Fr Mark Cauchi OSA, Valletta
The origins of Halloween
These days I was roaming through the streets of Valletta and in some shop windows there were many Halloween goods for sale and thought that, maybe, those who buy them and use them do not know what Halloween is.
Halloween, or Hallowe’en, is an annual holiday on October 31. It has the origins from the Celtic festival of Samhain.
Halloween day includes activities, parties and costumes. It has twofold origins: a pre-Christian and Christian one. The Celtics, before being Christians, celebrated the New Year on Halloween day.
Among the Christians, Pope Gregory IV in 835 changed the feast of the Martyrs (All Saints) from May 13 to November 1. The feast was celebrated in honour of those who were not canonised. It was called “Hallow’s Day”. All Souls Day falls on November 2. The Church celebrates this solemn remembrance to celebrate the dead, whether canonised or not, thus calling it the Communion of Saints.
The Celts believed the souls of the dead walked through the streets of cities and villages. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil. This ensured plentiful crops for the future.
I still remember that during my childhood we used to fast on All Souls Day. Our parents told us that if we fast the souls would bring us presents and leave them under our pillow. If we did not, carbon would be received. So, when we woke up we searched under our pillow to see what the souls had given us.
In Italy, sweets and toys are left by the dead, relatives say! In Malta, sweets in the shape of a bone are made for All Souls Day.
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Gerry Cowie
Oct 25th 2011, 20:14
Wally VellaZarb - when oh when are you going to find something constructive to say? Did you bother to read your friend William Flynn's words? What do you not understand by every other paragraph after the first? I think you really should think before attempting to score points! Everybody reading your comment about what I said will be asking what on earth you are trying to achieve? Go back and read the whole comment by your friend!
Just to help, I reproduce below his words:-
"We soon realised that old folk coming with wreaths and bouquets to place on the graves of their loved ones, weren't allowed to drive their cars inside the cemetery. Carrying a wreath etc up that hill or up those steps was a challenge to them so we'd offer to do the carrying.
We knew every section of the cemetery like our own homes as it was our playground as well.
We'd get a shilling sometimes two with every delivery in the days when with two bob we could go to the matinee and buy a bag of Harry's Crisps and a Pepsi and get change.
For the next few days the kids flouted their "wealth" and spent it too."
I hope that makes it clearer for you, Wally!
angelo cilia
Oct 24th 2011, 22:30
October 31st is Reformation Day so just maybe that is why the roman catholic church preferred the promotion of Halloween in Protestant nations in the recent past as a cover to its humiliating defeat . Halloween was never promoted in mainly roman catholic nations in the recent past as there was no need to cover up a historical embarrassment and a successful affront to its worldly power and grip on the gullible .
Reformation Day is an important liturgical festival that is celebrated by Lutherans and Christians of many Protestant denominations. It commemorates Martin Luther's posting of his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. This act triggered the movement in world history known as the glorious Reformation.
Mark Vassallo
Oct 24th 2011, 21:12
You should also look into the origins of Christmas and it's direct connection with the pagan feast of Saturnalia.
The exchanging of gifts is one of the core aspects of the modern Christmas celebration, making the Christmas season the most profitable time of year for retailers and businesses throughout the world. Gift giving was common in the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, an ancient festival which took place in late December and may have influenced Christmas customs. Christmas gift giving was banned by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages due to its suspected pagan origins. It was later rationalised by the Church on the basis that it associated St. Nicholas with Christmas, and that gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were given to the infant Jesus by the Biblical Magi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas
Gerry Cowie
Oct 24th 2011, 20:15
I am not sure what all the fuss is about! Fr Cauchi is merely explaining some of the beliefs of the Church which crop up at this time of year.
The traditional days to remember our dead especially are All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Halloween as such is of no interest to Christians per se.
However it is of interest to Australian Secularist William Flynn who once again pokes fun at the Catholic beliefs he hates - though he has never ever explained to any of us why. If he would tell us why perhaps we could try to understand his reasons for taking every possible opportunity to mock the Church and her practices. Fortunately the majority Catholic population of Malta pays no heed to his silly comments.
However it is pertinent to note that Mr Flynn took pains to visit the Maria Addolorata cemetery as a boy to help honour the dead. A catholic cemetery too! A very Christian act.
Wally Vella-Zarb
Oct 24th 2011, 21:54
Which part of "All souls day was a great money making venture for us, as children, living close to Addolorata cemetery" don't you understand?
Don't you understand your own language? You really need help. Professional not confessional help that is!
Mrs Elizabeth Sammut
Oct 24th 2011, 18:16
Get a grip on yourself everyone. Halloween is a fun night for the children to walk up to various homes decorated with ghouls and witches etc. and be given a candy or chocolate bar. My children enjoyed it, I enjoyed seeing the children all dressed up coming to my door. Now my grand children do the same and I go out knocking on doors with my daughter and my grand daughter every Halloween evening. Those who want to preach against evil, please there is a lot of evil in this world, please focus your energies on the real evil. Yes it costs a few dollors or euros to buy some candies and a costume for the children, but it keeps the economy going and people working. Bah Humbug!!!
Joseph Calleja
Oct 24th 2011, 15:46
Halloween is nothing more than a big fat money making machine especially in the USA and now spreading through out the whole world. Every holiday or celebration, religious or otherwise is turning into big money making machines. We don't celebrate the birth of Jesus anymore, instead we celebrate drinking, eating and the showering of gifts that sometimes we cannot afford.
Pauline Peterson
Oct 24th 2011, 10:53
The "celebration" of Halloween is evil and does not belong in Christian Malta.
Why do we think it is harmless fun. IT ISN'T. The Church should not be endorsing it, if it is.
Matthew Grima
Oct 24th 2011, 11:40
"Christian Malta"
"The Church should not be endorsing it"
Get a grip will you, the Church and Christian Malta can sod off.
William Flynn
Oct 24th 2011, 12:01
Ghosts. ogres, devils, werewolves, witches, vampires who yield helplessly at the sight of a cross; these are all part and parcel of the Catholic church's ways to control the ignorant.
I often wonder why no exorcism has ever been performed on anyone except a Catholic person in the movies.
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 24th 2011, 12:23
In what way is Halloween harmful?
M Cachia
Oct 24th 2011, 14:06
What? As Mr. Grima said get a grip. There is nothing wrong with celebrating (i.e. remembering) the dead. It's christian fundamentalists like you that give the rest of the church a bad name!
Ramon Casha
Oct 24th 2011, 18:38
You could be bitten by a rabid pumpkin! Those things are vicious!!
William Flynn
Oct 24th 2011, 10:12
All souls day was a great money making venture for us, as children, living close to Addolorata cemetery.
We soon realised that old folk coming with wreaths and bouquets to place on the graves of their loved ones, weren't allowed to drive their cars inside the cemetery. Carrying a wreath etc up that hill or up those steps was a challenge to them so we'd offer to do the carrying.
We knew every section of the cemetery like our own homes as it was our playground as well.
We'd get a shilling sometimes two with every delivery in the days when with two bob we could go to the matinee and buy a bag of Harry's Crisps and a Pepsi and get change.
For the next few days the kids flouted their "wealth" and spent it too.
It was well nigh a rite of passage to walk the cemetery at night, often being chased by the nightwatchman.
We were never afraid of ghosts no matter how our elders tried to frighten us with stupid stories.