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Ancient origins of Halloween
[1] Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic
festival of Samhain. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago ∈
the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern
[4 ]France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day
marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning
of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often
[7] associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night
before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the
living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31
[10] they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts
of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and
damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the
[13] otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic
priests, to make predictions about the future. To commemorate
the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people
[16] gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic
deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes,
typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted
[19] to tell each other’s fortunes.
Internet: <www.history.com> (adapted).
Based on the text, it is true to infer that
Samhain started to be celebrated to honor Christ.
