Halloween Customs And Traditions example essay topic

Halloween Introduction I. According to article the web site web titled Halloween Customs and Traditions "Halloween is the third-largest party occasion next to Christmas and New Years Eve". A. For my family it is the only occasion we have a party, B. As far back as I can remember my parents have always had Halloween Parties. C. The adults would spend the evening eating, drinking, and socializing while all the kids went trick or treating. D. Twenty-five years later, many of the same people will show up and the only thing that has change is that the kids from back then now have kids of their own, a new generation to go terrorize the neighbors. E. Recently, my six-year-old niece asked me what does Halloween mean and where does it come from? F. I chose this topic so that I might be able to inform you, my niece, and myself of the origins of Halloween and the traditions that are associated with it. G. Today I would like to share with you where the name Halloween came from, how this is both a Christian and a Pagan holiday, the origins of some of the traditions that are still being practiced, and finally how the holiday from another time and place came to flourish here in the U.S. (Transition: Let's start with the name and then we will see how Christianity plays a role in Halloween.) Body I. The name is actually a shorten version of All Hallows' Eve, the eve of All Hallows' Day. A. Hallow is an Old English word for holy person, and All Hallows' Day is another name for All Saints' Day, the day on which Catholics commemorate all the saints. 3 B. "The Catholic Church had a long standing policy of incorporating non-Christian traditions into its holiday in order to bring people into the Catholic Faith". 5 C. This was usually involved moving Christian holidays from their existing date to those of establish non-Christian holidays. 5 D. All Saints' Day was originally observed on May 13, however Pope Boniface IV moved it to November 1 during the eighth century. The purpose behind the move was to help convert the Celtic people to Christianity. He was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related Christian holiday.

5 (Transition: While the name comes from All Saints Day, modern Halloween is actually a based on traditions that predate Christianity) II. Most of the traditions of Halloween date back to the Celtics who lived 2000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the U.K., and northern France A. The Celts New Year's Eve is Oct. 31st. On this day they celebrate Samhain (SOW-en), which means "summer's end", B. Samhain was a the festival of the dead. 3 and it was a fire festival, celebrating the end of harvest and the begging of winter. 3 C. Druid Priest built Huge bonfires in honor of the gods. 6 D. They would give them a offering food which the children had collected by going from door to doors in the village. E. Rowan Moonstone a Witch and a student of the ancient Celts wrote on her website that The Celts were Pagans and although they had never heard of the Christian "concept of heaven and hell" they did believe in a spirit world.

7 F. It was the Celtics belief that on New Year's Eve the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the spirits becomes vulnerable, allowing ghosts to return to earth with the intentions of finding victims to posses. 1 G. On Samhain the villagers would attend the festival that were celebrated around the sacred bonfires. H. In order for them not to attract any unwanted spirits while walking late at night the towns folks would often wear Costumes and Mask to the bonfire so to scare the spirits away. 1 I. However, Before leaving for the festival the villagers would extinguish the fire in their homes. This was to make them cold and uninviting to any unwanted spirits. 1 J. On there whey back to their homes from the festival, villagers would carry a piece of ember from the bonfire to relight their home fires. 2 K. These pieces of ember were often carried in a carved out turnips or gourds.

(The use of pumpkins is completely American) 2 (Transition: Now lets see the evolution of Halloween in the U.S.) I. Halloween as we know it today United States is mixture of beliefs, myths, and customs that came from all around the world during the 1800's. A. Settlers from England brought various ghost stories. 3 B. German Immigrants brought their witchcraft folklore. 3 C. Millions of Irish fleeing from Ireland's potato famine of 1846 brought their Celtic customs. 3 D. Slaves from Africa brought their voodoo beliefs. 3 E. During the late 1800's Halloween lost its religious overtones and develop into family festival full of parties, dressing up in costumes, bobbing for apples, and mischief. 4 F. In the early 1930's mischief turned into vandalism.

Kids were breaking windows, turning over out houses 4 G. In order to curve the mischief towns in the mid west develop safe, wholesome events which encouraged children to go from door to door for treats instead of playing tricks. 4 (Transition: from the past to the present, and finally some useless facts.) II. Only in America can we turn a festival of death into money A. According to the web web site Halloween is the holiday when the most candy is sold. 2 B. Americans spend $21 million yearly on Halloween candy. 2 C. According to Hallmark Cards, over 65 percent of Americans decorate either their homes or their offices. 2 D. Although many countries celebrate Halloween, America and Canada are the only countries that have the custom of Trick or Treating.

2 E. I hope that many of you found this information as interesting as I did.