Halloween's origin not so frightening
By Christine Rhee
Daily Forty-Niner
The true origin of Halloween is far from
just treats and pranks.
"It [Haloween] falls halfway between the
autumnal equinox and the winter solstice," said Elanor Harrison, a Cal
State Long Beach anthropology professor. Autumnal equinox, which
occurs in the later half of September, marks the end of summer and the
gathering of crops, according to an article written by professor Philips
Stevens Jr. from State University of New York. The shortened daylight foreshadows
the coming of winter.
"I believe it is the day of the dead mostly
celebrated in Europe and Mexico," Harrison said. "People bring food
to the cemetery to talk and to feel close to the ones who are dead."
According to Hennig Cohen's "The Folklore
of American Holidays," Oct. 31 is a day when the families of the dead can
pray and give offerings in the belief that their loved ones' souls will
be purified.
"Different cultures celebrate this holiday
in different ways and also on different days," Harrison said. "In
China, there is a day for the dead when people communicate with their dead
ancestors out of honor and respect."
Harrison also said Japan celebrates a similar
day when the spirits of the dead come back.
In the Middle Ages, Europeans believed
that ghosts, demons and witches roamed about at night, Stevens wrote.
They believed the spirits could be frightened away by images that glowed
from the carved surfaces of hollowed out vegetables lit by candles.
For Jenny Campos, a CSULB freshman studying
computer engineering, Halloween is still a day for children.
"Halloween is mostly known to be a dress
up time for little kids as they go trick or treating for candies and treats,"
Campos said. |
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