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Ghostly Trick or Pious Treat? The Origins of Halloween

Before Christianity spread across Britain, Ireland, and France, the Celts celebrated Samhain on 31st October. Marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter, the Celts believed that the boundary between the living and the dead blurred on this night. Samhain was much more than a seasonal festival – it was a time of profound spiritual significance. Offerings were made to fairies, spirits, and ancestors, and to avoid being abducted by fairies, people dressed as animals or monsters – an ancient precursor to today’s Halloween costumes.

Ghostly Trick or Pious Treat? The Origins of Halloween
Weald & Downland Living Museum • Oct 30, 2024

Ghostly Trick or Pious Treat? The Origins of Halloween

As soon as the leaves start to change colour, and the blanket of them begins to crunch under foot, our minds usually turn to Halloween. This is the night where,...

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A SeaStar JingJunMa +1 View comments 2 Post impressions 340
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SeaStar's avatar
SeaStar 1w

Great article, it would be very interesting to visit the Weald & Downland Living Museum for a real insight into the origins of Halloween.

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Bob's avatar
Bob AmbassadorOP 1w

Oh yes! That would be a dream holiday! The museum is comprised of more than 50 historical buildings, some dating back to 950 AD, set on 40 acres is South Downs National Park.

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