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Originally Posted by Texasbelle
What is the origin of this holiday Isaac?????????anybody???????? Yes I know I can google it but I want to hear it from the perspective of some of the folks on this board.
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Halloween celebrates the Pagan new year, also called Samhain. It was once called All Hollows Eve and before that, All Saints Day. This date marks the third harvest festival and beginning of the yearly rule of the Goddess during the absense of her male counterpart (represented by the absense of the Sun and the coming of the winter months).
During this time, the veil between the worlds of the living and dead are at its thinnest, allowing the spirits of the recently deceased to return for this night and walk the Earth one last time. The Pagans use this night to honor the dead (a sort of post-funeral acknowledgement) with libations of food and drink. We light candles to sit on our doorsteps and window sills to light their way in the dark. These practices are where trick-or-treating (candy for kids dressed as spirits) and jack-o-lanterns are from.