Did you Know…?
Did you know that Halloween started with the Celtic Day of the Dead autumn festival of Samhain? Samhain was celebrated by Celts throughout Europe in ancient times. It is celebrated still in northern France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and other regions where the Celtic heritage is preserved. The Celts used a lunar calendar and divided the year into two seasons. Winter, the season of the Dying, began on Samhain, which fell on the full moon closest to the 1st day of November.
Samhain literally means the end of summer. Samhain was the first day of the Celtic New Year. It was believed that the souls of those who had died were extremely restless this night, which marked the porous border between the living and the dead, the old and new year, and summer and winter. At Samhain festival, people disguised themselves in feathers and furs so as not to be recognized by the spirits wandering the earth that night.
Later, when the Celts converted to Christianity, Samhain was amalgamated with All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day, the night that is now called Halloween.
Originally All Hallows’ Eve was a feast marking the departure of souls from the material world to the spiritual world of the dead. This was widely celebrated throughout the European world. American Halloween started in 1840s with the arrival of large numbers of Irish immigrants. They migrated here just after the disastrous potato famine in Ireland, and this is how the feast tradition was started. Their celebrations of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days has still preserved the ancient rituals of Samhain. For example, the carving of pumpkins comes from the Irish legend of Jack – a man so evil that when he died he was rejected by both heaven and hell. He was condemned to roam the countryside with nothing but a glowing turnip for a head.
About Halloween Costumes
Halloween Costumes have now taken a new meaning, It is no longer about the souls of the Dead. It is now commercialized, just like everything else! It is a fun day now, for children as well as adults. Halloween has evolved and continues to evolve over the years. Next to Christmas, Halloween is now the second largest decorating holiday in America. Halloween reflects who we are and what our values are. It allows us to express ourselves and communicate in more than one way.
About Costumes4Less.com:
When Costumes4Less.com went online in 2001, most people did not know what a website was. People were afraid to use their credit card on the computers. Having 2,000 different styles of costumes was considered a very huge selection of costumes. Today, there 100,000+ SKUs on our website. No matter what you desire, no matter what your budget is, you will find the costume you want. So, what are you going to be this Halloween?
