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 | | Subject: Halloween History Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:10 am | |
| Halloween HistoryThe Church attempted to Christianize the pagan festival of Halloween by adopting 11/1 as All-Saints Day - a time to remember those that have passed away.
"Hallow" is an old word meaning holy, whilst "e'en" is Scottish for evening.
The name witch comes from the Saxon term wica, meaning wise one.
It is estimated that between the 15th to 18th centuries, approximately two million people were executed for witchcraft, 80% of this number were women.
If a candle flame suddenly turns blue, there's a ghost nearby.
In North America, it's bad luck if a black cat crosses your path and good luck if a white cat crosses you path. In Britain and Ireland, it's exactly the opposite!
If you ring a bell on Halloween, it will scare the spirits away.
If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching you.
You should walk around your home three times backwards and counterclockwise before sunset on Halloween to ward off evil spirits.
Remember, black cats that cross your path are bad luck!
It's believed witches wore black to be like the night. Native Americans associated black with learning and wisdom.
The cone shape of the witch's hat was believed to direct energy from higher dimensions to her mind and down through her body
Witches carried lanterns to illuminate the world above and below.
In North Africa and Greece, the cat has been a symbol of the hearth, or spirit of place. The buds of the willow branch were thought to resemble the paws of the cat, a favorite pet of witches.
The moon was believed to be a symbol of mysteries.
Believed to be the chosen mode of transportation for witches, the broom was thought to symbolize the ability to blend home life with travel to other spiritual dimensions. | |
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