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celebrations
christmas
boxingday
easter
midday
martinmas
advent
halloween
michaelmas
pentecost
candlemas
hocktide
plowmonday |
The Celtic peoples celebrated the festival of Samhain at the beginning of the
dark half of the year, about November 1. Hallowe'en is of non-Christian origins.
The Church retained the celebration, but gave it a Christian significance by
changing the focus to honour all the saints, both known and unknown. This became
known as All Saints. The day following became All Souls Day.
In the Celtic tradition of beginning the festivities at sundown of the
preceding day continued in the celebration of All Hallows' Eve, what we now know
as Hallowe'en.
People saw winter as a time of food shortages and danger. They believed that at
that time the space between the living and the dead, as well as between the
seasons, was particularly fragile, making it possible for the spirits to cross
over into the world of the living.
The medieval tradition of masking was also part of Halloween, people were very
superstitious, believing in demons and ghosts. The Church was concerned that
dressing up as these figures would give the demons more power. The actual result
was that by making them the figures of fun and ridicule, demons and ghosts began
to lose their strength.
As a feast of the dead, this was the one night when the dead could, if they
wished, return to the land of the living, to celebrate with their family, tribe,
or clan.
Celebrations
Christmas Boxing Day
Easter May Day
Martinmas Advent
Halloween Michaelmas
Pentecost Candlemas
Hock Tide Plow Monday
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