Halloween … Hallowe’en … All Hallows’ evening …
All Hallows’ Eve … All Saints’ Eve
October 31 is the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day, beginning the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remember the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the departed. Historians have theorized that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain (thanks Wikipedia 🙌🏼).
David Skal, author and Halloween historian, describes the ancient Celtic harvest observances on October 31 as:
“the time when the veil between death and life was at its thinnest.”
These ancient cultural and religious observances influenced the spectacle of modern day Halloween, in what is now a full month of seasonal décor, entertainment, and spooky festivities.
Please join us and share your spooky/fun/haunted/festive Halloween favorites!
