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More Halloween History
Posted on 2024-04-25
More Halloween History
Halloween is a day of costumes, hijinks and an often unhealthy helping of sugary sweets. Many celebrants know that Halloween evolved from ancient Celtic festivals, such as Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the dawn of winter. Celts were no longer spending long days in the pastures, and so they gathered in their homes to tell stories and wait out the winter. When Christianity spread, Halloween became intertwined with a feast day dedicated to the saints and deceased loved ones. “All Hallows Even,” eventually got shortened to “Hallowe'en,” and then Halloween.
Though certain parts of Halloween history are well-known, there are many additional interesting facts about this beloved holiday that are less widely known. The following are some lesser known Halloween tidbits, courtesy of the websites, The Thought & Expression Company and Random History, as well as “The Halloween Handbook” (Citadel Press) by Ed Morrow.
The first jack-o-lanterns were made from turnips and beets. Pumpkins were used after Halloween was brought to North America.
The word witch is thought to come from the Olde English word wicce, meaning wise woman. Witches once were held in high regard.
Pumpkins actually are a fruit, a type of squash that is a member of the gourd family. Its cousins include cucumbers, melons, and other squashes.
Trick-or-treating may have originated with a European custom called souling. On All Soul's Day, early Christians would go door-to-door begging for soul cakes, which were square pieces of bread with currants. The more cakes a person received, the more prayers he or she would promise to the dead relatives of the cake donors.
Witches may have rubbed a sacred ointment made with a hallucinogenic herb onto their skin. This gave them a feeling of flying, and if they had been fasting, they felt even giddier. Many witches rode on horseback, but those who were poor traveled on foot and carried a broom to launch themselves over streams.
One-quarter of all the candy sold each year is purchased around Halloween. Halloween candy sales in the United States average about $2 billion annually.
Some people still celebrate the ancient Celtic customs of Samhain. Many followers of various pagan religions, such as the Druids and Wiccans, observe this day as a religious festival and a memorial day for their deceased friends. It also is a night to practice various forms of divination.
The owl is a popular Halloween symbol. In Medieval Europe, owls were thought to be witches.
The first-known mention of trick-or-treating was found in print in 1927 in Blackie, Alberta, Canada.
Ireland is believed by many to be the birthplace of Halloween.
Both Salem, Massachusetts, and Anoka, Minnesota, are the self-proclaimed Halloween capitals of the world.
Pumpkins are now carved and displayed as Halloween decorations. Orange is a color of strength and symbolic of the harvest. The largest pumpkin ever grown was more than 1,600 pounds. It was grown by Joe Jutras of North Scituate, RI.
Halloween is a mysterious time, born of various festivals, rituals and symbolism. Over several centuries, the celebration has evolved into a holiday enjoyed by millions, each in their own different ways.
Originally published in The Times Dispatch, October, 2015
Home - Table Of Contents - Most Recent - RSS - Permalink - Text
Posted on 2024-04-25
More Halloween History
Halloween is a day of costumes, hijinks and an often unhealthy helping of sugary sweets. Many celebrants know that Halloween evolved from ancient Celtic festivals, such as Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the dawn of winter. Celts were no longer spending long days in the pastures, and so they gathered in their homes to tell stories and wait out the winter. When Christianity spread, Halloween became intertwined with a feast day dedicated to the saints and deceased loved ones. “All Hallows Even,” eventually got shortened to “Hallowe'en,” and then Halloween.
Though certain parts of Halloween history are well-known, there are many additional interesting facts about this beloved holiday that are less widely known. The following are some lesser known Halloween tidbits, courtesy of the websites, The Thought & Expression Company and Random History, as well as “The Halloween Handbook” (Citadel Press) by Ed Morrow.
The first jack-o-lanterns were made from turnips and beets. Pumpkins were used after Halloween was brought to North America.
The word witch is thought to come from the Olde English word wicce, meaning wise woman. Witches once were held in high regard.
Pumpkins actually are a fruit, a type of squash that is a member of the gourd family. Its cousins include cucumbers, melons, and other squashes.
Trick-or-treating may have originated with a European custom called souling. On All Soul's Day, early Christians would go door-to-door begging for soul cakes, which were square pieces of bread with currants. The more cakes a person received, the more prayers he or she would promise to the dead relatives of the cake donors.
Witches may have rubbed a sacred ointment made with a hallucinogenic herb onto their skin. This gave them a feeling of flying, and if they had been fasting, they felt even giddier. Many witches rode on horseback, but those who were poor traveled on foot and carried a broom to launch themselves over streams.
One-quarter of all the candy sold each year is purchased around Halloween. Halloween candy sales in the United States average about $2 billion annually.
Some people still celebrate the ancient Celtic customs of Samhain. Many followers of various pagan religions, such as the Druids and Wiccans, observe this day as a religious festival and a memorial day for their deceased friends. It also is a night to practice various forms of divination.
The owl is a popular Halloween symbol. In Medieval Europe, owls were thought to be witches.
The first-known mention of trick-or-treating was found in print in 1927 in Blackie, Alberta, Canada.
Ireland is believed by many to be the birthplace of Halloween.
Both Salem, Massachusetts, and Anoka, Minnesota, are the self-proclaimed Halloween capitals of the world.
Pumpkins are now carved and displayed as Halloween decorations. Orange is a color of strength and symbolic of the harvest. The largest pumpkin ever grown was more than 1,600 pounds. It was grown by Joe Jutras of North Scituate, RI.
Halloween is a mysterious time, born of various festivals, rituals and symbolism. Over several centuries, the celebration has evolved into a holiday enjoyed by millions, each in their own different ways.
Originally published in The Times Dispatch, October, 2015
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by Vivian Heyl 1950-2024
Vivian Running Sound At Blues Fest
Vivian was editor at Delta Boogie since we started the site in 1996. She wrote almost all of our Delta Musicians section, the most popular area on Delta Boogie. She also wrote anything else on Delta Boogie that doesn't have a byline.
She also worked for the Times Dispatch in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, where she contributed many features and some reporting. Her work at the Times Dispatch regularly won awards from the Arkansas Press Association.
Writing was her passion. She wrote for her whole life. Much of it we still have in computer files. I am posting her work here as I find it.
by Larry Heyl
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Delta Boogie
Gamer+
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Gretchen says:
Today we celebrate Vivian Heyl. Mom, Grandma, Viv. Whatever name you knew her by, I'm sure at some point in time she used her gift of nurturing on you. She was indeed a nurturer - of the mind, body and spirit. Her words of encouragement could only be outdone by her quick wit and, when needed, sharp tongue. She loved unconditionally, but she had no problem calling you on your crap. She welcomed ALL to her family - and about the only thing that would get you unwelcome was making someone else feel that way. Today we celebrate the life she lived, the example she set and the love she shared.
Many have asked what they can do for the family or in memory of Mom - I offer these suggestions:
Play a game with your family. There is nothing that would be a better gift than to share joy with your family and in memory of Mom.
Read a book (it can have pictures). Mom loved to go on adventures in books and she led us kids down the same path.
Encourage a kid (preferably one who no else even seems to notice). I promise that is the one Mom would spot first and immediately bring into the fold.
We would also love to hear your stories about Mom. We would love anyone who would like to share stories or memories to do so in the comment thread. Maybe you have a story where you realized, possibly even years later, that you had been molded by a momma's love in the form of Vivian Heyl.
If you would like to make a memorial gift, please consider the children and youth fund at Brookland UMC or the friends of the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library, the Lawrence County Library or your local library.
Lastly, just keep loving us! We are sad, but we are blessed.
Add your words to the comments thread:
Words and Comments
Delta Boogie Newsletter/Gamer+ News - May 2024 - This One's For Vivian
https://gamerplus.org/@hairylarry/pages/1714661546292
My wife Vivian was the editor of Delta Boogie and a regular contributor to Gamer+. She helped me with everything I did including Blues Fest for 25 years, The Bandshell Project, Jonesboro Computer Services, The Jonesboro User Group, and so much more. I don't know what I'll do without her.
On April 18, 2024, Vivian passed on.
She was a writer all her life and I am collecting her writings here.
https://deltaboogie.net/words
She worked at The Times Dispatch in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, for years. Her features regularly won Awards from the Arkansas Press Association.
She wrote almost all of Delta Musicians, the most popular section on Delta Boogie, where she provided Delta Bluesmen with a place on the internet back in the nineties. She also wrote all of the articles on Delta Boogie that do not have a byline.
She played and ran fantasy RPGs with dice and miniatures at ASU Beebe in the early seventies before D&D was published.
We home schooled our children and she saw their love of D&D as an educational opportunity for reading, writing, history, the arts, and, of course, math.
She loved music and games and she raised a family of musicians and gamers.
We have five children and seven grandchildren. I had two boys before we married and she loved them like her own.
She saved my life and she gave me a good life. I love her still and always.
For her, I thank you all, for your continued support of Delta Boogie, Gamer+, Delta music, NEA gaming and whatever else it is that you do to make the world a little bit better.
Please take a minute and say a prayer.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://gamerplus.org/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Comment thread here.