![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
10/31: who wants a history lesson pulled from wikipedia.
Greetings. As you all know, today is Halloween.
Since it is, I thought it prudent to discuss some of the history and psychology behind this whimsical holiday.
Long before Halloween became the commercial, capitalistic candy and costume holiday that we know it for, it is widely believed to have roots in ancient pagan festivals such as Samhain.
Samhain was a Gaelic festival held about halfway between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice.
It was seen as a liminal time when the veil between here and the otherworld thinned, which I find to be a facet that has prevailed to modern Halloween.
However, speculation that I found on a reliable site [ twitter, she found it on twitter ] suggests that perhaps this idea of liminal space was a Victorian add-on rather than an actual part of Samhain. Consider both points debatable.
Of course, any time a holiday has pagan roots, it of course also has some kind of Christian backstory as well. (See: Christmas, which we can discuss in December.)
Halloween is the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows' Day (or All Saints') on November 1st and All Souls' Day on November 2nd. Hence, All Hallows' Eve.
The practice of begging for candy may originate with the English medieval custom of "souling", going from parish to parish begging for soul cakes from the rich in exchange for prayers. Presumably, no soul cakes harbored actual souls.
Dressing in costume or "guising" can be dated back to the late 1800s in Scotland.
Many cultures seem to have customs of revering the dead, with the belief their souls freely roam, around this time of year. And that perhaps they may need to be appeased before returning to their slumber.
In North America, this combo of customs that make modern Halloween appeared in the early 1900s. I believe costumes were a fair bit more gastly then than the cheap plastic and polyester we wear now.
There. That's your history lesson, sourced from the best. [ wikipedia ]
So, trick or treat?
Since it is, I thought it prudent to discuss some of the history and psychology behind this whimsical holiday.
Long before Halloween became the commercial, capitalistic candy and costume holiday that we know it for, it is widely believed to have roots in ancient pagan festivals such as Samhain.
Samhain was a Gaelic festival held about halfway between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice.
It was seen as a liminal time when the veil between here and the otherworld thinned, which I find to be a facet that has prevailed to modern Halloween.
However, speculation that I found on a reliable site [ twitter, she found it on twitter ] suggests that perhaps this idea of liminal space was a Victorian add-on rather than an actual part of Samhain. Consider both points debatable.
Of course, any time a holiday has pagan roots, it of course also has some kind of Christian backstory as well. (See: Christmas, which we can discuss in December.)
Halloween is the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows' Day (or All Saints') on November 1st and All Souls' Day on November 2nd. Hence, All Hallows' Eve.
The practice of begging for candy may originate with the English medieval custom of "souling", going from parish to parish begging for soul cakes from the rich in exchange for prayers. Presumably, no soul cakes harbored actual souls.
Dressing in costume or "guising" can be dated back to the late 1800s in Scotland.
Many cultures seem to have customs of revering the dead, with the belief their souls freely roam, around this time of year. And that perhaps they may need to be appeased before returning to their slumber.
In North America, this combo of customs that make modern Halloween appeared in the early 1900s. I believe costumes were a fair bit more gastly then than the cheap plastic and polyester we wear now.
There. That's your history lesson, sourced from the best. [ wikipedia ]
So, trick or treat?
no subject
Honestly, I'm surprised we don't carve potatoes instead of pumpkins, given the roots of this holiday.
Thank you.
How does one become a certified "treat king"? Did you have to take a test?
no subject
I got the most treats, duh. There was a competition and everything, I won, gaining infinite glory in the process
no subject
Oh, I apologize. Word of your infinite glory didn't reach me.
no subject
along with green peppers, the shittier version of red peppers
its ok it was more a beginning of the month thing?
before all of the horrible stuff started happening
it would be kind of tone deaf to be like "hey guys remember how much virtual candy i got" when people are in the hospital and junk
also i got stabbed and that really put a damper on my candy coated bravado
no subject
... I'm glad I missed nothing enjoyable.
And that would be tone deaf, yes. Or perhaps brighten peoples' spirits?
To be fair, a stab wound would be a useful Halloween costume prop.
no subject
You're right though, that would have added another layer to my Thomas e Dewey costume
no subject
Intriguing choice of costume, that.
no subject
I think you misspelled "a hilarious choice of beloved american historical blunder"
no subject
It's part of my pretentious charm.
Damn you, autocorrect. That is absolutely what I meant.
no subject
can you believe no one wanted to match with me by dressing up as truman
kids these days, jeez
no subject
Much like the Spanish Inquisition, you might not expect me, and yet here I am.
Unbelievable. Does no one appreciate history anymore?
no subject
history is so much better than tv and comic books
where are my historical conventions
where is the 1800s french history cosplay