| Many years ago in the 1920's my great Aunt Hilda ( | | | | cleared away, and out of your life, then you can begin |
| An ex Headmistress and Suffragette ) traced our | | | | looking towards the next year. |
| family tree back to the Kings and Queens of England | | | | Another common practice was divination, which often |
| from the 7th Century. This basically means I am | | | | involved the use of food and drink. |
| related to most of the British Royal Family going back | | | | The name 'Halloween' and many of its present-day |
| 1500 years. This has made me a great fan of English | | | | traditions derive from the Old English mists of time. |
| Traditions and British history and the English story of | | | | Halloween is not celebrated in all countries and regions |
| Halloween. | | | | of the world, and among those that do the traditions |
| | | | | and importance of the celebration vary significantly. |
| The festival of "All Hallows Eve" or the more ancient | | | | When the English first arrived in Colonial America and |
| named "Samhain" celebrates the end of the "lighter | | | | the many other countries of the Commonwealth they |
| half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half", and | | | | brought with them the "All Hallows Eve" Celebration |
| is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic Briton's New | | | | with the associated traditions ( Like Apple Dipping and |
| Year". Halloween and other pagan festivals were | | | | Pumpkins ). During the following centuries we English |
| celebrated by the Celtic Briton and Irish Tribes 2,000 | | | | had started to lose the traditions of Halloween ( |
| years ago and over the centuries the festivals were | | | | Except by the Traditional Pagan followers ) until |
| renamed by the Catholic Church. | | | | wartime Britain, when many American GI's based in |
| The ancient Celtic Britons believed that the border | | | | England re-introduced the Halloween Celebrations to |
| between this world and the Otherworld became thin | | | | us British. |
| on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) | | | | Halloween in the United States has had a significant |
| to pass through. The family's ancestors were | | | | impact on how the holiday is observed in other nations. |
| honoured and invited home while harmful spirits were | | | | This larger American influence, particularly in iconic and |
| warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off | | | | commercial elements, has extended to places such as |
| harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and | | | | South America, Europe, to Japan under the auspices |
| masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a | | | | of the Japanese Biscuit Association, and other parts of |
| harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the | | | | East Asia. |
| spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in | | | | As so many Famous events happened and were |
| white with masked, veiled or blackened faces. | | | | created in England and the rest of the British Isles over |
| Samhain was also a time to take stock of food | | | | the centuries, I thought it would be a good idea to tell |
| supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. | | | | the various stories in my various articles of the many |
| Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. All other | | | | English and British historical Icons from the Anglo |
| fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from | | | | Saxon times to present day England's current history. |
| the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered livestock were | | | | As so many Famous events happened and Sports |
| cast into its flames. Sometimes two bonfires would be | | | | were created in England and the rest of the British |
| built side-by-side, and people and their livestock would | | | | Isles over the centuries, I thought it would be a good |
| walk between them as a cleansing ritual. | | | | idea to tell the various stories in my various articles of |
| Sunset on Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic New | | | | the many English and British Icons from the Anglo |
| Year. The old year has passed, the harvest has been | | | | Saxon times to the present day England. |
| gathered, cattle and sheep have been brought in from | | | | |
| the fields, and the leaves have fallen from the trees. | | | | Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ |
| The earth slowly begins to die around us. | | | | |
| This is a good time for us to look at wrapping up the | | | | My other website is called Directory of British Icons: |
| old and preparing for the new in our lives. Think about | | | | To visit the list and links to my other Blogg articles: |
| the things you did in the last twelve months. Have you | | | | The Chinese call Britain The Island of Hero's which I |
| left anything unresolved? If so, now is the time to wrap | | | | think sums up what we British are all about. |
| things up. Once you've gotten all that unfinished stuff | | | | Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved. |