Halloween - the eve of All Saints' Day: history and traditions of the holiday. Halloween: history of the holiday Countries where Halloween is celebrated

On the night of October 31 to November 1, Halloween is celebrated in the USA and Canada - an ancient Celtic holiday, also called All Hallows' Eve. Over the past ten years, the holiday has also been celebrated in Russia and Europe.

At the beginning of our era, the Romans conquered Celtic territory, bringing with them their traditions and festivals. Thus, over the following centuries, the traditions of the Celtic holiday and two Latin holidays were mixed - Feralia (which occurred at the end of October; on this day the Romans commemorated the deceased) and the day of Pomona, the goddess of tree fruits.

In 313, Christianity gained equality with paganism and soon became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire, and after its fall it gradually spread throughout Europe. On May 13, 609 (according to other sources - 610) in Rome, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the former pagan temple of the Pantheon in honor of the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs. This day began to be celebrated as the Feast of All Saints. In the mid-8th century, Pope Gregory III consecrated one of the chapels of St. Peter's Basilica in honor of All Saints on November 1 and, in honor of this event, moved the date of the celebration of All Saints' Day to November 1. A century later, Pope Gregory IV made November 1 a common holiday for the entire Catholic Church in honor of All Saints.

Initially, the holiday was called All Hallows Even, or All Hallows Eve (Mass of All Saints); later it began to be called Hallowe"en, and, in the end, Halloween. And although the church struggled for a long time with the custom of frightening and appeasing evil spirits on this day, the pagan holiday not only survived, but also inextricably merged in the popular consciousness with the church holiday .

Halloween is celebrated on the greatest scale in the USA and Canada, where it is most popular. In the 19th century, a huge number of Irish emigrated to the New World, bringing with them the traditions of Halloween. In the United States, Halloween is the holiday when the most candy is sold, and the second holiday, after Christmas, in terms of total pre-holiday sales. It even has its own capitals - Los Angeles and New York, where the most vibrant and colorful festivities and carnivals take place on this day.

Attributes of American Halloween: Jack-o-lanterns and begging for sweets - Trik or trak. The ancient ritual of Trik or trak (“Treat or treat”) has become a favorite game of children, who dress up in monster costumes and go to neighbors’ houses, scaring adults, who, in order to appease the “ghosts,” pay them off with sweets.

Even though Americans have been celebrating Halloween for more than two centuries, the holiday is not official. However, this does not stop New World residents from spending a lot of money every year on pumpkins, decorations, candles and greeting cards.

In Germany, Halloween is celebrated no less colorfully. Frankenstein's Castle in Darmstadt (Hesse) attracts thousands of people dressed in monster costumes on the night of November 1, and local residents believe that it is on this night that the owner's ghost appears on the castle roof.

In France, the most impressive processions take place in the Paris suburb of Disneyland and in the city of Limoges, where more than 30 thousand people come annually. This is where the most memorable parades of goblins, vampires and ghosts take place, lighting their path with jack-o’-lanterns.

In China, Halloween is known as Teng Chieh - the day of remembrance of ancestors. On this day, the Chinese place food and water in front of photographs of deceased relatives, as well as a lantern to illuminate the path for the souls of ancestors traveling on Halloween night.

In Russia, Halloween appeared quite recently and its popularity does not yet compare with the popularity of the American holiday, but it has already acquired its own traditions and its fans. There are many of them among young people who celebrate it noisily and cheerfully in clubs and discos. Many club-type entertainment establishments prepare various Halloween parties for their guests on the last day of October.

According to a Levada Center survey conducted in October 2012, (64%) have an idea about the Halloween holiday, but do not celebrate it. According to the study, only 9% of Russians intended to celebrate Halloween, and 27% of respondents know nothing about All Saints' Day.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Somehow this day passes me by, but more and more people became interested in it and I decided to find out what kind of holiday Halloween is, where it came from, its essence and traditions. In 2017 and beyond, since the date of celebration is constant, it will be celebrated on the night of October 31 to November 1, on the eve of All Saints' Day, which is celebrated by Catholics.

What kind of holiday is Halloween?

On this night, suddenly, unexpectedly, in different countries, all sorts of evil spirits are activated on the streets of cities and towns - ominous and frightening ghouls, vampires, zombies, sometimes quite attractive witches and funny little devils. Where does it come from? The answer is simple - the time has come to celebrate Halloween and all these evil spirits are just people dressed up in such strange costumes.

Although this day is not considered a day off, it is quite widespread in English-speaking countries - Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the USA, Canada and others. Gradually, interest in him is also emerging in Russia. Since the Halloween holiday came to us not so long ago, young people are more interested in it and celebrate it quite cheerfully in nightclubs and parties, dressing up in appropriate costumes.

Why is there such interest in this day? I don’t know how it is in other countries, but here, it seems to me, this is, firstly, just something new, and secondly, there is an unusual background to this day, connected with the mysterious other world. Or maybe because they talk about him a lot, and what is heard arouses interest. In countries where it is actively celebrated, it is already more of a commercial holiday. Its attributes begin to be sold in the summer and people spend more and more money on it every year.
Halloween is considered second, after Christmas, in terms of total pre-holiday sales turnover.

The history and essence of Halloween

The history of this day goes back to the pre-Christian era, during the times of the Celtic tribes who lived in what is now France, Ireland, and Great Britain.

They had their own calendar and according to it the year was divided into two parts - the light part of the year (summer) and the dark part (winter). October 31 - this day was called Samhain, which meant “end of summer”, work on the land ended, the last harvest was harvested. Also, October 31 was, according to the Celtic calendar, the last day of the outgoing year. These peoples had a special attitude towards death; they believed that without death there could be no life. After the night, a day comes, a year passes, but there will be a new one, until the leaves on the trees fall, new ones appear, life and death are always nearby, so on this day it was customary to honor the dead.

The New Year celebration began a few days in advance, lasted a whole week, and the night of November 1 was the middle of the holiday. The Celts believed that it was on this New Year's Eve that the door to the other world opened and the dark forces of this world, ghosts, and the souls of the dead came out to people. The Celts were afraid of becoming victims of aliens and tried to do everything to scare them away from their homes. They put out fires in their houses, dressed themselves in animal skins, lit large fires, and slaughtered livestock for sacrifice to pay off the dead. The fires were lit in two rows and they walked between them with children in their arms and jumped over small fires. The Celts believed that after going through such a ritual, they would enter the New Year with a pure soul, since the fire of bonfires can cleanse a person.

They also had a tradition of carving faces from turnip fruits that showed a variety of emotions. When leaving the holiday, each family took their head, inside which coals from the Sacred fires were placed; it was believed that this would protect them from evil spirits that could wander until the morning. For protection purposes, they also lit fires in their homes using these coals.

With the advent of Christianity, these pagan rituals could have gone into oblivion, since church ministers did not approve of the “Sabbath,” as they called the celebration of Samhain around the fires.
Apparently, in order to eradicate pagan rituals forever, or maybe for some other reason, Pope Gregory III in the 9th century decided to move All Saints' Day from May 13 to November 1. At that time, this day was dedicated to those saints who did not have their own holiday during the year. The day before (October 31) was called All Hallows Even or All Hallows Eve in Old English. Later the name was transformed into the familiar Halloween. Apparently, due to the coincidence of the dates of the pagan holiday Samhain and All Saints' Day, it has led to the fact that since then Christianity has miraculously coexisted with the mystical traditions and beliefs of Halloween.
In the USA, Halloween appeared thanks to the Irish, who fled en masse to America from hunger and unemployment. The holiday was liked and all residents of the country began to celebrate it, regardless of race.

Traditions and attributes of Halloween

Of course, modern Halloween no longer has the same traditions that the Celts had.

In America, where Halloween was especially popular, a fashion arose to organize various minor hooliganism on this day, but later, the American Boy Scouts, in order to preserve the holiday, since its popularity was high, decided to promote the celebration without vandalism. Hooliganism was replaced by a masquerade and in general it is believed that this is a holiday of fun, scary stories, practical jokes, games and fortune telling.

Costumed children and youth go from house to house and beg for sweets, asking the question: “treats or tricks?” This is also a Halloween tradition. If the owner suddenly gets greedy, they can do something dirty to him, for example, coating the door handle with soot. If they give a treat, then in response the children sing songs or recite poems.

Particularly popular on this day are such attractions as the “Panic Room” and “Haunted Room”, where visitors are frightened by various frightening sounds, creaks, and howls.

The main attribute of this day is the Jack-o'-lantern, which is made from a pumpkin.

To do this, take a large fruit, cut off the top, remove all the pulp, cut out holes for the eyes and mouth, and place a lit candle inside. It is believed that such a lamp protects the house from evil spirits.

This symbol has a long-standing legend.

One man, named Jack, managed to fool the Devil twice and he promised not to take his soul. But Jack did not lead the most righteous life, accumulated many sins and was not allowed into Paradise after death. Unneeded by either the Devil or God, Jack began to wander in search of Purgatory. He illuminated his path with a lantern carved from a hollow turnip, in which the remains of coals smoldered.

Costumes are also a mandatory attribute of the holiday and they are very unusual - they are images of various supernatural characters from fairy tales and horror films.

Decorating your home for Halloween

In addition to the Jack-o'-lantern, the house is decorated with other attributes for the holiday - garlands of bats, a witch's broom, cobwebs with spiders, ghosts are made from sheets, posters in the theme. There must be a lot of candles to celebrate the holiday without light, only by candlelight. When decorating a room, apples are used; they must also be present, not only as food, but in the form of compositions and candlesticks.

The outside of the house is decorated with glowing garlands, and Jack-o'-lanterns are placed around the garden.

Family feasts on this day are also a tradition, where the main food is dishes made from apples and pumpkins, for example, baked apples, stuffed pumpkin, baked or baked. Small surprises are often placed in baked goods and used for predictions, for example, a coin for wealth, or a ring for a wedding.

What to tell children about Halloween

In countries where this day is popular, children participate in it with pleasure and probably know everything about it. Should we tell our children about it, since our Orthodox Church opposes this holiday and considers it far from harmless? Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, chairman of the synodal department for interaction between the Church and society of the Moscow Patriarchate, says this about Halloween:

From childhood, the rituals associated with this day teach people that they need to pay some tribute to evil, reconcile with it, even cooperate - instead of fighting evil and decisively rejecting it, as the Russian Orthodox Church teaches.

I believe that even if you have a negative attitude towards him and also consider him a stranger, the child may hear about him from his peers and ask you a question. And why don’t you tell us about the history and traditions of Halloween, and also tell us about your attitude towards this day.

I told you what kind of day Halloween is, but whether to consider it a holiday or not, the choice is yours.

Elena Kasatova. See you by the fireplace.

Halloween is an old tradition with a modern twist. This holiday is gaining more and more popularity every year in Europe and Asia. In the last decade, Halloween has become firmly established in Russia. It inspires writers and directors from all over the world to create magical fairy tales, brings people together, and draws them into an atmosphere of mysticism and mystery. What kind of holiday is this? Where did it come from and why is it so loved?

From Samhain to Christianity

The history of Halloween begins with Celtic traditions. The Celts were numerous barbarian tribes that lived across a large area of ​​Europe, including the British Isles. The mysterious religion of these peoples has not yet been fully explored: little information remains, and beliefs have disappeared over the centuries. - one of the few traditions borrowed by the British from the local population.

The ancient Celts animated the forces of nature, built sanctuaries in oak groves, and revered the Druids. Samhain was considered the main holiday. On this day, the harvest was completed and the Celtic New Year was celebrated. People believed that on the holiday night from October 31 to November 1, a passage to the other world opens. The resulting portal connects the past and the future. A living person could enter the world of the dead, and the dead penetrated into the reality of living people.

On the evening of October 31, the Celts turned out the lights in their houses. At this time, priests performed a magical ritual in sacred groves. They lit giant fires and appeased evil spirits with sacrifices. In the morning, the Celts rekindled the fires in their homes using the coals of sacred fires.

To scare away evil spirits on a magical night, the Celts created frightening costumes. Dressed as evil spirits, they went from house to house and collected sacrificial treats for evil spirits. People dressed in animal skins, used fangs, branches and other improvised materials to create a frightening image.

Catholic traditions and Halloween

The Roman conquest had almost no effect on the culture of the Celts; the commonality of pagan traditions had an effect. The abandonment of ancient beliefs occurred after the adoption of Christianity. This happened in the 9th century. At that time, there was an important religious holiday in Catholic culture: All Saints' Day.

The emergence of Halloween resulted from the fusion of Catholic, Roman and Celtic cultures. The ancient Romans had a holiday called Feralia. On this day, the Latins, who revered their ancestors, remembered the dead and made sacrifices at the graves. After the introduction of Christianity, Feralia became All Saints' Day. And it is intended to commemorate Christian righteous people who do not have their own day for commemoration in the church calendar.

In the 9th century, Christianity took hold in Britain. And All Saints' Day mixed with Celtic Samhain. Otherworldly forces were perceived by Christians as more hostile than by the indigenous population of the islands. This day was loved by witches and sorcerers who held Sabbaths. Fairy tales and scary stories were written about the night from October 31 to November 1 in order to intimidate the believing people.

The established name “Halloween” is an abbreviation of “All Hallows Even” - All Saints’ Day.

Halloween in the USA

A new place for the development of old traditions is the North American continent. Fugitive English emigrants brought their native traditions here. In the States, the ritual of celebrating Halloween in the form to which we are accustomed today was formed.

In the United States, the traditional tradition of going from house to house in scary costumes has taken hold. Children knocked on doors and demanded treats. If the owner of the house did not give the children sweets, then he would spend a long time scrubbing the soot off the doorknob.

Today, Halloween is not recognized as an official holiday, but it is celebrated on a special scale. American schoolchildren organize real celebrations, compete in the originality and frightening power of their costumes, tell horror stories and have fun.

Thanks to its brightness, Halloween has taken root in other countries. True, it is not celebrated on such a grand scale. In Russia, students and schoolchildren are actively involved in American traditions, dressing up in costumes, creating jack-o'-lanterns, etc. Youth cafes and bars have picked up the new trend and are preparing atmospheric events for Halloween.

All Saints' Day no longer has the religious significance that the Celts gave it, and it is also far from the Christian remembrance of the righteous. Halloween is fun, modern, fashionable. So why not join in the general mood?

Jack-lantern

The tradition of using a pumpkin as a lantern appeared in America in the mid-18th century. Until this time, in England, turnips, squash or rutabaga were used to repel spirits. The Americans chose a cheaper and more accessible vegetable, linking the decision with the legend about the cunning Irishman.

Drinking Jack was a stingy merchant. And so Satan himself became interested in his soul. Descending into the human world, he found Jack in an inn. The merchant was not at a loss and offered the Devil a drink. To pay for the drink, the man asked the Evil One to do him one last service and turn himself into a coin. When the Lord of the Underworld complied with the request, the cunning Jack put the money in his pocket, where the silver cross lay. The devil lost his strength and could not regain his former appearance until he promised the merchant a year of quiet life.

A year later, when the evil one returned for the desired soul, Jack came up with a new trick. He asked the Devil to get fruit from the tree to enjoy life one last time. While Satan climbed to the top of the fruit giant, Jack scratched a cross on the trunk. To come down from the tree, the evil one had to promise Jack another 10 years of quiet life.

But the merchant did not live to see the end of the promised period. When he died, both God and the Devil gave up the soul of the cunning drunkard. Punished for his misdeeds, Jack still wanders the world to this day, lighting the way with a jack-o'-lantern in which a coal thrown by Satan smolderes.

This is just a fairy tale, but if you remember the real horrors and look even further, the history of the appearance of such lamps goes back to the traditions of the Celts. Ancient Druids sacrificed people and hung their heads to ward off evil spirits. Over time, human sacrifices were banned, and real heads were replaced with vegetable ones.

Halloween Maniacs

Every year, the US police warn parents about the dangers that await children while partying. Halloween is a good time for maniacs. In suits you can’t tell who is a friend and who is an enemy. High-profile murders and rapes occur almost every year.

From time to time, criminals add poison to children's sweets. Sometimes blades, nails, needles and other metal additives are found in candies and bars. In 1982, poisonings became widespread. After this, they began to treat the sweets the children received more carefully.

At the beginning of the 20th century in America, Halloween became a hooligan tradition. Every year there were massive incidents of vandalism on the streets of major cities. The attackers set fires, destroyed store windows, and broke into houses. The result was government actions in support of peaceful festivities with the distribution of sweets and other treats.

Costume ideas

It starts with the outfit. Gift and funny souvenir shops for the holiday purchase ready-made costumes for masquerade. There you will find both whole sets and individual parts in the form of a witch’s hat, a scary mask, a broom, a tail or fox ears.

Traditional characters for party :

• witch,
• ghost,
• pirate,
• death,
• daemon,
• angel.

Details for such costumes can be found in any holiday-themed store, but if you wish, you can sew the outfit yourself. Sheets, old fabrics, unnecessary clothes, and feathers are used.

What about Slavic themes?

Each country made its own changes to the Halloween celebration. Why is Russia worse? Slavic folk myths are an unusual idea for inspiration.

• Leshy. The goblin costume is a bizarre combination of sticks and twigs. Make yourself horns from twigs, a wreath from flexible twigs. Use face painting to paint your face dark green, draw scary eyes and thick eyebrows.

• Merman and mermaids. Costumes for inhabitants of lakes and swamps are best done in blue-green tones. For a spectacular look, use artificial imitations of bindweed and other plants. Weave wreaths, draw small scales on the skin, weave floral decorations into the hair, and the outfit is ready.

• Koschey. His image is similar to the usual Western image of death, only male. The lean ruler of the dark kingdom in dark robes, with white hair and a crown on his head will look unusual among fairies and pirates.

Not inspired by Russian mythology? Take advantage of Scandinavian, Indian, Japanese myths. Who knows, maybe a Chinese dragon mask will suit you?

Wig idea

A quality wig costs money, and spending it for one evening is not the most rational decision. Disposable models look like washcloths and don’t cause much excitement. There is an exit. Create a wig from satin ribbons! witches or mermaids are guaranteed for you. One caveat - the top of the wig will have to be hidden under a hat or other structure.

The amount of satin ribbon depends on the length of the wig. The longer the hair, the thicker the skein of ribbon. Cut the purchased material into strips equal to the length of the wig. The more stripes, the more voluminous your hair will be. Fasten the ends together and unravel the ribbons. Leave a small unraveled piece at the base of the sling. When there is not a single intact ribbon left in the bun, tightly tie the base with threads again so that the wig does not fall apart. If desired, you can fuse the remaining ends using a lighter. The wig is ready. All that remains is to attach it to the hat and distribute the hair around the head.

Scary papier-mâché masks

To make such an attribute of intimidation you will need:

• newspapers,
• PVA glue,
• material for the mold (plasticine, balloon, foil),
• water-based paint or acrylic primer,
• paints,
• brushes, sponge.

First, create a mold for the future mask. There are three options:

1. Sculpt from plasticine. For this purpose, purchase special sculptural plasticine from a craft store. It is sold in sand, gray and black. After creating the mold, the plasticine mask must be wrapped in transparent film.
2. Inflatable ball. If you choose this option, inflate the balloon to the size of your head and form a mask on it.
3. Foil. Fold 3 sheets of foil together, apply it to your face and crumple it so that the material takes the desired bends.

The form is covered with newspaper paper. Do not cut strips with scissors! The paper must be torn by hand to obtain a quality result. The first layer is formed using wet paper. A second layer of pieces soaked in glue is applied to it. All subsequent layers will be adhesive.

After the first 4 layers, leave the mask to dry for 24 hours. At this stage, parts that require additional volume are molded from plasticine. It is important to remember the number of overhead parts. Plasticine parts are heavy. If you overdo it, the mask will be too heavy or even fall apart.

Paper layers are glued until the mask becomes sufficiently thick. The last layer is best made of thick paper or cotton fabric. Depending on the idea, you can form folds and dents. Then the eyes and holes for the nose and mouth are cut out. After this, the product dries for 1-2 days.

The edges of the dried form are adjusted with sandpaper or sawed off. The mask is primed using water-based paint or acrylic. Ready-made acrylic primer is sold in craft stores.

To decorate the mask, it is better to use acrylic paints. After drying, they are not washed away by water. Use a sponge to create unexpected effects and shadow transitions. To evenly cover the mask with tone, spray paint is suitable.

Making an ominous jack-o'-lantern

To make the main Halloween symbol you will need:

• pumpkin,
• big knife,
• a small knife with a sharp tip or an awl,
• candle,

And turn it upside down. Cut out the thick part of the top like a lid and separate it from the pumpkin. The seeds and part of the pulp are removed by hand or with a large spoon.

To apply the drawing, the template is prepared in advance. You can find it on the Internet and print it or draw it yourself. To make a traditional Jack-O-Lantern, draw a sinister, grinning smile, eyes, and a triangular nose.

Do not use a felt-tip pen to transfer the design onto the pumpkin. Traces from it will remain on the lantern and spoil the overall impression.

Attach a piece of paper with a drawn pattern to the pumpkin, take a sharp knife or awl and make a series of punctures along the outline of the design. After this, remove the sheet and cut through the mouth, eyes and nose of the future lantern, pressing unnecessary pieces inside. The lamp is ready! All that remains is to place the candle inside.

If you have already trained your hand on ordinary Jack-lanterns, choose a more complex pattern. An image of a bat or a witch would be suitable. The main thing is a readable silhouette and simplicity of the outline.

Halloween is a fun holiday. Spend it in the company of friends, organize a competition for the most original outfit! Want more fun? Go out into the streets and take pictures with passers-by! By exchanging photos for treats, you will get a lot of positive emotions and a bunch of new acquaintances.

USA, especially among young people and children. On this day, you can show all your ingenuity and imagination, so to speak, show yourself and look at others, especially since the entertainment industry and the offers of the retail chain provide the most luxurious opportunities; it is difficult to find an ordinary American who does not have a couple of Halloween costumes lying around in his closet.

Let us remember that the tradition of the holiday itself goes back to ancient Scotland and Ireland to the Celts. The holiday is celebrated throughout the world on the eve of All Saints' Day on October 31. The legislators for this holiday are the British, so the holiday is popular in all English-speaking countries of the world, but in recent years it has become popular in Europe, Russia, Ukraine, not to mention Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Mexico.

The name of the holiday itself means All-Hallows-Even, that is, the Evening of All Saints, this expression first appeared in the scriptures back in 1556. Regarding the origin of the holiday, the versions are divided, some believe that Halloween came from the ancient Roman holiday Parentalia, for remembrance and offerings to deceased parents, was celebrated from February 13 to February 21, when flowers, wreaths, bread, and wine were placed at the graves of relatives, but were prohibited weddings and other celebrations.

In Ancient Rome, another similar holiday was held called Lemuria or Lemuria, celebrated on May 9, 11 and 13. These days, ghost vampires Lemurs or Laurels roamed the cities. On such days, at midnight, the father of the family had to patrol the entire house with grains of black beans in his mouth, which had to be thrown across the entire perimeter of the house, without looking back, repeating 9 times: “I give this to you and with these beans I redeem myself and my loved ones,” at the same time the spirits ran to collect beans. Before this procedure, you need to wash your hands in a copper basin, and then wash your hands again and then beat the copper basin very loudly so that the spirits get scared and run away.

Others associate it with the festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest. Then the Celtic calendar was divided into a light and dark part, it was the dark part that began at the very end of October, when the Celts celebrated the new year “Three Nights of Samonios”; the holiday did not lose its meaning even with the advent of Christianity. Samhain was celebrated throughout the British Isles and has always been associated with death and the supernatural, while in pagan times the holiday was exclusively seasonal, associated with the harvest. Samhain or Halloween was celebrated as a new year and a day of honoring the dead; moreover, it was believed that on this night people die who violate their geisas, that is, in other words, prohibitions or taboos that were appointed as a counterbalance when giving certain gifts, as a way not to anger higher powers with excessive well-being, which could mean accession to the kingdom, marriage, change in social status. On Saints' Day, the harvest was divided among the population, livestock was slaughtered, bonfires were lit, and other Jews predicted the future at bonfires.

Already in Christianity, Samhain grew into All Saints' Day, which was celebrated the next day on November 1, the next day was Memorial Day.

Since the 16th century, there has been a tradition of children and adults asking for sweets on the night of October 31st. Today adults are already embarrassed to go and ask for chocolates, but in the old days they did it without a shadow of shame, of course covering their faces with a mask made of frightening-looking fabric, so that the owners of the houses would they received attention and were taken seriously; it was allowed to play little pranks that were more fun, for example, you could sing a song, read poetry, surprise them with your costume, and the like. The tradition of begging for sweets originated in Ireland, when the poor went from house to house and demanded food in exchange for a promise to pray for the souls of their deceased relatives. One can recall Shakespeare’s 16th century play “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” where there are the words “You whine like a beggar on All Saints’ Day”, one can conclude that in those days Halloween was popular even in the Mediterranean. The American phrase Trick-or-treat “trick or treat” is often translated into Russian as more brutal “trick or treat.”

Jack-o'-lantern

Jack-o"-lantern. The main symbol of Halloween was the so-called “Jack's lantern,” which appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, but this lamp was also known during the Celts, as it helped souls find their way to purgatory; in Scotland, the lamp was carved from a turnip, in the USA, from a pumpkin. Today, every house in the USA is decorated with pumpkins, people dress in costumes of various evil spirits, devils, scarecrows, Frankenstein, vampires, mummy, zombies, murdered people and the like, various pranks are popular, but they are already predictable and cannot really surprise with their black humor .

A jack-o'-lantern is usually carved from a pumpkin; a candle or lantern must be placed inside

The holiday also has its own musical hits, such as the song “Monster Mash” by musician Bobby Pickett, which became the Halloween anthem; with the release of the cartoon The Nightmare Before Christmas, the song “This Is Halloween” gained popularity.

Costumes and parties

Costumes and Parties. Every year, Halloween in the USA turns into a massive night party, when all the residents gather in the city center and walk around, celebrate, move in, on social networks, then everyone posts scary and funny photos, neighbors and friends try to outdo each other in creating costumes, albeit in stores In America you can find any costume to suit your taste. It is noteworthy that in the last 10 years the costumes have become more expressive and naturalistic. The designers have tried their best in this, using artificial blood and other tricks that allow them to add realism, with the release and popularization of the series “The Walking Dead”, Americans dress up in zombie costumes.

In the United States, various attractions are popular on this day, for example, themed on the Tim Burton cartoon “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and the Haunted Manor attraction operates in Disneyland parks on these days.

Where is Halloween celebrated?

Where to celebrate Halloween. The ritual part of the holiday is preserved in those lands where the Celts or their descendants lived; in Ireland and the USA, the holiday is also celebrated with large pyrotechnic shows; in Japan, massive parades are held. In Central and Eastern Europe, the holiday has only gained popularity in recent years, and the further you go to the east, the less strong the traditions. The holiday in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus is not at all interesting. The attitude of the church towards the holiday is generally negative, with the exception of the Anglican Church, since it is believed that the holiday is pagan. Nevertheless, many, including church leaders, believe that once a year you can go crazy, relax, joke, let off steam, so to speak, and then lead a quiet, decent life.

Halloween has a great significance in popular culture; films, cartoons, songs and even rock bands are dedicated to this day.

The capital of the latter is considered to be the town of Anoka in the state of Minnesota, since it was the residents of this city who began to celebrate Halloween en masse, however, the main events take place in New York and Los Angeles. Television and the Internet the next day call for videos or photographs featuring American celebrities who dressed up in costumes and shocked the public.

Statistics say that $2 billion is spent annually on Halloween candy in the United States; the most popular candy for this holiday is Snickers products. In the USA, psychologists have even discovered the disease Samhainphobia, the fear of Halloween.

Halloween is the most expensive US holiday after Christmas.

The most popular costume in the USA is the witch costume, 5 million people dress up in it every year, then comes Batman 2.9 million, children have slightly different preferences, girls love princess costumes, boys animal costumes and again Batman. Every year, Americans spend $1.6 billion on costumes for adults and $1 billion for children.

Halloween is indirectly connected with Russia and Ukraine, because our fear of black cats originated from this holiday, as it was believed that witches on Halloween turn into black cats for disguise. It is also notable to note that Harry Houdini died on Halloween night.

Do you know what this holiday, which sounds unfamiliar to the Russian ear, entails? Are they pagan rituals or harmless jokes of children and adults who are ready to have fun until they drop on the night from October 31 to November 1, dressing up in funny costumes and scaring each other?

Meanwhile, the history of Halloween is interesting, and you should know it even if you think that such celebrations are just a tribute to a passing fashion.

The roots of this strange holiday take us back centuries, to the pre-Christian era, when the lands of Ireland, Northern France and England were inhabited by Celtic tribes. Their year consisted of two parts - summer and winter. And the transition of one season to another was marked by the end of the harvest, celebrated on October 31 and symbolized the beginning. Winter was coming into its own.

The night of November 1, when according to legend the border between the worlds of the living and the dead opened, was called Samhain (Samhain) and was considered the main holiday of the ancient peoples. The pagan Celts attached great importance to it and, in order not to become prey to the shadows of the dead, they dressed up in animal heads and skins, extinguished the fires in their houses and scared away ghosts with all their terrifying appearance.

Treats for the spirits were displayed on the street, and the residents themselves gathered around the fires, which were lit by the Celtic Druid priests.

On this night, animals were sacrificed, predictions were made, and the winter hearth was lit, bringing tongues of sacred flame into the house. The tradition of celebration was passed down from century to century until in the 1st century. AD The Romans did not conquer the territory of the Celts.

Converted to the Christian faith, the inhabitants of Ireland and Britain were forced to abandon many pagan customs. However, memories of Samhain continued to live and be passed on from generation to generation.

And when in the 9th century Pope Gregory III moved the celebration of All Saints' Day from May 13 to November 1, Samhain began to be celebrated again. The night preceding the holiday in medieval English was called All Hallows Even. Abbreviated as Hallowe'en. And very briefly - Halloween.

Did the Christian Church strive to revive the pagan holiday? Most likely, the goal was to eradicate Celtic traditions, but the coincidence of dates led to the opposite effect. The holiday not only survived, but also became closely united in the minds of people with the church celebration of All Saints' Day.

Since then, Halloween has been celebrated everywhere in the best traditions of Samhain, and the night of celebration itself has been favored by witches who organize a Sabbath and frighten civilians.

In Germany, Halloween is celebrated no less colorfully. Frankenstein's Castle in Darmstadt attracts thousands of people dressed in monster costumes on the night of November 1st. And local residents believe that it is on this night that the ghost of the owner appears on the roof of the castle.

The most impressive processions in France take place in the suburbs of Paris at Disneyland and Limoges. It is there that more than 30 thousand people come every year; it is there that the most memorable parades of goblins, vampires and ghosts take place, illuminating their path with lanterns - pumpkins. On this night, bars and cafes in French cities offer “witch” dishes, and visitors dress up no less colorfully than participants in parades and processions.

In China, Halloween is known as Teng Chieh - the day of remembrance of ancestors. On this day, food and water are placed in front of photographs of deceased relatives, as well as a lantern to light the way for the souls of ancestors traveling on Halloween night. Monks in Buddhist monasteries make "boats of fate" out of paper, some of which are very large. In the evening, these boats are burned so that their smoke will help the spirits of ancestors to reach heaven.

The celebrations are most widespread in the USA and Canada, where this holiday is most popular. Every year, 65% of Americans decorate their homes and offices for Halloween. Halloween is the holiday when the most candy is sold, and the second holiday after Christmas in terms of total pre-holiday sales turnover.

Once brought to America by Irish emigrants, the Celtic holiday found a second life there and in our time is second only to Christmas. It even has its own capitals - Los Angeles and New York, where the most vibrant and colorful festivities and carnivals take place on this day. The hallmarks of American Halloween are the famous Jack-o-lanterns and Trick or Treat.

How to make a jack-o'-lantern? Yes, very simple!

1. You need to take a large orange pumpkin and carefully cut off the “lid” with a sharp knife, preferably serrated.
2. Using a dessert spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers, then scoop out some of the pulp with a strong spoon.
3. Use a felt-tip pen to draw facial features on the pumpkin and cut out eyes, nose and mouth with a small knife.
4. Place a small candle inside and cover with the cut-off lid.

The ancient ritual “Trick or treat” has become a favorite game for children, who, on the night of November 1st, take great pleasure in knocking on their neighbors’ doors and offering to buy themselves off with sweets, threatening to smear the doors with soot if they refuse. Children are forgiven a lot on this day, and that is probably why they love Halloween so much.

Despite the fact that Americans have been celebrating it for more than two centuries, the holiday is not official. That doesn't stop New World residents from spending more than $2.5 billion annually on pumpkins, Halloween decorations, candles and greeting cards.

In Russia, Halloween appeared quite recently and its popularity, of course, does not yet compare with the popularity of American Halloween. But, nevertheless, he has already found his traditions and his fans. There are many of them among the so-called progressive youth, who celebrate it noisily and cheerfully in clubs and discos.

On the last day of October, many club-type entertainment establishments prepare various Halloween-parties for their guests. The hall is decorated in orange and black colors, and Jack-o-lanterns (traditional pumpkin lanterns) are also included.

The entertainment program is based on costumed "demonic" shows, fire shows, and competitions for the best Halloween costume and the most terrible grimace. But the main thing this evening is unbridled fun, as well as “terrible” jokes and practical jokes.

However, at the official level, things are not so great. Halloween is a holiday alien to Russia, the Moscow Patriarchate and the Council of Muftis of Russia are convinced.

According to the deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, “the rituals associated with this day, from childhood, accustom people to the fact that they need to pay some kind of tribute to evil, reconcile with it, even cooperate - instead of fighting with evil and resolutely reject it, as the Russian Orthodox Church teaches."

But you shouldn’t take the matter too seriously, because it’s just a holiday, and in the end, good still triumphs over evil. Therefore, celebrate to your health and have fun until you drop.

Comment on the article "How is Halloween celebrated in different countries?"

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