in all sorts of things, some nasty and some nice. Then people are blindfolded and have to catch the apples in their mouths. Children hollow out turnips and make a face holes for eyes mouth and nose. Then a candle is put inside and they carry them around in the dark to frighten people. Now of course the American way of trick or treat has come over here and children go around doors threatening people "trick or treat" if they are not given sweets, they will play a trick on the house. I do not like this, the old ways were far more fun with candles and lanterns in the dark and people coming together for big parties.

‘A-UNION’S’ HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION

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