History of Halloween

History of Halloween

1What is a holiday?A day that commemorates some event or honors some personNew Years DayMLK DayEasterMothers DayFathers DayMemorial DayIndependence DayVeterans' DayChristmas Day

2What does Halloween celebrate?What do we think of when we think about Halloween?

3Ancient Origins: Celtic Festival of SamhainEnd of Harvest and start of WinterOctober 31stBoundary between worlds of living and dead blurredGhosts and spirits of the dead returned to EarthPropheciesLarge sacred bonfiresCostumes4Ancient Origins: Roman EmpireTwo festivals combined with SamhainFeraliaDay to honor PomonaAll Martyrs DayAll Saints and MartyrsAll Souls DayAll Saints Day=All HallowsAll Hallows Eve Halloween5Halloween Comes to AmericaColonial AmericaDifferent ethnic groups customs meshedPlay partiesDress up and go house to house for food and moneyLate 1880s: community and neighborsEarly 1900s: partiesLoss of superstitions and religious overtones1950s: young people and trick or treating6Halloween Today: TraditionsTrick-or-treatingDressing up in costumesGhostsBobbing for applesBonfiresOrange and BlackCarving jack-o-lanterns7Halloween Today: SuperstitionsBlack catsBroken mirrorsLaddersKnocking on wood

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