Halloween, holiday observed on the evening of October 31 in most areas of
North America and in some areas of Western Europe. The holiday is symbolically
associated with death and the supernatural. Halloween falls on the eve of
All Saints' Day, also known as Allhallows or Hallowmas, a holy day in the
Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. Originally a pagan festival of the
dead, All Saints' Day was established by the Catholic Church in the 9th century
to honor Christian saints. All Souls' Day, a holy day established by the
Catholic Church in the 10th century, is also closely linked to Halloween.
All Souls' Day, on November 2, is observed to help purify the spirits of
the dead.
Halloween is historically related to similar folk holidays celebrated in
other countries. The Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday that coincides with
All Souls' Day, blends Roman Catholic and Native American traditions about
the souls of the dead. On the Day of the Dead, Mexicans decorate their homes
with playful imagery of animated human skeletons, leave offerings of food
for wandering spirits, and tend the graves of their deceased relatives. In
England, Guy Fawkes' Day, celebrated on November 5, has largely taken the
place of Halloween. On this patriotic holiday, children light bonfires and
burn effigies of Guy Fawkes, a conspirator who tried to blow up the English
Parliament building in 1605. |
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Halloween
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