Posted on 10/27/2006 4:25:11 AM PDT by sully777
THE TIMING OF HALLOWEEN -- Blame it on the Celts [and Irish]! Back when the Celts dominated most of Europe, hundreds of years before Caesar and his Roman Legions expanded their rule, they were celebrating their new year on the evening of October 31. This was known as the great festival of Samhain. Why on this date and time? Let’s just say that they were a dark bunch, and have been referred to as children of darkness.
The word “samhain” basically means the end or sunset of summer. The timing of the end of summer for the Celts harkened back to their early herdsman days. It was around November 1 (the month they called Samonios which began during the October/November lunation) when they recognized it was time to bring in the herds in Europe, thus marking the end of summer.
The timing had to do with the Celts belief that days were marked from sundown to sundown. Since they started days with darkness, it made sense that they would start their new year in the dark half of the year.
So what does all this have to do with Halloween? According to Michael Judge, in his book The Dance of Time:
“To the Celtic mind, the dark of night was felt to be nearer the other world, the land of ghosts and fairies, witches and magical beings, than the light of day…Night belonged to them, and to intrude on their realm was risky business.”
During the Samhain celebration, bones of slaughtered cattle and other animals were thrown into a blazing bonfire, and then the celebrants would extinguish their own fires. Each family then solemnly lit its hearth from the common flame, thus bonding the families of the village together. According to Irish mythology, during that night the great shield of Scathach was lowered, allowing the barriers between the worlds to fade and the forces of chaos to invade the realms of order, the material world conjoining with the world of the dead. At this time the spirits of the dead and those yet to be born walked among the living. The dead could return to the places where they had lived and food and entertainment were provided in their honor. Pretty spooky stuff.
Now for those of you who insist that Halloween comes from “All Hallow’s Eve” which is the day before the Catholic All Saints holy day, which used to be called “All Hallows,” derived from All Hallowed Souls, you are partially correct.
Samhain is really the festival that is responsible for the timing of Halloween. According to Judge, the church under Popes like Pope Gregory the Great in the 5th century AD assimilates pagan festivals into the church calendar, “allowing the folk traditions associated with the old holidays to continue, virtually unchanged, under the mantle of the new faith.” In the case of Samhain, Pope Gregory actually “moved the feast of All Hallows’, All Saints’ Day, from May 13 to November 1. Grafted onto one of the church’s greatest holy days, Samhain became known as All Hallow’s Eve, contracted over years of casual usage to Allhallows’E’en, and, ultimately, Halloween.”
Blame it on the Celts [and Irish].
(Source)
An engineering student is walking along when a fellow student arrives on a new bicycle. Impressed, he asks, "Where did you got this beautiful bicycle?"
"Well," the second engineering student says, "A couple of days ago I was just walking along when this georgeous blonde pulls up, hops off the bike, rips off all her clothes, and says 'take what you want'."
The other engineering student nods and says "Good choice. The clothes probably wouldn't have fit."
After Receiving an Invitation to an Inventors' Ball:
Edison thought it would be an illuminating experience.
Watt reckoned it would be a good way to let off steam.
Stephenson thought the whole idea was loco.
Wilbur Wright accepted, provided he and Orville could get a flight.
Morse's reply: "I'll be there on the dot. Can't stop now must dash."
Real Engineers consider themselves well dressed if their socks match.
Real Engineers buy their spouses a set of matched screwdrivers for their birthday.
Real engineers have a non-technical vocabulary of 800 words.
Real Engineers repair their own cameras, telephones, televisions, watches, and automatic transmissions.
Real Engineers say "It's 70 degrees Fahrenheit, 25 degrees Celsius, and 298 Kelvin" and all you say is "Isn't it a nice day?"
Real Engineers wear badges so they don't forget who they are. Sometimes a note is attached saying "Don't offer me a ride today. I drove my own car".
Real Engineers' politics run towards acquiring a parking space with their name on it and an office with a window.
Real Engineers know the "ABC's of Infrared" from A to B.
Real Engineers know how to take the cover off of their computer, and are not afraid to do it.
Real Engineers' briefcases contain a Phillips screwdriver, a copy of "Quantum Physics", and a half of a peanut butter sandwich.
I knew that Rum; remembered it when I saw your post. This is The Official Friday Silliness Thread, you know. Thanks. (I just love getting undeserved apologies!) :O)
just ducky...8^)
Them thar's some droopy boobies.
This how my day is going!!!
I hate it when work interferes with my Friday fun. Maybe we should have a talk with our bosses. You first.
WHAT?!?
IT'S IN A FORTUNE COOKIE?!?
THAT CAN'T BE!!
THERE'S NO REASON TO LIVE!! WHERES MY KAYAK?
(roll to stock footage of man falling down icy mountain in a kayak)
(sorry, couldn't find a pic)...8^)
My boss stopped in for 5 minutes before he took off for the weekend. He's also taking Monday off! Must be nice.
Looks like the shark's got a foot of the man...
Is that Al Bundy??
:^)
Mine will probably be leaving soon too. Come on 5:00! Momma wants her weekend time!!
At least the man was given a heads up.
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