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To: SamuraiScot
Halloween had its beginnings in an ancient, pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead.

And another thing: Back in reality, the Feast of All Saints was already being celebrated in 373 A.D. to commemorate all the martyrs—those known and those "known but to God." At this time, most Celts were not Christian at all, but were painting themselves blue, and would continue to do so for another hundred years. All Hallows Eve is the vigil of All Hallows (i.e., All Saints). Big Catholic feasts were always celebrated with a vigil—such as Christmas Eve, the Easter Vigil, and Midsummer Night.

9 posted on 10/31/2013 9:05:54 PM PDT by SamuraiScot
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To: SamuraiScot
At this time, most Celts were not Christian at all, but were painting themselves blue, and would continue to do so for another hundred years.

What? We ended that practice? No wonder people look at me strangely.

12 posted on 10/31/2013 9:18:30 PM PDT by Robwin
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To: SamuraiScot

Yes, the Feast of All Saints predates the Christianization of the Celts, but it did not fall on 1 November. In the Christian East, the Feast of All Saints is a movable feast falling on the Sunday following Pentecost, and in the West it was originally a fixed feast falling in the Spring. The Patriarchate of Rome moved it to 1 November after the Christianization of the Celts (and before their schism) while the rest of the Church continued celebrating it in the spring.


13 posted on 10/31/2013 10:32:42 PM PDT by The_Reader_David (And when they behead your own people in the wars which are to come, then you will know...)
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