HALLOWEEN Armenta Miranda Itzel-Avilés Ríos Jaqueline 3BRHM Prf. Nadia Molina 01/10/21 DATE OF CELEBRATION October 31 Also known as Halloween, it is a festival of pagan origin that is celebrated on October 31 and whose roots come from an ancient Celtic festival of more than 3,000 years known as Samhain The festival was celebrated in Ireland when the harvest season was coming to an end and the “Celtic New Year” began, coinciding with the autumn solstice. It was believed that during that night the spirits of the dead could walk among the living. HISTORY The ancient Celts believed that with the arrival of Samhain the line that connects this world with that of the dead was narrowed and good and evil spirits could pass through it. It is believed that the use of masks was to drive away evil spirits. Banquets were also held at the graves of family ancestors. IN WHICH COUNTRIES IS IT CURRENTLY BEING HELD? Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31 mainly in the Anglo-Saxon world: the United States, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom, with the exception of Australia and New Zealand where the tradition is not so deeply rooted. The sacred rites celebrated had originally a purifying and religious character, among which was communication with the dead, who were helped to find their way by placing lighted candles in the windows.
