Venez découvrir nos gifs animés d'Halloween : divers, fantômes, momies, sorcières, squelettes.

Around the eighth century, the Christian church made November 1 All Saints' Day to honor all of the saints that didn't have a special day of their own.

The mass held on All Saints' Day was called All Hallowmas (the mass of all Hallows -- saintly people). The night before was known as All Hallows Eve. Eventually this name became Halloween

The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish immigrants fleeing their country's potato famine. At that time, the favorite pranks in New England included tipping over outhouses and unhinging fence gates.

Many people view Halloween as a time of innocent fun.

Children love to dress up as their favorite characters. They will go door to door saying the infamous words "trick or treat".

Many adults also love Halloween, because it gives them a chance to let loose and act silly.

Every year in the U.S.A. alone, millions of dollars are spent on Halloween goods. Halloween is the second highest grossing money maker outside of Christmas.

THE ORIGIN OF "TRICK OR TREAT"

The Celts tried to appease the evil spirits: ghosts, goblins, and demons.

Huge "Samhain" bonfires were built to light the way for all the spirits to find their way in to the world of the living. They would leave out food, hoping that this would please the spirit world. If they did not leave a thing, then hence, the spirits would play evil "tricks" on the living in that house.

The Druids required human sacrifices, they would go door to door asking for the virgin daughters. If this was not obtained at the chosen homes, then a hexagram was painted on the door in blood to show the appointed evil spirits to cause all kinds of evil to fall on the home. In some cases, even resulted in death.

THE ORIGIN OF "JACK - O - LANTERNS"

These are hollowed out pumpkins  with a face cut into one side. People once carved out beets, potatoes, and turnips to use as lanterns on Halloween.

Nowadays, we carve out pumkins.

According to an Irish legend, Jack – o – lanterns were  named for a man named Jack, who could not enter heaven because he was a miser. He could not enter hell either, because he had played jokes on the devil. So, instead, he had to walk the Earth with his lantern until Jugment Day.

THE ORIGIN OF THE "BLACK CAT"

First of all cats are very spiritual animals.

Out of all the animals, the cat can sense the presence of spirits, both good and bad. But the all black cat holds a high significance to the witches and Satanists.  The black cat, they believe has special powers. To them they believe the black cat represents incarnated humans, malevolent spirits, or the "familiars" of witches.

This is why that many black cats are in danger around Halloween. If you have a black cat, do not let them roam the streets at night, keep them inside.  Also the local SPCA's won't even let anyone adopt a black cat around Halloween time, in fear of the cat might be harmed.

THE ORIGIN OF THE COLORS : "ORANGE AND BLACK"

The colors orange and black can be traced back to the occult. They were connected to the commemorative masses for the dead, which were held in November.

The unbleached beeswax candles used in the various ceremonies were orange. The ceremonial caskets were covered in black clothes.

And let's not forget the modern-day "Jack O' Lanterns" orange in color.

THE ORIGIN OF THE "COSTUMES" ON HALLOWEEN

The huge fires atop the "sacred" hilltops in which the Druids sacrificed animals and humans derived their name from the skeletons of those who died in them.

The words "bone" and "fire" formed the word "bonfire."

The orange flames lit up the black night, thus the "official" colors of Halloween.

As these pagan worshipers danced around and jumped through the fire, they wore disguises of animal-head masks and animal-skin costumes.

The head of each household was given live embers to start a new fire on his hearth which would last until the next autumn. It was believed this fire would protect their homes from danger throughout the year.

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