10-31-2023 The Evil Truth Of Halloween – (info from history.com)

[MizKJVOnly]

10-31-2023 The Evil Truth Of Halloween – (info from history.com)

 

Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. Over the centuries, Halloween transitioned from a pagan ritual to a day of parties, costumes, jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating for kids and adults. Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of  Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

Samhain by history.com Editors updated 10-18-2023

Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow-win”) is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. It is usually celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.” Celebrants believe that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world break down during Samhain, allowing more interaction between humans and denizens of the Otherworld.

Because the Celts believed that the barrier between worlds was breachable during Samhain, they prepared offerings that were left outside villages and fields for fairies, or Sidhs.

It was expected that ancestors might cross over during this time as well, and Celts would dress as animals and monsters so that fairies were not tempted to kidnap them.

Some specific monsters were associated with the mythology surrounding Samhain, including a shape-shifting creature called a Pukah that receives harvest offerings from the field. The Lady Gwyn is a headless woman dressed in white who chases night wanderers and was accompanied by a black pig.

As the Middle Ages progressed, so did the celebrations of the fire festivals. Bonfires known as Samghnagans, which were more personal Samhain fires nearer the farms, became a tradition, purportedly to protect families from fairies and witches.

Carved turnips called Jack-o-lanterns began to appear, attached by strings to sticks and embedded with coal. Later Irish tradition switched to pumpkins.

The tradition of “dumb supper” began during this time, in which food was consumed by celebrants but only after inviting ancestors to join in, giving the families a chance to interact with the spirits until they left following dinner.

Children would play games to entertain the dead, while adults would update the dead on the past year’s news. That night, doors and windows might be left open for the dead to come in and eat cakes that had been left for them.

Trick-or-treating is said to have been derived from ancient Irish and Scottish practices in the nights leading up to Samhain. In Ireland, mumming was the practice of putting on costumes, going door-to-door and singing songs to the dead. Cakes were given as payment. Halloween pranks also have a tradition in Samhain, though in the ancient celebration, tricks were typically blamed on fairies.

Trick or Treat:

Trick: Do You want the dead spirits to play a “magic trick” on you?

Treat: Do You want to leave a sweet treat for the dead spirits so they will not “magic trick” on you?

October 31^st - On the sacred night, people gathered to light bonfires, offer sacrifices and pay homage to the dead. During some Celtic celebrations of Samhain, villagers disguised themselves in costumes made of animal skins to drive away phantom visitors; banquet tables were prepared and food was left out to placate unwelcome spirits.

In later centuries, people began dressing as ghosts, demons and other malevolent creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This custom, known as mumming, dates back to the Middle Ages and is thought to be an antecedent of trick-or-treating.

 

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[Guest AFlameOfFire]

Last night I went over to CF to browse some older posts, the entire board had each persons avatar decorated with witches hats and had all these flying bats all over its pages. They are gone today, so its probably because users were complaining,  whether that be that witches hats might not be all that appropriate for a Christian forum or that the flying bats all over the pages make it pretty difficult to read and concentrate. I don't know.

I heard that the day had something to do with some Christian feast called all saints day, whatever that is, but how it come down to witches hats and flying bats on that forum, I don't know either.

 

 

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, AFlameOfFire said:

Last night I went over to CF to browse some older posts, the entire board had each persons avatar decorated with witches hats and had all these flying bats all over its pages. They are gone today, so its probably because users were complaining,  whether that be that witches hats might not be all that appropriate for a Christian forum or that the flying bats all over the pages make it pretty difficult to read and concentrate. I don't know.

I heard that the day had something to do with some Christian feast called all saints day, whatever that is, but how it come down to witches hats and flying bats on that forum, I don't know either.

Some neighbours in our street festoon their place with fake cobweb ectoplasm stuff and organise online to have cars pulling up with kids dressed up like ghosts, zombies, witches etc. They cause quite a commotion up and down the street going door to door in groups until dark.

I pray against the spirit of it and I'm glad when it's over.

[FJK]

FWIW, October 31st is the day Martin Luther nailed those famous thesis to the church door.

No one ever seems to celebrate that at their Halloween parties.

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

2 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

Some neighbours in our street festoon their place with fake cobweb ectoplasm stuff and organise online to have cars pulling up with kids dressed up like ghosts, zombies, witches etc. They cause quite a commotion up and down the street going door to door in groups until dark.

I pray against the spirit of it and I'm glad when it's over.

You hang out over there, did you actually advise on the decoration committee? 

I am no longer allowed over there but witches hats and bats are allowed

Its all so innocent like all those little children dressed like spongebob and elmo

walking down our streets looking for some snicker bars 

 

[Michael37]

4 minutes ago, FJK said:

FWIW, October 31st is the day Martin Luther nailed those famous thesis to the church door.

No one ever seems to celebrate that at their Halloween parties.

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On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk and theologian, posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg¹. The theses were written in Latin and contained propositions for debate concerning the question of indulgences¹. This event is considered to be the beginning of the Protestant Reformation¹.

Please note that there is some debate among scholars as to whether Luther actually nailed his theses to the church door or simply posted them on it². However, this event is still celebrated as a significant moment in history and a symbol of resistance³.

[Michael37]

3 minutes ago, AFlameOfFire said:

so innocent

So deceptive, seductive, ignorant. There's a tangible spiritual conflict.

[Guest AFlameOfFire]

15 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

So deceptive, seductive, ignorant. There's a tangible spiritual conflict.

You believe the children are all of that? I disagree I believe they are just innocent children, if that's who you are referring to, but on the other hand I believe full grown adults who participate in the same while they cast out Christians over the Lords own words are not that at all but are all of what you describe . That I can agree with.

[ezravioli]

1 hour ago, FJK said:

FWIW, October 31st is the day Martin Luther nailed those famous thesis to the church door.

No one ever seems to celebrate that at their Halloween parties.

I think I'd like to make Martin Luther my annual Halloween getup, if for nothing else than to troll the Halloween enthusiasts.

Nailed It

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I think Halloween is totally harmless. No matter how it started out was celebrated in the past, now it's become a day for fun and pranks and harmless scares. I would say that 99% of people who celebrate it do so with no evil intent in their hearts. The hot of being able to dress up 1 day a year with your kids or going to a party is awesome. I would never think of denying myself or my family the fun and laughter and make believe this day allows. God judges the heart and I've never been convicted that there was anything wrong with having a little fun. So for those who don't celebrate it, God Bless you. And for those that do, God Bless you. As for me, I'll be trick or treating with the kids and charging a small dad tax for some candy myself. 😂