What we now know as The night of the witches or Halloween was celebrated
3000 years ago by the Celts. Precisely on October 31, the Celts celebrated the
end of the year with Samhain, a pagan festival. With European immigration to
the United States, mainly Irish Catholics in 1846, came the tradition of
Halloween to America. When we speak about The night of the witches or Halloween
we think in costumes, makeup, party, candy and children; but tradition states
that its celebration was not always festive and cheerful, and the rites that
were practiced during the night had a purifying and religious character.
When Emperor Constantine decreed that the inhabitants of his empire had to
convert to Christianity, many pagan rites were introduced. In this way the
festival of Samhain was infiltrated.
By the eighth century, the Christian Church became the 1st of November
as All Saints Day to honor all the saints who do not have a particular day of
celebration. Over the years, these festivals were combined, and people called
it as "All hallowmas" (the mass of all the saints, holy people) to
All Saints Day. The night before became known as "All Hallows Eve"
(Eve of All Saints Day). Later, his name became Halloween.
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