Happy Halloween y'all! I hope everyone had a safe and spook-tacular day yeserday, filled with candy and fun! I know I sure did! While you're still munching on leftover candy and chocolate, let's take a moment to look back on the history of Halloween (one of my favorite holidays)!
Fun Fact: Halloween started with the Celts!
More specifically, Halloween's origins lie in the ancient Celtic festival called Samhein (Sam meaning summer and Fuin meaning end were combined into a single word for the festival), a festival not unlike our own New Year's festivities (involving the sense of casting out the old and embracing the new). Traditionally a big bonfire was built on October 31st and was allowed to burn until the next evening.
Being that the Samhein festival was the last day of the year, it was also the day for the slaughtering of livestock, and more importantly, the time when the souls of the departed could return to the Earth and made visible to man kind (friendly and malevolent souls, we're all equal here). To protect themselves and their home against the evil souls that might come wander past their doors, people traditionally left offerings outside on their doorsteps, these might have included food and drinks and even portions of crops. Additionally, divination rituals were followed, these often included the use of nuts and apples (which are still iconic Halloween treats in Ireland today).
Dating back as early as the fifteen-hundreds, records show evidence that people would walk from house to house disguised as they sung songs or recited verses in exchange for food. This tradition is thought to have been started in order to impersonate the souls of the departed.
Alas, I fear I may have sucked the fun out of Halloween? Well, enough history, that could bore you to death! Anyway, Halloween is celebrated in style, and to commemorate the past, present and future, Galway likes to hold the annual Macnas Parade. While I missed this year's parade (it was last weekend, while I was in Belfast), I still found some awesome pictures for you guys!
From these photos (and after talking to some people) I gather that the Macnas Parade is essentially like a big, spooky version of our Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade (no, there is no Thanksgiving in Ireland). It is run by the Macnas organization, which is an arts and performance organization based in Galway that works to promote the use, training, and development of performing and visual arts in society. It looks pretty cool, check it out here: Macnas Organization
Additionally, the city of Galway held a festival fun run through the city streets last night! Participation was absolutely necessary!
It was a nice night, filled with fun, tu-tus, mummy bobbles and, of course, candy
Fun Fact: Halloween started with the Celts!
More specifically, Halloween's origins lie in the ancient Celtic festival called Samhein (Sam meaning summer and Fuin meaning end were combined into a single word for the festival), a festival not unlike our own New Year's festivities (involving the sense of casting out the old and embracing the new). Traditionally a big bonfire was built on October 31st and was allowed to burn until the next evening.
Being that the Samhein festival was the last day of the year, it was also the day for the slaughtering of livestock, and more importantly, the time when the souls of the departed could return to the Earth and made visible to man kind (friendly and malevolent souls, we're all equal here). To protect themselves and their home against the evil souls that might come wander past their doors, people traditionally left offerings outside on their doorsteps, these might have included food and drinks and even portions of crops. Additionally, divination rituals were followed, these often included the use of nuts and apples (which are still iconic Halloween treats in Ireland today).
Dating back as early as the fifteen-hundreds, records show evidence that people would walk from house to house disguised as they sung songs or recited verses in exchange for food. This tradition is thought to have been started in order to impersonate the souls of the departed.
Alas, I fear I may have sucked the fun out of Halloween? Well, enough history, that could bore you to death! Anyway, Halloween is celebrated in style, and to commemorate the past, present and future, Galway likes to hold the annual Macnas Parade. While I missed this year's parade (it was last weekend, while I was in Belfast), I still found some awesome pictures for you guys!
Additionally, the city of Galway held a festival fun run through the city streets last night! Participation was absolutely necessary!
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| Mummified to Perfection |
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