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Origine d’Halloween by Hôtel★★★ Restaurant gourmand Coco Lodge Majunga.

The term Halloween is the abbreviation of”All Hallow's Eve”, which could be translated as the eve of all Saints or the Halloween. This party where you can run into zombies, vampires and other scary costumes, is in fact a Celtic legacy of a very old party, the feast of Samhain.

L’legacy of a Celtic celebration
The feast of Samhain, Samain or Samonios, is a pagan and Celtic celebration, which commemorated the end of the harvest, the end of summer and the beginning of the short season (called the dark season in contrast with the clear season). It existed for about 2500 years and was celebrated the 31 October, which corresponded to the last day of the Celtic calendar year. During this celebration, the Druids prayed the gods to thank them for the harvests of the past year and so that they protect them during the winter.
The party lasted 7 days, 3 days before the Samhain and 3 days after, and was mandatory. It was intended to welcome the new year, but also the deceased, allowed to visit the living this one day of the year. The missing were honoured by a great meal and had a place at the table.
The Druids would light sacred fires to bring back the Sun and drive away bad spirits. Everyone took home a part of this sacred fire to light a new fireplace in his house. Pumpkin used today as a lantern could remind the receptacles used to bring back the fire at home, and who were possibly originally turnips.

Recovery by the Romans, then by Catholics.
A few centuries later, the Roman Empire extended its influence into the Celtic territories : the feast of Samhain will be gradually replaced by a celebration at the end of the harvest in honor of Pomona, Goddess of fruit trees. The feast in honor of the missing is however the 21 February, as part of the celebration of the Feralia.
In THE fourth century, the Christian religion compulsory in the Empire. The pagan holidays are slowly replaced by religious holidays : Halloween is celebrated at first to the Easter. Later, in the eighth century, Pope Grégoire III set the date of November 1. The pagan customs persisted and Halloween, meaning the eve of all saints, was celebrated the 31 October.

Trick or Treat
During Halloween, children, disguised in a frightening way, go door-to-door in announcing this formula to have a few treats. If they harvest nothing, they are allowed to do a prank.
The origins of the custom of Trick or Treat (a trick or a gift) are unknown. This practice was firmly rooted in American from culture 1950, Since it is found in the comic strip Peanuts, more known under the name Snoopy and Peanuts, as well as an episode of Disney with Donald Duck, named “Trick or Treat”. That said, found in some Celtic traditions of Samhain to disguise practices, using animal skins.
In the middle ages appear the mumming practice in the British Isles, which is to dress up and perform some antics in exchange of food or drink. Halloween and the day of the dead in the Celtic countries also kept some rituals of the Samhain : the poor were knocking on the doors of the rich houses and received the soul cakes (soul cakes) in promise of prayers to the missing of the House. This practice called souling was subsequently entrusted to children.
In Scotland and Ireland, Youth followed a practice called guising : they will dress and asking gifts from door to door. Rather than commit to pray for the deceased, they recited a poem, singing a song or made a “tour” before claiming their gift, who was most often a dry fruit or a room.

Today, Halloween is a national holiday in the United States and the second party the most cost-effective, After Christmas. In France, She appeared at the end of the years 1990, but does not have the same success that Atlantic.

Halloween around the world.
• In Ireland, the feast of Samhain remains popular across the country. The impregnated festivities city remains Londonderry who sees each year unfold a wonderful parade.

• In Hawaii, at the Halloween party, the Polynesian Cultural Center organizes a trip on the lagoon at dusk. On boats, We then discovered the mysteries of a haunted house.

• In Transylvania, the land of Dracula offers costume balls, visits and witch-hunts in the castles of the Carpathians. Very many activities are also organized in the city of Sighisoara.

• In the United States, in New York City is organized the “world famous pumpkin race” allowing who wants to transform a pumpkin in small car on wheels. These will go down the slope to the sea to eventually be enjoyed.

• New Orleans, It is the month of October, which is to celebrate with parades and decorations of circumstance on the walls of the houses. The Voodoo Music Experiment concludes with concerts all around the city bringing together international artists.

by Hôtel★★★ Restaurant gourmand Coco Lodge Majunga.