Halloween costumes, accessories and information about Halloween and the Day of the Dead.
"Halloween Origin: Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, whose original spelling was Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)". The name of the festival historically kept by the Gaels in the British isles is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end".
The
word Halloween is first attested in the 16th century and
represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows-Even
("evening"), that is, the night before All Hallows Day Although
the phrase All Hallows is found in Old English (ealra
hālgena mæssedæg, mass-day of all saints), All-Hallows-Even
is itself not attested until 1556.
Development
of artifacts and symbols associated with Halloween formed over time.
For instance, the carving of jack-o'-lanterns springs from the
souling custom of carving turnips into lanterns as a way of
remembering the souls held in purgatory. The turnip has
traditionally been used in Ireland and Scotland at Halloween, but
immigrants to North America used the native pumpkin, which are both
readily available and much larger – making them easier to carve than
turnips. The American tradition of carving pumpkins is recorded in
1837 and was originally associated with harvest time in general, not
becoming specifically associated with Halloween until the
mid-to-late 19th century.
The imagery of Halloween is derived from many sources, including national customs, works of Gothic and horror literature (such as the novels Frankenstein and Dracula), and classic horror films (such as Frankenstein and The Mummy). Among the earliest works on the subject of Halloween is from Scottish poet John Mayne in 1780, who made note of pranks at Halloween; "What fearfu' pranks ensue!", as well as the supernatural associated with the night, "Bogies" (ghosts), influencing Robert Burns' Halloween 1785. Elements of the autumn season, such as pumpkins, corn husks, and scarecrows, are also prevalent. Homes are often decorated with these types of symbols around Halloween.
Halloween is not celebrated in all countries and regions of the world, and among those that do the traditions and importance of the celebration vary significantly. In Scotland and Ireland, traditional Halloween customs include children dressing up in costume going "guising", holding parties, while other practices in Ireland include lighting bonfires, and having firework displays. Mass transatlantic immigration in the 19th century popularized Halloween in North America, and celebration in the United States and Canada has had a significant impact on how the event is observed in other nations. This larger North American influence, particularly in iconic and commercial elements, has extended to places such as South America, Australia, New Zealand,continental Europe, Japan, and other parts of East Asia.
Halloween
imagery includes themes of death, evil, the occult, or mythical
monsters. Black and orange are the holiday's traditional colors."
To find out more visit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween#History
"Day of the Dead (Spanish:
Día de los Muertos) is a
Mexican holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and
friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have
died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the
quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on
November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of
All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).
Mexican Amigo Mascot Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to
indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec
festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl. In Brazil,
Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by
visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and
parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and
pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere
in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian
and African cultures." For more information visit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead