Hallowe

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Halloween Faith and Fun
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Did you know?

• Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic
  celebration of New Years Eve called the Samhain
  (This means Summers End in Irish) which marked
  the onset of Winter.

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• The Celts believed that the sun was in danger of
  being kidnapped by Winter and feared that the
  spirits of the dead might damage their crops.

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Trick or Treat!

• The phrase Trick or Treat also originates from
  the Ancient Celts who believed that spirits and
  ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween
  night. The people wore costumes and masks to
  avoid being recognised as humans.

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• Legend has it that Jack OLantern was a man who
  sold his soul to the devil, and thus could not
  get into Heaven.
• Spookier still, it is said he roams the Earth to
  this day, with a turnip carved into a lantern and
  the fire of hell burns within!

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Why Pumpkins?

• In the previous slide we learned that Jack
  OLanterns were originally carved from turnips.
  When the Irish arrived in America, they had to
  use pumpkins instead of turnips. It is clear that
  America then embraced the idea as it now
  generates an estimated 6b spending spree in the
  US annually at this time of year.

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• Trick or Treat is also believed to have come from
  the practice of souling this was when poor
  people went from door to door begging for food,
  in particular, soul cakes (barm brack) in
  exchange for them saying prayers for the souls of
  the dead.

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Christian Feast Days

• By 800 AD, Christianity was well established in
  Ireland and the feast of All Saints Day was
  fixed to take place on November 1st. Around this
  time it came to be that All Souls Day proceeded
  this and was celebrated on October 31st
  (Halloween Hallowed Eve).

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• As we already know, black and orange are the
  colours associated with Halloween, heres why
• Orange Represents Harvest and Autumn
• Black Death and Darkness

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• Did you know? In Mexico, this feast is known as
  The Day of the Dead and it is believed that on
  this night, spirits return to visit their loved
  ones.

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• As part of the custom in Mexico, sweets are
  offered in the form of skull shapes. The people
  believe that the spirits absorb the smell of the
  sweet and savoury offerings.

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If you suffer from a phobia of Halloween and all
things spooky, the correct term for your
affliction is Samhainaphobia!!
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Where does Banshee come from?

• The banshee is a female spirit in Irishfolklore,
  usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger
  from the other world.
• In legend, a banshee is a fairy woman who begins
  to wail if someone is about to die. In Scottish
  Gaelic Mythology, she is known as the bean sith
  or bean-nighe and is seen washing the
  bloodstained clothes or armour of those who are
  about to die.

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• Vampires are associated with Halloween. Vampires
  are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist
  by feeding on the life essence (generally in the
  form of blood) of living creatures, regardless of
  whether they are undead or a living person/being.
  Dracula is a famous character who features in a
  story based on a Count who lived in Translyvania,
  written by the Irish author, Bram Stoker.

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Dracula!
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• On October 31st, its important to remember that
  the day/night is not just about dressing up in
  frightful costumes and eating sweets. As it is
  All Souls Day we remember those who have died
  belonging to us and those who may have no one
  left to pray for them. We can go to Mass and
  light a candle for them to honour their memory.

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• On November 1st, we celebrate All Saints Day. We
  can pray to the Saints whilst at Mass and show
  our gratitude as we remember that they intercede
  for us all the time.

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• You can recite this simple prayer for your loved
  ones
• ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO THEM, O LORD, AND MAY
  PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
• MAY THEY REST IN PEACE. AMEN.
• This time of year is all about FAITH and FUN!!
• Happy Halloween!!