The word Halloween or Hallowe'en dates to about 1745[29] and is of Christian origin.

[30] The word

"Halloween" means "hallowed evening" or "holy evening".[31] It comes from a Scottish term
for All Hallows' Eve (the evening before All Hallows' Day).[32][33] In Scots, the word "eve" is even,
and this is contracted to e'en or een. Over time, (All) Hallow(s) Eve(n) evolved into Halloween.
Although the phrase "All Hallows'" is found in Old English (ealra hlgena mssedg, all saints
mass-day), "All Hallows' Eve" is itself not seen until 1556.[33][34]

Halloween
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the observance. For other uses, see Halloween (disambiguation).
"All Hallows' Eve" redirects here. For other uses, see All Hallows' Eve (disambiguation).

Halloween

A jack-o'-lantern, one of the symbols of Halloween representing the

souls of the dead[1]

Also called

Hallowe'en
Allhallowe'en
All Hallows' Eve
All Saints' Eve

Observed by Western Christians and many non-Christians around

the world[2]

Significance

First day of Allhallowtide

Celebrations Trick-or-treating, costumeparties, making jack-o'lanterns, lighting bonfires, divination,apple bobbing,

visiting haunted house attractions

Observances Church services,[3] prayer,[4]fasting,[2] and vigils[5]

Date

31 October

Next time

31 October 2014

Frequency

annual

Related to

Totensonntag, Blue Christmas,Thursday of the

Dead,Samhain, Hop-tu-Naa, Calan
Gaeaf, Allantide, Day of the Dead, Reformation
Day, All Saints' Day (cf. vigils)

Halloween or Hallowe'en (/hlwin, -oin, hl-/; a contraction of

"All Hallows' Evening"),[6] also known as Allhalloween,[7] All Hallows' Eve,[8] or All Saints'
Eve,[9] is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of
theWestern Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It initiates the triduum of Allhallowtide,[10] the
time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead,
including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers.[11] Within
Allhallowtide, the traditional focus of All Hallows' Eve revolves around the theme of using
"humor and ridicule to confront the power of death."[12]
According to many scholars, All Hallows' Eve is a Christianized feast initially influenced
by Celtic harvest festivals,[13][14] with possiblepagan roots, particularly
the Gaelic Samhain.[8][15][16] Other scholars maintain that it originated independently of Samhain
and has solely Christian roots.[17][18]
Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related "guising"),
attending costume parties, decorating, carvingpumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns,
lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted house attractions, playing pranks, telling scary
stories, and watching horror films. In many parts of the world, the Christian religious
observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on
the graves of the dead, remain popular,[19][20][21] although in other locations, these solemn
customs are less pronounced in favor of a more commercialized and secularized
celebration.[22][23][24] Because many Western Christian denominations encourage, although no
longer require, abstinence from meat on All Hallows' Eve,[25][26] the tradition of eating
certain vegetarian foods for this vigil day developed, including the consumption of
apples, colcannon, cider, potato pancakes, and soul cakes.[26][27][28]

Today's Halloween customs are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs
from the Celtic-speaking countries, some of which have pagan roots, and others which may be
rooted in Celtic Christianity.[35][36] Indeed, Jack Santino, a folklorist, writes that "the sacred and
the religious are a fundamental context for understanding Halloween in Northern Ireland, but
there was throughout Ireland an uneasy truce existing between customs and beliefs associated
with Christianity and those associated with religions that were Irish before Christianity
arrived".[37] Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while
"some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits
and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic
festival of Samhain", which comes from the Old Irish for "summer's end".[35] Samhain
(pronounced SAH-win or SOW-in) was the first and most important of the four quarter days in the
medieval Gaelic calendar and was celebrated in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.[38][39] It
was held on or about 31 October 1 November and kindred festivals were held at the same
time of year by the Brittonic Celts; for example Calan Gaeaf (in Wales), Kalan
Gwav (in Cornwall) and Kalan Goav (in Brittany). Samhain and Calan Gaeaf are mentioned in
some of the earliest Irish and Welsh literature. The names have been used by historians to
refer to Celtic Halloween customs up until the 19th century,[40] and are still the Gaelic and
Welsh names for Halloween.
Samhain/Calan Gaeaf marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or the
'darker half' of the year.[41][42] Like Beltane/Calan Mai, it was seen as a liminal time, when the
spirits or fairies (the Aos S) could more easily come into our world and were particularly
active.[43][44] Most scholars see the Aos S as "degraded versions of ancient gods [...] whose
power remained active in the people's minds even after they had been officially replaced by
later religious beliefs". The Aos S were both respected and feared, with individuals often
invoking the protection of God when approaching their dwellings.[45][46] At Samhain, it was
believed that the Aos S needed to be propitiated to ensure that the people and their livestock
survived the winter. Offerings of food and drink, or portions of the crops, were left for the Aos
S.[47][48][49][50] The souls of the dead were also said to revisit their homes.[51] Places were set at the
dinner table or by the fire to welcome them.[52] The belief that the souls of the dead return home
on one night or day of the year seems to have ancient origins and is found in many cultures
throughout the world.[53] In 19th century Ireland, "candles would be lit and prayers formally
offered for the souls of the dead. After this the eating, drinking, and games would
begin".[54] Throughout the Gaelic and Welsh regions, the household festivities included rituals
and games intended to divine one's future, especially regarding death and marriage.[55] Nuts
and apples were often used in these divination rituals. Special bonfires were lit and there were
rituals involving them. Their flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective and
cleansing powers, and were also used for divination.[40][41] It is suggested that the fires were a
kind of imitative or sympathetic magic they mimicked the Sun, helping the "powers of growth"

and holding back the decay and darkness of winter.[52][56][57] Christian minister Eddie J. Smith
suggests that the bonfires were also used to scare witches of "their awaiting punishment
in hell".[58]

Snap-Apple Night, painted by Daniel Maclise in 1833, shows people feasting and playing divination games on
Halloween in Ireland.

In modern Ireland, Scotland, Mann and Wales, the festival

included mumming and guising,[59] the latter of which goes back at least as far as the 16th
century.[60] This involved people going house-to-house in costume (or in disguise), usually
reciting verses or songs in exchange for food.[59] It may have come from the Christian custom
of souling (see below) or it may have a Gaelic folk origin, with the costumes being a means of
imitating, or disguising oneself from, the Aos S. In Scotland, youths went house-to-house on
31 October with masked, painted or blackened faces, often threatening to do mischief if they
were not welcomed.[59] F. Marian McNeill suggests the ancient festival included people in
costume representing the spirits, and that faces were marked (or blackened) with ashes taken
from the sacred bonfire.[60] In parts of Wales, men went about dressed as fearsome beings
called gwrachod.[59] In the late 19th and early 20th century, young people
in Glamorgan and Orkney dressed as the opposite gender.[59] In parts of southern Ireland, the
guisers included a hobby horse. A man dressed as a Lir Bhn (white mare) led youths houseto-house reciting versessome of which had pagan overtonesin exchange for food. If the
household donated food it could expect good fortune from the 'Muck Olla'; not doing so would
bring misfortune.[61][62] Elsewhere in Europe, mumming and hobby horses were part of other
yearly festivals. However, in the Celtic-speaking regions they were "particularly appropriate to
a night upon which supernatural beings were said to be abroad and could be imitated or
warded off by human wanderers".[59] As early as the 18th century, "imitating malignant spirits"
led to playing pranks in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.[59] Wearing costumes at Halloween
spread to England in the 20th century, as did the custom of playing pranks.[59] The "traditional
illumination for guisers or pranksters abroad on the night in some places was provided
by turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque
faces to represent spirits or goblins".[59] These were common in parts of Ireland and the Scottish

Highlands in the 19th century,[59] as well as in Somerset (seePunkie Night). In the 20th century
they spread to other parts of England and became generally known as jack-o'-lanterns.[59]

Christian influence
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Today's Halloween customs are also thought to have been influenced by Christian dogma and
practices derived from it. Halloween falls on the evening before the Christian holy days of All
Hallows' Day (also known as All Saints' or Hallowmas) on 1 November andAll Souls' Day on 2
November, thus giving the holiday on 31 October the full name of All Hallows' Eve (meaning

the evening before All Hallows' Day).[63] Since the time of the primitive Church,[64] major feasts in
the Christian Church (such as Christmas, Easter andPentecost) had vigils which began the
night before, as did the feast of All Hallows'.[65] These three days are collectively referred to
asAllhallowtide and are a time for honoring the saints and praying for the recently
departed souls who have yet to reach Heaven. All Saints was introduced in the year 609, but
was originally celebrated on 13 May.[66] In 835, it was switched to 1 November (the same date
as Samhain) at the behest of Pope Gregory IV.[66] Some suggest this was due to Celtic
influence, while others suggest it was a Germanic idea.[66] It is also suggested that the change
was made on the "practical grounds that Rome in summer could not accommodate the great
number of pilgrims who flocked to it", and perhaps because of public health considerations
regardingRoman Fever a disease that claimed a number of lives during the sultry summers
of the region.[67]

On All Hallows' Eve, Christians in some parts of the world visit graveyards to pray and place flowers and
candles on the graves of their loved ones.[68]

By the end of the 12th century they had become holy days of obligation across Europe and
involved such traditions as ringing church bells for the souls in purgatory. In addition, "it was
customary for criers dressed in black to parade the streets, ringing a bell of mournful sound
and calling on all good Christians to remember the poor souls."[69] "Souling", the custom of
baking and sharing soul cakes for all christenedsouls,[70] has been suggested as the origin of
trick-or-treating.[71] The custom dates back at least as far as the 15th century[72] and was found

in parts of England, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Italy.[53] Groups of poor people, often
children, would go door-to-door during Allhallowtide, collecting soul cakes, in exchange
for praying for the dead, especially the souls of the givers' friends and
relatives.[73][74][72] Shakespeare mentions the practice in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of
Verona (1593).[75] The custom of wearing costumes has been explicated by Prince Sorie
Conteh, who wrote: "It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the
earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain
vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being
recognized by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or
costumes to disguise their identities".[76] In the Middle Ages, churches displayed
the relics of martyred saints and those parishes that were too poor to have relics let
parishioners dress up as the saints instead,[77] a practice that some Christians continue in
Halloween celebrations today.[78] folklorist Kingsley Palmer, in addition to others, has suggested
that the carved jack-o'-lantern, a popular symbol of Halloween, originally represented the souls
of the dead.[79][1] On Halloween, in medieval Europe, "fires [were] lit to guide these souls on their
way and deflect them from haunting honest Christian folk."[80] In addition, households in Austria,
England, Ireland often had "candles burning in every room to guide the souls back to visit their
earthly homes". These were known as "soul lights".[81][82][83] Many Christians in continental
Europe, especially in France, acknowledged "a belief that once a year, on Hallowe'en, the
dead of the churchyards rose for one wild, hideous carnival," known as the danse macabre,
which has been commonly depicted in church decoration, especially on the walls of
cathedrals,monasteries, and cemeteries.[84] Christopher Allmand and Rosamond
McKitterick write in The New Cambridge Medieval History that "Christians were moved by the
sight of the Infant Jesus playing on his mother's knee; their hearts were touched by the Piet;
and patron saints reassured them by their presence. But, all the while, the danse
macabre urged them not to forget the end of all earthly things."[85] This danse macabre, which
was enacted by "Christian village children [who] celebrated the vigil of All Saints" in the 16th
Century, has been suggested as the predecessor of modern day costume parties on this same
day.[86][87]
In parts of Britain, these customs came under attack during the Reformation as
some Protestants berated purgatory as a "popish" doctrine incompatible with the notion
ofpredestination. Thus, for some Nonconformist Protestants, the theology of All Hallows Eve
was redefined; without the doctrine of purgatory, "the returning souls cannot be journeying from
Purgatory on their way to Heaven, as Catholics frequently believe and assert. Instead, the socalled ghosts are thought to be in actuality evil spirits. As such they are threatening."[82] Other
Protestants maintained belief in an intermediate state, known as Hades (Bosom of
Abraham),[88] and continued to observe the original customs, especially
souling, candlelit processions and the ringing of church bells in memory of the dead.[89][63] With

regard to the evil spirits, on Halloween, "barns and homes were blessedto protect people and
livestock from the effect of witches, who were believed to accompany the malignant spirits as
they traveled the earth."[80] In the 19th century, in some rural parts of England, families gathered
on hills on the night of All Hallows' Eve. One held a bunch of burning straw on a pitchfork while
the rest knelt around him in a circle, praying for the souls of relatives and friends until the
flames went out. This was known as teen'lay, derived either from the Old
English tendan (meaning to kindle) or a word related to Old Irish tenlach (meaning
hearth).[90] The rising popularity of Guy Fawkes Night (5 November) from 1605 onward, saw
many Halloween traditions appropriated by that holiday instead, and Halloween's popularity
waned in Britain, with the noteworthy exception of Scotland.[91] There and in Ireland, they had
been celebrating Samhain and Halloween since at least the early Middle Ages, and the
Scottish kirk took a more pragmatic approach to Halloween, seeing it as important to the life
cycle and rites of passage of communities and thus ensuring its survival in the country.[91]
In France, some Christian families, on the night of All Hallows' Eve, prayed beside the graves
of their loved ones, setting down dishes full of milk for them.[81] On Halloween, in Italy, some
families left a large meal out for ghosts of their passed relatives, before they departed
for church services.[92] In Spain, on this night, special pastries are baked, known as "bones of
the holy" (Spanish: Huesos de Santo) and put them on the graves of the churchyard, a practice
that continues to this day.[93]

Spread to North America

The annual Greenwich VillageHalloween Parade in New York City, the world's largest Halloween parade.[94]

Lesley Bannatyne and Cindy Ott both write that Anglican colonists in the South
and Catholic colonists in Maryland "recognized All Hallow's Eve in their church
calendars",[95][96] although the Puritans of New England maintained strong opposition to the
holiday, along with other traditional celebrations of the established Church,
including Christmas.[97] Mass Irish and Scottish immigration during the 19th century increased
the holidays celebration in the United States.[98] "In Cajun areas, a nocturnal Mass was said in
cemeteries on Halloween night. Candles that had been blessed were placed on graves, and
families sometimes spent the entire night at the graveside."[99] Confined to the immigrant
communities during the mid-19th century, it was gradually assimilated into mainstream society

and by the first decade of the 20th century it was being celebrated coast to coast by people of
all social, racial and religious backgrounds.[100]
The annual New York Halloween Parade, initiated in 1974 by puppeteer and mask maker
Ralph Lee of the Lower Manhattanneighborhood of Greenwich Village in New York City, is the
world's largest Halloween parade and America's only major nighttime parade, attracting more
than 60,000 costumed participants, 2 million in-person spectators, and a worldwide television
audience of over 100 million.[94]

Symbols

At Halloween, yards and public spaces may be decorated with traditionally macabre symbols
including witches, skeletons,cobwebs, and headstones

Development of artifacts and symbols associated with Halloween formed over time. Jack-o'lanterns are traditionally carried byguisers on All Hallows' Eve in order to frighten evil
spirits.[1][101] There is a popular Irish Christian folktale associated with the jack-o'lantern,[102] which in lore, is said to represent a "soul who has been denied entry into
both heaven and hell":[103]
On route home after a night's drinking, Jack encounters the Devil and tricks him into climbing a tree.
A quick-thinking Jack etches the sign of the cross into the bark, thus trapping the Devil. Jack strikes
a bargain that Satan can never claim his soul. After a life ofsin, drink, and mendacity, Jack is
refused entry to heaven when he dies. Keeping his promise, the Devil refuses to let Jack into hell
and throws a live coal straight from the fires of hell at him. It was a cold night, so Jack places the
coal in a hollowed out turnip to stop it from going out, since which time Jack and his lantern have
been roaming looking for a place to rest.[104]

In Ireland and Scotland, the turnip has traditionally been carved during Halloween,[105][106] but
immigrants to North America used the native pumpkin, which is both much softer and much
larger making it easier to carve than a turnip.[105] The American tradition of carving pumpkins
is recorded in 1837[107] and was originally associated with harvest time in general, not becoming
specifically associated with Halloween until the mid-to-late 19th century.[108]
The modern imagery of Halloween comes from many sources, including Christian eschatology,
national customs, works of Gothic and horror literature (such as the

novelsFrankenstein and Dracula) and classic horror films (such as Frankenstein and The
Mummy).[109][110] Imagery of the skull, a reference to Golgotha, in the Christian tradition, serves
as "a reminder of death and the transitory quality of human life" and is consequently found
in memento mori and vanitas compositions;[111] skulls have therefore been commonplace in
Halloween, which touches on this theme.[112] Traditionally, the back walls of churches are
"decorated with a depiction of the Last Judgment, complete with graves opening and the dead
rising, with a heaven filled with angels and a hell filled with devils," a motif that has permeated
the observance of this triduum.[113] One of the earliest works on the subject of Halloween is from
Scottish poet John Mayne, who, in 1780, made note of pranks at Halloween; "What fearfu'
pranks ensue!", as well as the supernatural associated with the night, "Bogies" (ghosts),
influencing Robert Burns' "Halloween" (1785).[114] Elements of the autumn season, such as
pumpkins, corn husks andscarecrows, are also prevalent. Homes are often decorated with
these types of symbols around Halloween. Halloween imagery includes themes of death, evil,
and mythicalmonsters.[115] Black, orange, and sometimes purple are Halloween's traditional
colors.

Trick-or-treating and guising

Main article: Trick-or-treating

Trick-or-treaters in Sweden

Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume

from house to house, asking for treats such ascandy or sometimes money, with the question,
"Trick or treat?" The word "trick" refers to "threat" to perform mischief on the homeowners or
their property if no treat is given.[71] The practice is said to have roots in the medieval practice
of mumming, which is closely related to souling(discussed above).[116] John Pymm writes that
"many of the feast days associated with the presentation of mumming plays were celebrated
by the Christian Church."[117] These feast days included All Hallows' Eve, Christmas, Twelfth

Night and Shrove Tuesday.[118][119] Mumming, practiced in Germany, Scandinavia and other
parts of Europe,[120] involved masked persons in fancy dress who "paraded the streets and
entered houses to dance or play dice in silence." Their "basic narrative framework is the story
of St. George and the Seven Champions of Christendom."[121]
In England, from the medieval period,[122] up until the 1930s,[123] people practiced the Christian
custom of souling on Halloween, which involved groups of soulers, both Protestant and
Catholic,[89] going from parish to parish, begging the rich for soul cakes, in exchange
for praying for the souls of the givers and their friends.[73] In Scotland and Ireland, guising
children disguised in costume going from door to door for food or coins is a traditional
Halloween custom, and is recorded in Scotland at Halloween in 1895 where masqueraders in
disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with
cakes, fruit and money.[106] The practice of guising at Halloween in North America is first
recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported children going "guising"
around the neighborhood.[124]

Souling was a Christian practice carried out in many English towns on Halloween and Christmas

American historian and author Ruth Edna Kelley of Massachusetts wrote the first book length
history of Halloween in the US; The Book of Hallowe'en(1919), and references souling in the
chapter "Hallowe'en in America":
The taste in Hallowe'en festivities now is to study old traditions, and hold a Scotch party,
using Burns' poem Hallowe'en as a guide; or to go a-souling as the English used. In short, no
custom that was once honored at Hallowe'en is out of fashion now.[125]
In her book, Kelley touches on customs that arrived from across the Atlantic; "Americans have
fostered them, and are making this an occasion something like what it must have been in its
best days overseas. All Halloween customs in the United States are borrowed directly or
adapted from those of other countries".[126] While the first reference to "guising" in North
America occurs in 1911, another reference to ritual begging on Halloween appears, place
unknown, in 1915, with a third reference in Chicago in 1920.[127]

An automobile trunk at a trunk-or-treat event at St. John Lutheran Church and Early Learning Center in Darien,
Illinois

The earliest known use in print of the term "trick or treat" appears in 1927, from Blackie,
Alberta, Canada:
Hallowe'en provided an opportunity for real strenuous fun. No real damage was done except to
the temper of some who had to hunt for wagon wheels, gates, wagons, barrels, etc., much of
which decorated the front street. The youthful tormentors were at back door and front
demanding edible plunder by the word trick or treat to which the inmates gladly responded
and sent the robbers away rejoicing.[128]
The thousands of Halloween postcards produced between the turn of the 20th century and the
1920s commonly show children but not trick-or-treating.[129] The editor of a collection of over
3,000 vintage Halloween postcards writes, "There are cards which mention the custom [of
trick-or-treating] or show children in costumes at the doors, but as far as we can tell they were
printed later than the 1920s and more than likely even the 1930s. Tricksters of various sorts
are shown on the early postcards, but not the means of appeasing them".[130]Trick-or-treating
does not seem to have become a widespread practice until the 1930s, with the first U.S.
appearances of the term in 1934,[131] and the first use in a national publication occurring in
1939.[132]
A popular variant of trick-or-treating, known as trunk-or-treating (or Halloween tailgaiting),
occurs when "children are offered treats from the trunks of cars parked in a church parking lot,"
or sometimes, a school parking lot.[93][133] In a trunk-or-treat event, the trunk (boot) of each
automobile is decorated with a certain theme,[134] such as those ofchildren's literature,
movies, scripture, and job roles.[135] Because the traditional style of trick-or-treating was made
impossible after Hurricane Katrina, trunk-or-treating provided comfort to those whose homes
were devastated.[136] Trunk-or-treating has grown in popularity due to its perception as being
more safe than going door to door, a point that resonates well with parents, as well as the fact
that it "solves the rural conundrum in which homes [are] built a half-mile apart".[137][138]

Costumes
Main article: Halloween costume

A costume party in 1890.

Halloween costumes are traditionally modeled after supernatural figures such as vampires,
monsters, ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. Over time, in the United States the costume
selection extended to include popular characters from fiction, celebrities, and
generic archetypes such as ninjas and princesses.[71]
Dressing up in costumes and going "guising" was prevalent in Ireland and Scotland at
Halloween by the late 19th century.[106]Costuming became popular for Halloween parties in the
US in the early 20th century, as often for adults as for children. The first mass-produced
Halloween costumes appeared in stores in the 1930s when trick-or-treating was becoming
popular in the United States.
Rev. Dr. Eddie J. Smith, in his book Halloween, Hallowed Be Thy Name, offers a religious
perspective to the wearing of costumes on All Hallows' Eve, suggesting that by dressing up as
creatures "who at one time caused us to fear and tremble", people are able to poke fun
at Satan "whose kingdom has been plundered by our Saviour." Images of skeletons and the
dead are traditional decorations used as memento mori.[139][140]

UNICEF
Main article: Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
"Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" is a fundraising program to support UNICEF,[71] a United Nations
Programme that provides humanitarian aid to children in developing countries. Started as a
local event in a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood in 1950 and expanded nationally in 1952,
the program involves the distribution of small boxes by schools (or in modern times, corporate
sponsors like Hallmark, at their licensed stores) to trick-or-treaters, in which they can solicit
small-change donations from the houses they visit. It is estimated that children have collected
more than $118 million for UNICEF since its inception. In Canada, in 2006, UNICEF decided to
discontinue their Halloween collection boxes, citing safety and administrative concerns; after
consultation with schools, they instead redesigned the program.[141][142]

Games and other activities

In this 1904 Halloween greeting card, divination is depicted: the young woman looking into a mirror in a
darkened room hopes to catch a glimpse of her future husband.

There are several games traditionally associated with Halloween parties. One common game
is dunking or apple bobbing, which may be called "dooking" in Scotland[143] in which apples float
in a tub or a large basin of water and the participants must use their teeth to remove an apple
from the basin. The practice is thought by some to have derived from the Roman practices in
celebration of Pomona.[71] A variant of dunking involves kneeling on a chair, holding a fork
between the teeth and trying to drive the fork into an apple. Another common game involves
hanging up treacle or syrup-coated scones by strings; these must be eaten without using
hands while they remain attached to the string, an activity that inevitably leads to a very sticky
face.
Some games traditionally played at Halloween are forms of divination. In All Hallows' Eve
celebrations during the Middle Ages, these activities historically occurred only in rural areas of
medieval Europe and were only done by a "rare few" as these were considered to be "deadly
serious" practices.[80] A traditional Scottish form of divining one's future spouse is to carve an
apple in one long strip, then toss the peel over one's shoulder. The peel is believed to land in
the shape of the first letter of the future spouse's name.[144] Unmarried women were told that if
they sat in a darkened room and gazed into a mirror on Halloween night, the face of their future
husband would appear in the mirror. However, if they were destined to die before marriage,
a skull would appear. The custom was widespread enough to be commemorated on greeting
cards[145] from the late 19th century and early 20th century.

A common custom includes picking and purchasing pumpkins from patches

Another game/superstition that was enjoyed in the early 1900s involved walnut shells. People
would write fortunes in milk on white paper. After drying, the paper was folded and placed in
walnut shells. When the shell was warmed, milk would turn brown therefore the writing would
appear on what looked like blank paper. Folks would also play fortune teller. In order to play
this game, symbols were cut out of paper and placed on a platter. Someone would enter a dark
room and was ordered to put her hand on a piece of ice then lay it on a platter. Her "fortune"
would stick to the hand. Paper symbols included: dollar sign-wealth, button-bachelorhood,
thimble-spinsterhood, clothespin- poverty, rice-wedding, umbrella- journey, caldron-trouble, 4leaf clover- good luck, penny-fortune, ring-early marriage, and key-fame.[146]
The telling of ghost stories and viewing of horror films are common fixtures of Halloween
parties. Episodes of television series andHallowe'en-themed specials (with the specials usually
aimed at children) are commonly aired on or before Halloween, while new horror films are often
released theatrically before Halloween to take advantage of the atmosphere.

Haunted attractions

Humorous tombstones in front of a house in California

Main article: Haunted attraction (simulated)

Haunted attractions are entertainment venues designed to thrill and scare patrons. Most
attractions are seasonal Halloween businesses. Origins of these paid scare venues are difficult
to pinpoint, but it is generally accepted that they were first commonly used by the Junior
Chamber International (Jaycees) for fundraising.[147] They include haunted houses, corn mazes,
and hayrides,[148] and the level of sophistication of the effects has risen as the industry has
grown. Haunted attractions in the United States bring in an estimated $300500 million each

year, and draw some 400,000 customers, although press sources writing in 2005 speculated
that the industry had reached its peak at that time.[147] This maturing and growth within the
industry has led to technically more advanced special effects and costuming, comparable with
that of Hollywood films.[149]

Food

Pumpkins for sale during Halloween

On All Hallows' Eve, many Western Christian denominations encourage abstinence from meat,
giving rise to a variety of vegetarian foods associated with this day.[28]
Because in the Northern Hemisphere Halloween comes in the wake of the yearly apple
harvest, candy apples (known as toffee apples outside North America), caramel or taffy
apples are common Halloween treats made by rolling whole apples in a sticky sugar syrup,
sometimes followed by rolling them in nuts.
At one time, candy apples were commonly given to trick-or-treating children, but the practice
rapidly waned in the wake of widespread rumors that some individuals were embedding items
like pins and razor blades in the apples in the United States.[150] While there is evidence of such
incidents,[151] relative to the degree of reporting of such cases, actual cases involving malicious
acts are extremely rare and have never resulted in serious injury. Nonetheless, many parents
assumed that such heinous practices were rampant because of the mass media. At the peak of
the hysteria, some hospitals offered free X-rays of children's Halloween hauls in order to find
evidence of tampering. Virtually all of the few known candy poisoning incidents involved
parents who poisoned their own children's candy.[152]
One custom that persists in modern-day Ireland is the baking (or more often nowadays, the
purchase) of a barmbrack (Irish: birn breac), which is a light fruitcake, into which a plain ring,
a coin and other charms are placed before baking. It is said that those who get a ring will find
their true love in the ensuing year. This is similar to the tradition of king cake at the festival
of Epiphany.

A candy apple

List of foods associated with Halloween:

Barmbrack (Ireland)

Bonfire toffee (Great Britain)

Candy apples/toffee apples (Great Britain and Ireland)

Candy apples, Candy corn, candy pumpkins (North America)

Monkey nuts (peanuts in their shells) (Scotland and Ireland)

Caramel apples

Caramel corn

Colcannon (Ireland; see below)

Novelty candy shaped like skulls, pumpkins, bats, worms, etc.

Pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread

Roasted pumpkin seeds

Roasted sweet corn

Soul cakes

Religious observances

The Vigil of All Hallows' is being celebrated at an Episcopal Christian church on Hallowe'en.

On Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve), in Poland, believers are taught to pray out loud as they walk
through the forests in order that the souls of the dead might find comfort; in Spain, Christian
priests toll their church bells in order to remind their congregants to remember the dead on All
Hallows' Eve.[153] In Ireland, and among immigrants in Canada, a custom includes the Christian
practice of abstinence, keeping All Hallows' Eve "as a meatless day with pancakes or
Callcannon" being served instead.[154] In Mexico, on "All Hallows Eve, the children make a
children's altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead children) to come back for a
visit."[155] The Christian Church traditionally observed Hallowe'en through a vigil "when
worshippers would prepare themselves with prayers and fasting prior to the feast day
itself."[156] Thischurch service is known as the Vigil of All Hallows or the Vigil of All
Saints;[157][158] an initiative known as Night of Light seeks to further spread the Vigil of All
Hallows throughout Christendom.[159][160] After the service, "suitable festivities and
entertainments" often follow, as well as a visit to the graveyard or cemetery, where flowers and
candles are often placed in preparation for All Hallows' Day.[161][162] InFinland, because so many
people visit the cemeteries on All Hallows' Eve to light votive candles there, they "are known
as valomeri, or seas of light."[163]

Perspectives
Christianity

Halloween Scripture Candy withgospel tract

Christian attitudes towards Halloween are diverse. In the Anglican Church,

some dioceses have chosen to emphasize the Christian traditions associated with All Hallow's
Eve.[164][165] Some of these practises include praying, fasting and attending worship services.[2][3][4]
Father, All-Powerful and Ever-Living God, today we rejoice in the holy men and women of every
time and place. May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love. We ask this through Christ
our Lord. Amen. All Hallow's Eve Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours[166]

Votive candles in the Halloween section of Wal-Mart

Other Protestant Christians also celebrate All Hallows' Eve as Reformation Day, a day to
remember theProtestant Reformation, alongside All Hallow's Eve or independently from
it.[167][168] This is because Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to All Saints' Church in
Wittenberg on All Hallows' Eve, because hundreds of visitors would come to the church during
the celebration of Allhallowtide.[169] Often, "Harvest Festivals" or "Reformation Festivals" are
held on All Hallows' Eve, in which children dress up as Bible characters or Reformers.[170] In
addition to distributing candy to children who are trick-or-treating on Hallowe'en, many
Christians also provide gospel tracts to them. One organization, the American Tract Society,
stated that around 3 million gospel tracts are ordered from them alone for Hallowe'en
celebrations.[171] Others order Halloween-themed Scripture Candy to pass out to children on this
day.[172]

Belizean children dressed up as Biblical figures and Christian saints

Some Christians feel concerned about the modern celebration of Halloween because they feel
it trivializes or celebrates paganism, the occult, or other practices and cultural phenomena
deemed incompatible with their beliefs.[173] Father Gabriele Amorth, an exorcist in Rome, has

said, "if English and American children like to dress up as witches and devils on one night of
the year that is not a problem. If it is just a game, there is no harm in that."[174] In more recent
years, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has organized a "Saint Fest" on
Halloween.[175] Similarly, many contemporary Protestant churches view Halloween as a fun
event for children, holding events in their churches where children and their parents can dress
up, play games, and get candy for free. Many Christians ascribe no negative significance to
Halloween, treating it as a fun event devoted to "imaginary spooks" and handing out candy. To
these Christians, Halloween holds no threat to the spiritual lives of children: being taught about
death and mortality, and the ways of the Celtic ancestors actually being a valuable life lesson
and a part of many of their parishioners' heritage.[176]
In the Roman Catholic Church, Halloween's Christian connection is cited, and Halloween
celebrations are common in Catholic parochial schoolsthroughout North America and in
Ireland.[177] Many fundamentalist and evangelical churches use "Hell houses", themed
pamphlets, or comic-styletracts such as those created by Jack T. Chick in order to make use of
Halloween's popularity as an opportunity for evangelism.[175] Some consider Halloween to be
completely incompatible with the Christian faith due to its putative origins in the Festival of the
Dead celebration.[178] Indeed, even though Eastern Orthodox Christians observe All Hallows'
Day on the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Eastern Orthodox Church recommends the
observance of Vespers and/or a Paraklesis on the Western observance of All Hallows' Eve, out
of the pastoral need to provide an alternative to popular celebrations.[179]
Other religions
The reaction of non-Christian religions towards Halloween has often been mixed, ranging from
stern disapproval to the allowance of participation in it. According to Alfred J. Kolatch in
the Second Jewish Book of Why, in Judaism, Halloween is not permitted by
Jewish Halakha because it violates Leviticus 18:3 which forbids Jews from partaking in gentile
customs. Many Jews observe Yizkor, which is equivalent to the observance of Allhallowtide in
Christianity, as prayers are said for both "martyrs and for one's own family."[180] Nevertheless
many American Jews celebrate Halloween, disconnected from its Christian
origins.[181] Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser has said that "There is no religious reason why
contemporary Jews should not celebrate Halloween" while Orthodox Rabbi Michael Broyde
has argued against Jews observing the holiday.[182] Sheikh Idris Palmer, author of A Brief
Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam , has argued that Muslims should not participate in
Halloween, stating that "participation in it is similar to one commemorating Christmas or Easter,
or congratulating the Christians upon their prostration to the crucifix".[183] Javed Memon, a
Muslim writer, has disagreed, saying that his "daughter dressing up like a British telephone
booth will not destroy her faith".[184] Most Hindus do not observe All Hallows' Eve, instead
remembering the dead in the festival ofPitru Paksha, during which Hindus pay homage to and

perform a ceremony "to keep the souls of their ancestors at rest."[185] The celebration of the
Hindu festival Diwalisometimes conflicts with the date of Halloween; but some Hindus choose
to participate in the popular customs of Halloween.[186] Other Hindus, such as Soumya
Dasgupta, have opposed the celebration on the grounds that Western holidays like Halloween
have "begun to adversely affect our indigenous festivals."[187] Neopagans do not observe
Halloween, but instead observe Samhain on 1 November,[188] although some neopagan
individuals choose to participate in cultural Halloween festivities, opining the idea that one can
observe both "the solemnity of Samhain in addition to the fun of Halloween." Other neopagans
are opposed to the celebration of Halloween, believing that it "trivializes Samhain",[189] and
"avoid Halloween, because of the interruptions from trick or treaters."[190] The Manitoban writes
that "Wiccans dont officially celebrate Halloween, despite the fact that 31 Oct. will still have a
star beside it in any good Wiccans day planner. Starting at sundown, Wiccans celebrate a
holiday known as Samhain. Samhain actually comes from old Celtic traditions and is not
exclusive to Neopagan religions like Wicca. While the traditions of this holiday originate in
Celtic countries, modern day Wiccans dont try to historically replicate Samhain celebrations.
Some traditional Samhain rituals are still practised but at its core, the holiday is simply a time to
celebrate darkness and the dead a possible reason why Samhain is often confused with
Halloween celebrations."[188]

Around the world

A Halloween display in Saitama, Japan

Main article: Geography of Halloween

The traditions and importance of Halloween vary greatly among countries that observe it. In
Scotland and Ireland, traditional Halloween customs include children dressing up in costume
going "guising", holding parties, while other practices in Ireland include lighting bonfires, and
having firework displays.[191][192] In Brittany children would set candles in skulls in
graveyards.[193] Mass transatlantic immigration in the 19th century popularized Halloween in
North America, and celebration in the United States and Canada has had a significant impact
on how the event is observed in other nations. This larger North American influence,

particularly in iconic and commercial elements, has extended to places such as South
America, Australia,[194] New Zealand,[195] (most) continental Europe, Japan, and other parts of
East Asia.[196] In the Philippines, on the night of Halloween, Filipinos return to their hometowns
and purchase candles and flowers,[197] in preparation for the following All Saints Day and All
Souls Day (Araw ng Patay) on 1 November.[198]

See also

Jack-o'-lantern
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Jack-o'-lantern (disambiguation).

A traditional jack-o'-lantern, made from a pumpkin, lit from within by acandle

A jack-o'-lantern in the shape of theWikipedia logo

A jack-o'-lantern is a carved pumpkin, or turnip, associated chiefly with the holiday

of Halloween, and was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs,
called will-o'-the-wisp or jack-o'-lantern. In a jack-o'-lantern, the top is cut off to form a lid, and
the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved out of the
pumpkin's rind to expose the hollow interior. To create the lantern effect, a light source is
placed within before the lid is closed. This is traditionally a flame or electric candle, though
pumpkin lights featuring various colors and flickering effects are also marketed specifically for
this purpose. It is common to see jack-o'-lanterns on doorsteps and otherwise used as
decorations during Halloween.

The term jack-o'-lantern is in origin a term for the visual phenomenon ignis fatuus (lit., "foolish
fire") known as a will-o'-the-wisp in English folklore. Used especially in East Anglia, its earliest
known use dates to the 1660s.[1] The term "will-o'-the-wisp" uses "wisp" (a bundle of sticks or
paper sometimes used as a torch) and the proper name "Will": thus, "Will-of-the-torch." The
term jack-o'-lantern is of the same construction: "Jack of [the] lantern." See Origin:
Folklore below.

Origin[edit]

A traditional Irish Jack-o'-Lantern in the Museum of Country Life, Ireland

Modern carving of aCornish Jack-o'-Lantern made from a turnip

The origin of Jack o' Lantern carving is uncertain. The carving of vegetables has been a
common practice in many parts of the world, with gourds being the earliest plant species
domesticated by humans c. 10,000 years ago, primarily for their carving potential.[2]Gourds
were used to carve lanterns by the Maori over 700 years ago,[3] with the Mori word for a gourd
also used to describe a lampshade.[4] There is a common belief that the custom of carving jacko'-lanterns at Hallowe'en originated in Ireland, where turnips, mangelwurzel or beets were
supposedly used.[5][6] According to historian Ronald Hutton, in the 19th century,

Hallowe'en guisers in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands commonly used jack-o'lanterns made from turnips and mangelwurzels.[7] They were "often carved with grotesque
faces to represent spirits or goblins".[7] In these areas, 31 October1 November was known
as Samhain and it was seen as a time when spirits or fairies were particularly active. Hutton
says that they were also used at Hallowe'en in Somerset (see Punkie Night) during the 19th
century.[7] Christopher Hill also writes that "jack-o'-lanterns were carved out of turnips or
squashes and were literally used as lanterns to guide guisers on All Hallows' Eve."[8] Some
claim that the Jack-o'-lanterns originated with All Saints' Day (1 November)/All Souls' Day (2
November) and represented Christian souls in purgatory.[9] Bettina Arnold writes that they were
sometimes set on windowsills to keep the harmful spirits out of one's home.[10] An 1834 account
of a Halloween night at a house in Ireland makes no mention of any jack-o'-lantern or carved
vegetables acting as lanterns,[11] nor does Robert Burns mention them in his famous poem
"Halloween".[12] Thomas Johnson Westropp does not mention them in Folklore of
Clare (1910)[13] and an "internationally accepted authority on Irish folk tradition", Sen
Silleabhin, does not mention them in Irish Folk Custom and Belief (1967).[14] So despite the
commonly held belief that the carving of the Jack-O'-Lantern was an ancient Irish custom, no
scholarly research into Irish mythology and customs includes a contemporary reference to
such a practice being present during Samhain.
There is however evidence that turnips were used to carve what was called a "Hoberdy's
Lantern" in Worcestershire, England at the end of the 18th century. The folklorist Jabez
Allies recalls how

In my juvenile days I remember to have seen peasant boys make, what they
called a " Hoberdy's Lantern," by hollowing out a turnip, and cutting eyes, nose,
and mouth therein, in the true moon-like style ; and having lighted it up by
inserting the stump of a candle, they used to place it upon a hedge to frighten
unwary travellers in the night.[15]

In literature and popular culture[edit]

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, published in 1820, has the headless
horseman with a lighted pumpkin on his saddle. After chasing Ichabod Crane, all that was left
besides his horse and hat was the smashed pumpkin or Jack o'lantern alongside the road.
The application of the term to carved pumpkins in American English is first attested in
1834.[16] The carved pumpkin lantern association with Hallowe'en is recorded in 1866 in the
U.S.[17] In the United States, the carved pumpkin was first associated with the harvest season in
general, long before it became an emblem of Hallowe'en.[18] In 1900, an article on Thanksgiving
entertaining recommended a lit jack-o'-lantern as part of the festivities.[18] The poet John
Greenleaf Whittier, who was born in Massachusetts in 1807, wrote "The Pumpkin" (1850):[19]

Oh!fruit loved of boyhood!the old days recalling,

When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!

When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,
Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!

Cornish folklorist Dr. Thomas Quiller Couch (d. 1884) recorded the use of the term in a rhyme
used in Polperro, Cornwall, in conjunction with Joan the Wad, the Cornish version of Will-o'the-wisp. The people of Polperro regarded them both as pixies. The rhyme goes:[20]

Jack o' the lantern! Joan the wad,

Who tickled the maid and made her mad

Light me home, the weather's bad.

Folklore[edit]

A commercial "R.I.P." pattern

Hallowe'en jack-o'-lantern

Pumpkin projected onto the wall

The story of the Jack-O'-lantern comes in many variants and is similar to the story of Will-o'the-wisp[21] retold in different forms acrossWestern Europe,[22] with variations being present in
the folklore of Norway, Sweden, England, Ireland, Wales, Germany, Italy and Spain.[23] An old
Irish folk tale from the mid-19th Century tells of Stingy Jack, a lazy yet shrewd blacksmith who
uses a cross to trap Satan. One story[24] says that Jack tricked Satan into climbing an apple
tree, and once he was up there Jack quickly placed crosses around the trunk or carved a cross
into the bark, so that Satan couldn't get down. Another tale[citation needed] says that Jack put a key in
Satan's pocket while he was suspended upside-down.
Another version[citation needed] of the story says that Jack was getting chased by some villagers from
whom he had stolen, when he met Satan, who claimed it was time for him to die. However, the
thief stalled his death by tempting Satan with a chance to bedevil the church-going villagers
chasing him. Jack told Satan to turn into a coin with which he would pay for the stolen goods
(Satan could take on any shape he wanted); later, when the coin (Satan) disappeared, the
Christian villagers would fight over who had stolen it. The Devil agreed to this plan. He turned
himself into a silver coin and jumped into Jack's wallet, only to find himself next to a cross Jack
had also picked up in the village. Jack had closed the wallet tight, and the cross stripped the
Devil of his powers; and so he was trapped.
In both folktales, Jack only lets Satan go when he agrees never to take his soul. After a while
the thief died, as all living things do. Of course, his life had been too sinful for Jack to go to
heaven; however, Satan had promised not to take his soul, and so he was barred from hell as
well. Jack now had nowhere to go. He asked how he would see where to go, as he had no
light, and Satan mockingly tossed him an ember from the flames of Hades, that would never
burn out. Jack carved out one of his turnips (which were his favorite food), put the ember inside
it, and began endlessly wandering the Earth for a resting place. He became known as "Jack of
the Lantern", or Jack-o'-lantern.
Jack-o-lanterns were also a way of protecting your home against the Undead. Superstitious
people used them specifically to ward away vampires. They thought this because it was said
that the Jack-o-lantern's light was a way of identifying vampires and, once their identity was
known, they would give up their hunt for you.[citation needed]

Media[edit]

In the Grim Adventures Halloween special Billy and Mandy's Jacked-Up Halloween, Jack
was depicted as the village trickster of Endsville long before the series' events. Despite
being pleasant, he constantly pulled pranks on the villagers, bad enough to make them
send a prank gift to their queen and frame Jack for it. She sent a knight to his home and do
away with him. When Grim came to reap him, Jack refused to go and managed to take
Grim's scythe, only giving it back in exchange for eternal life. When he was granted it
however, Grim, who does not like being tricked, decided to cut Jack's head off to make
sure he doesn't bother the villagers anymore. Not long afterwards, Jack had found a
pumpkin to use as a new head, giving him the name Jack o' Lantern, though he was
shunned from society and only came out every Halloween night to play his pranks.

In Quest 64, the Jack-O'-Lantern is an enemy and can be found in Windward Forest. The
element is fire for this monster.

In Bully and Bully: Scholarship Edition, there are 30 Jack-O'-Lanterns to break to get a
Jack-O'-Lantern hat. They are found Around Bullworth Academy on Halloween mission. If
not all of them are destroyed, they can be found in the Bullworth Academy Basement.

In a Smurfs comic book story, Halloween, the Smurfs' archenemy the evil
wizard Gargamel connives with a wicked witch to conjure up Jack himself to get revenge
on the Smurflings for pulling some Halloween pranks on them using pumpkin jack
o'lanterns. Unfortunately, instead of granting their request, Jack insists on carrying away
whoever summoned him. When neither Gargamel and the witch will own up to summoning
Jack, and try to pin it solely on each other, Jack punishes them both by turning Gargamel
into a pumpkin and causing a string of sausages to grow from the witch's nose.

Pumpkin craft[edit]

Pumpkin craft for Halloween, using a commercial carving pattern.

Jack-o'-lantern

Sections of the pumpkin are cut out to make holes, often depicting a face, which may be either
cheerful, scary, or comical. More complex carvings are becoming more commonly seen.
Popular figures, symbols, and logos are some that can now be seen used on pumpkins. A
variety of tools can be used to carve and hollow out the gourd, ranging from simple knives and
spoons to specialized instruments, typically sold in holiday sections of North American grocery
stores. Printed stencils can be used as a guide for increasingly complex designs. After carving,
a light source (traditionally a candle) is placed inside the pumpkin and the top is put back into
place. The light is normally inserted to illuminate the design from the inside and add an extra
measure of spookiness. Sometimes a chimney is carved, too. It is possible to create
surprisingly artistic designs, be they simple or intricate in nature.

Picking out and carving pumpkins for Halloween.

World records[edit]

A sugar cookie decorated with frosting in the shape of a jack-o'-lantern.

For a long time, Keene, New Hampshire held the world record for most jack-o'-lanterns carved
and lit in one place. The Life is goodcompany teamed up with Camp Sunshine, a camp for
children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, to break the record. A record was set
on October 21, 2006 when 30,128 jack-o'-lanterns were simultaneously lit on Boston
Common.[25] Highwood, Illinois tried to set the record on October 31, 2011 with an unofficial
count of 30,919, but did not follow the Guinness regulations so the record did not
count. "Highwood sets pumpkin-carving record - Highland Park News".
Highlandpark.suntimes.com. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
On October 19, 2013, Keene, New Hampshire broke the Boston record and became once
again the current world record for most lit jack-o'-lanterns on display with 30,581. Keene has
now broken the record 8 times since the original attempt.[26]

The world's largest jack-o'-lantern was carved from the then-world's-largest pumpkin on
October 31, 2005 in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania, United States by Scott Cully. The
pumpkin was grown by Larry Checkon and weighed 1,469 lb (666.33 kg) on October 1, 2005 at
the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association Weigh-off.[27]

Halloween
Para otros usos de este trmino, vase Halloween (desambiguacin).

Halloween

Elementos clsicos de Halloween.

Nombre

Halloween

oficial

Otros

Samhain o Noche de Brujas.

nombres

Origen de la Celta
celebracin

Da de

31 de octubre

celebracin

Celebrado

Siglo XIX

desde

Lugar de

Canad, Estados Unidos, Irlanda,Reino

celebracin

Unido principalmente, en lospases

anglosajones en menor medida,
en Chile, Colombia,Mxico, Per y gran parte
deEspaa

Halloween (contraccin de All Hallows' Eve, 'Vspera de Todos los Santos'), tambin conocido
como Noche de brujas o Da de brujas, es una fiesta de origen celta que se celebra en la
noche del 31 de octubre, sobre todo en pases anglosajones comoCanad, Estados
Unidos, Irlanda o Reino Unido y, en menor medida,
en Chile, Colombia, Mxico, Per, Venezuela, o el conjunto de Latinoamrica, y en gran parte
de Espaa. A pesar de ser pases verdaderamente anglosajones, en Australia y Nueva
Zelanda no se observa tanto como en otros pases.
Sus races estn vinculadas con la conmemoracin celta del Samhain y la
festividad cristiana del Da de Todos los Santos, celebrada por los catlicos el 1 de
noviembre. Se trata en gran parte de un festejo secular, aunque algunos consideran que
posee un trasfondo religioso. Los inmigrantes irlandeses transmitieron versiones de la
tradicin a Amrica del Norte durante laGran hambruna irlandesa.
El da se asocia a menudo con los colores naranja, negro y morado y est fuertemente ligado
a smbolos como la jack-o'-lantern. Las actividades tpicas de Halloween son el famoso truco o
trato y las fiestas de disfraces, adems de las hogueras, la visita decasas encantadas, las
bromas, la lectura de historias de miedo y el visionado de pelculas de terror.

Historia
Origen del nombre
La palabra Halloween [/hl.in/] es usada como tal por primera vez en el siglo XVI, y
proviene de una variacin escocesa de la expresin inglesa "All Hallows' Even" (tambin
usada "All Hallows' Eve") que significa vspera de todos los Santos.

Origen celta

Noche de morder manzanas,

por el artista irlands Daniel Maclise, 1833.
Se inspira en una fiesta de Halloween a la que asisti en Blarney, Irlanda, en 1832.

Halloween tiene su origen en una festividad cltica conocida como Samhain, que deriva
del irlands antiguo y significa fin del verano.1 Los antiguos britanos tenan una festividad
similar conocida como Calan Gaeaf. En el Samhain se celebraba el final de la temporada de
cosechas en la cultura celtaNota 1 y era considerada como el Ao nuevo celta, que
comenzaba con la estacin oscura.2 3
Los antiguos celtas crean que la lnea que une a este mundo con el Otro Mundo se
estrechaba con la llegada del Samhain, permitiendo a los espritus (tanto benvolos como
malvolos) pasar a travs. Los ancestros familiares eran invitados y homenajeados mientras
que los espritus dainos eran alejados. Se cree que el uso de trajes y mscaras se debe a la
necesidad de ahuyentar a los espritus malignos. Su propsito era adoptar la apariencia de un
espritu maligno para evitar ser daado. En Escocia los espritus fueron suplantados por
hombres jvenes vestidos de blanco con mscaras o la cara pintada de negro.4 5
El Samhain tambin era un momento para hacer balance de los suministros de alimentos y
el ganado para prepararse para el invierno. Las hogueras tambin desempearon un papel
importante en las festividades. Todos los otros fuegos se apagaban y en cada hogar se
encenda una hoguera en la chimenea. Los huesos de los animales sacrificados se lanzaban a
la hoguera.6
Otra prctica comn era la adivinacin, que a menudo implicaba el consumo de alimentos y
bebidas, e incluso en Asturias se celebraban banquetes en las tumbas de antepasados.7

La tradicin romana
Cuando tuvo lugar la ocupacin romana de los dominios celtas la festividad fue asimilada por
estos. Aunque ya se celebraban los ltimos das de octubre y primeros denoviembre una
festividad conocida como la fiesta de la cosecha, en honor a Pomona (diosa de los rboles
frutales), se mezclaron ambas tradiciones. Las manzanas eran muy populares y pronto
formaron parte de la celebracin.

Institucionalizacin del Halloween por la Iglesia catlica

Artculo principal: Da de Todos los Santos

En una poca en la que predominaban las festividades paganas,8 los papas Gregorio
III (731741) y Gregorio IV (827844) intentaron suplantarla por una festividad catlica (Da de
Todos los Santos) que fue trasladada del 13 de mayo al 1 de noviembre.

Expansin a Norteamrica

Cartel que anuncia la llegada de Halloween en1904.

En 1840 esta festividad llega a Estados Unidos y Canad, donde queda fuertemente
arraigada. Los inmigrantes irlandeses transmitieron versiones de la tradicin durante la Gran
hambruna irlandesa. Fueron ellos quienes difundieron la costumbre de tallar los jack-o'lantern(calabaza gigante hueca con una vela dentro) [cita requerida], inspirada en la leyenda de
Jack el Tacao.
Sin embargo, la fiesta no comenz a celebrarse masivamente hasta 1921. Ese ao se celebr
el primer desfile de Halloween en Minnesota y luego le siguieron otros estados. La fiesta
adquiri una progresiva popularidad en las siguientes dcadas.
La internacionalizacin de Halloween se produjo a finales de los aos 70 y principios de los 80
gracias al cine y a las series de televisin. En 1978, se estrenaba en Estados Unidos y en el
mundo entero Halloween, de John Carpenter; una pelcula ambientada en la vspera de Todos
los Santos que supuso una referencia para el cine de terror de serie B; con innumerables
secuelas e imitaciones.

Actualidad
Hoy en da, Halloween es una de las fechas ms importantes del calendario festivo
estadounidense y canadiense. Algunos pases latinoamericanos, conociendo an esta
festividad, tienen sus propias tradiciones y celebraciones ese mismo da, aunque coinciden en
cuanto a su significado: la unin o extrema cercana del mundo de los vivos y el reino de los
muertos. En Europa son muchas las ciudades en las que los jvenes han decidido importar el
modo con el que Estados Unidos concibe Halloween celebrndolo con fiestas y disfraces.
Aunque en algunos lugares, como Inglaterra, la fiesta original ha arraigado de nuevo.
El hecho de que esta fiesta haya llegado hasta nuestros das es, en cierta medida, gracias al
enorme despliegue comercial y la publicidad engendrada en el cineestadounidense. La

imagen de nios norteamericanos correteando por las oscuras calles disfrazados

de duendes, fantasmas y demonios, pidiendo dulces y golosinas a los habitantes de un oscuro
y tranquilo barrio, ha quedado grabada en la mente de muchas personas.
En esa noche los espritus visitaban las casas de sus familiares, y para que los espritus no les
perturbasen los aldeanos deban poner una vela en la ventana de su casa por cada difunto
que hubiese en la familia. Si haba una vela en recuerdo de cada difunto los espritus no
molestaban a sus familiares, si no era as los espritus les perturbaban por la noche y les
hacan caer entre terribles pesadillas.

Comida
Dado que Halloween coincide con la temporada de la cosecha de las manzanas cada ao,
las manzanas de caramelo (conocidas como manzanas acarameladas fuera de Norteamrica),
y las manzanas dulces son comunes durante las fiestas.
Las manzanas de caramelo se les daban comnmente a los nios, pero la prctica se
desvaneci rpidamente en la estela de rumores generalizados de que algunos individuos
incrustaban objetos como clavos y cuchillas de afeitar en las manzanas en los Estados
Unidos. Si bien hay pruebas de este tipo de incidentes, son muy raros y nunca han dado lugar
a lesiones graves. Muchos padres suponen que estas prcticas atroces fueron exageradas por
los medios de comunicacin. En la cumbre de la histeria, algunos hospitales ofrecan
gratuitamente rayos X para los nios en Halloween, con el fin de encontrar evidencia de
manipulacin. Se conocen pocos casos de intoxicacin por caramelos manipulados.
Una costumbre que persiste hoy en da en Irlanda es la preparacin o la compra de un pastel
de frutas, en el que se coloca un anillo simple, una moneda y otros encantos antes de hornear.
Se dice que aquellos que encuentran un anillo encontrarn su verdadero amor el ao
siguiente. Esta tradicin es similar a la del roscn de Reyes en la fiesta de la Epifana.

Truco o trato
Artculo principal: Dulce o truco

Originalmente el truco o trato (en ingls Trick-or-treat) era una leyenda popular de
origen cltico segn la cual no solo los espritus de los difuntos eran libres de vagar por la
Tierra la noche de Halloween, sino toda clase de entes procedentes de todos los reinos
espirituales. Entre ellos haba uno terriblemente malvolo que deambulaba por pueblos y
aldeas, yendo de casa en casa pidiendo precisamente truco o trato. La leyenda asegura
que lo mejor era hacer trato, sin importar el costo que ste tuviera, pues de no pactar con este
espritu (que recibira el nombre de jack-o'-lantern, con el que se conocen a las tradicionales
calabazas de Halloween) l usara sus poderes para hacer truco, que consistira
en maldecir la casa y a sus habitantes, dndoles toda clase de infortunios y maldiciones como
enfermar a la familia, matar al ganado con pestes o hasta quemar la propia vivienda. Como

proteccin surgi la idea de crear en las calabazas formas horrendas, para as evitar
encontrarse con dicho espectro (y con el tiempo, debido a la asociacin mental entre el
espritu y las calabazas[cita requerida], el nombre de este sera dado a ellas, que es como son
conocidas hoy da cuando llega esta fiesta).
Realmente, aunque se ha generalizado la traduccin truco en castellano por el ingls trick
y trato literalmente por treat, en el caso del Trick-or-treating no se trata de un truco
propiamente dicho sino ms bien de un susto o una broma por lo que una traduccin ms
exacta sera por ejemplo susto o dulce o travesura o dulce.
En la actualidad, los nios se disfrazan para la ocasin y pasean por las calles pidiendo dulces
de puerta en puerta. Despus de llamar a la puerta los nios pronuncian la frase truco o
trato, truco o dulce o travesura o dulce (proveniente de la expresin inglesa trick or
treat). Si los adultos les dan caramelos, dinero o cualquier otro tipo de recompensa, se
interpreta que han aceptado el trato. Si por el contrario se niegan, los chicos les gastarn una
pequea broma, siendo la ms comn arrojar huevos o espuma de afeitar contra la puerta.
En Mxico existe una versin denominada Calaverita en la que los nios preguntan Me da
usted mi calaverita? en lugar de Truco o Trato? refirindose a un dulce con forma de
calavera.
El recorrido infantil en busca de golosinas probablemente enlace con la
tradicin neerlandesa de la Fiesta de San Martn[cita requerida]

Jack-o'-lantern
Artculo principal: Jack-o'-lantern

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Narra una leyenda irlandesa que haba un pillo de nombre Jack, el Tacao. El diablo, a quien
lleg el rumor de tan negra alma, acudi a comprobar si efectivamente era un rival de
semejante calibre. Disfrazado como un hombre normal acudi al pueblo de ste y se puso a
beber con l durante largas horas, revelando su identidad tras ver que en efecto Jack era un

eautntico malvado. Cuando Lucifer le dijo que vena a llevrselo para hacerle pagar por sus
pecados, Jack le pidi que bebieran juntos una ronda ms, como ltima voluntad. El diablo se
lo concedi, pero al ir a pagar ninguno de los dos tena dinero, as que Jack ret a Lucifer a
convertirse en una moneda para demostrar sus poderes. Satans lo hizo, pero en lugar de
pagar con la moneda, Jack la meti en su bolsillo, donde llevaba un crucifijo de plata. Incapaz
de salir de all el diablo orden al granjero que le dejara libre, pero Jack respondi que no lo
hara a menos que prometiera volver al infierno para no molestarle durante un ao.
Transcurrido ese tiempo, el diablo apareci de nuevo en casa de Jack para llevrselo al
inframundo, pero de nuevo Jack pidi un ltimo deseo, en este caso, que el amo de las
tinieblas cogiera una manzana situada en lo alto de un rbol para as tener una ltima comida
antes de su tormento eterno. Lucifer accedi, pero cuando se hallaba trepado en el rbol, Jack
tall una cruz en su tronco para que no pudiera escapar. En esta ocasin pidi no ser
molestado en diez aos, adems de otra condicin: que nunca pudiera el diablo reclamar su
alma para el inframundo. Satans accedi y Jack se vio libre de su amenaza.
Su destino no fue mejor: tras morir (mucho antes de transcurridos esos diez aos pactados),
Jack se aprest a ir al cielo, pero fue detenido en las puertas de San Pedro, impidindosele el
paso pues no podan aceptarle por su mala vida pasada, siendo enviado al infierno. Para su
desgracia all tampoco podan aceptarlo debido al trato que haba realizado con el diablo,
quien de paso le expuls de su reino y, despechado, le arroj a Jack unas ascuas ardientes
cuales el granjero atrap con un nabo hueco, mientras burlonamente agradeca la improvisada
linterna que as obtuvo. Condenado a deambular por los caminos, anduvo sin ms luz que la
ya dicha linterna en su eterno vagar entre los reinos del bien y del mal. Con el paso del tiempo
Jack el Tacao fue conocido como Jack el de la Linterna o Jack of the Lantern, nombre que
se abrevi al definitivo Jack O'Lantern. Esta es la razn de usar nabos (y ms tarde
calabazas, al imitar con su color el resplandor de las ascuas infernales) para alumbrar el
camino a los difuntos en Halloween, y tambin el motivo de decorar las casas con estas
figuras horrendas (para evitar que Jack llamara a la puerta de las casas y proponer Dulces o
travesuras).

Samhain
Samhain [/s un /] es la festividad de origen celta ms importante del periodo pagano que
domin Europa hasta su conversin al cristianismo, en la que la noche del 31 de octubre al 1
de noviembre serva como celebracin del final de la temporada de cosechas en la cultura
celtan 1 y era considerada como el Ao Nuevo Celta, que comenzaba con la estacin
oscura. Es tanto una fiesta de transicin (el paso de un ao a otro) como de apertura al otro
mundo. Su etimologa es galica y significa 'fin del verano'.
Ha sido practicada desde hace ms de tres mil aos por los pueblos celtas que han poblado
toda Europa.

En la actualidad del Samhain contina celebrndose por los seguidores de movimientos

religiosos neopaganos, como la wicca(vase Rueda del Ao)n 2 y el druidismo

El druidismo[editar]
Artculo principal: Druida

Sobre la religin de los druidas, no sabemos mucho pues no escribieron sobre ella, todo se
transmita de generacin en generacin. S sabemos que las festividades del Samhain se
celebraban muy posiblemente entre el 5 de noviembre y el 7 de noviembre (a la mitad
del equinoccio de otoo y el solsticio de invierno) con una serie de festividades que duraban
una semana, finalizando con la fiesta de los espritus y con ello se iniciaba el ao nuevo
celta. Esta fiesta de los espritus era una de sus fiestas principales pues celebraban lo que
para los cristianos sera el cielo y la tierra (conceptos que llegaron solo con el cristianismo).
Para ellos el lugar de los espritus era un lugar de felicidad perfecta en la que no haba hambre
ni dolor. Los celtas celebraban esta fiesta con ritos en los cuales, los sacerdotes druidas,
sirviendo como mdium, se comunicaban con sus antepasados esperando ser guiados en
esta vida hacia la inmortal. Se dice que los espritus de los ancestros venan en esa fecha a
visitar sus antiguos hogares.

El cristianismo[editar]
Vanse tambin: Cristianismo y Da de Todos los Santos.

Desde el siglo IV la Iglesia de Siria consagraba un da a festejar a Todos los Mrtires. Tres
siglos ms tarde el Papa Bonifacio IV (615) transform un templo romano dedicado a todos los
dioses (panten) en un templo cristiano dedicndolo a Da de todos los Santos, a todos
aquellos que los haban precedido en la fe. La fiesta en honor de Todos los Santos
inicialmente se celebraba el 13 de mayo, pero fue el Papa Gregorio III (741) quien la cambi
de fecha al 1 de noviembre, que era el da de la Dedicacin de la Capilla de Todos los
Santos en la Baslica de San Pedro en Roma. Ms tarde, en el ao 840, el Papa Gregorio
IV orden que la Fiesta de Todos los Santos se celebrara universalmente. Como fiesta
mayor, sta tambin tuvo su celebracin vespertina en la vigilia para preparar la fiesta (31
de octubre). Esta vigilia vespertina del da anterior a la fiesta de Todos los Santos, dentro de la
cultura Inglesa se tradujo al ingls como: All Hallow's Eve (en ingls: All Hallow's
Eve, (Vigilia de Todos los Santos)?. Con el paso del tiempo su pronunciacin fue cambiando
primero a All Hallowed Eve, posteriormente cambio a All Hallow Een para terminar en la
palabra que hoy conocemos Halloween.
Existen algunas prcticas tradicionales en las naciones celtas que an conservan la herencia
de dicha fiesta, como las disporas irlandesa y escocesa.

La misma palabra fue usada para nombrar un mes en el antiguo calendario celta, en particular
a las primeras tres noches de este mes con el festival marcando el final del verano y de las
cosechas. En los idiomas galicos Samhain es la palabra para noviembre y puede
significar fin del verano.

Samhain en la cultura celta[editar]

Vanse tambin: Celta y Halloween.

El calendario celta divida el ao en dos partes, la mitad oscura comenzando en el mes

de Samonios (lunacin octubre-noviembre), y la mitad clara, comenzando en el mes
deGiamonios (lunacin abril-mayo). Se consideraba que el ao comenzaba con la mitad
oscura, as Samonios se converta en el ao nuevo celta. Todos los meses comenzaban con
la luna llena y la celebracin del ao nuevo tomaba lugar durante las tres noches de
Samonios, la luna llena ms cercana entre el equinoccio de otoo y el solsticio de invierno.
Las lunas llenas marcaban el punto medio de cada mitad del ao durante las cuales se
celebraban festivales. El calendario de Coligny marca la luna de pleno verano, sin embargo,
omite la de pleno invierno. El calendario fue diseado para alinear las lunaciones con el ciclo
agrcola, y la posicin astronmica exacta del Sol se consideraba menos importante.
En la Irlanda medieval, Samhain permaneci como la principal festividad, celebrado con una
gran asamblea en la corte real de Tara, durando tres noches, consistente con el testimonio
galo.
La festividad cltica del Samhainn 3 se describe como una comunin con los espritus de los
difuntos que, en esta fecha, tenan autorizacin para caminar entre los vivos, dndosele a la
gente la oportunidad de reunirse con sus antepasados muertos. Para mantener a los espritus
contentos y alejar a los malos de sus hogares, dejaban comida fuera, una tradicin que
evolucion convirtindose en lo que hoy hacen los nios yendo de casa en casa pidiendo
dulces.
Despus de que los romanos conquistaran gran parte de los territorios celtas, estos
influenciaron el mundo cltico con sus festivales a la diosa romana de la cosecha, Pomona.
Ms tarde, los cristianos calificaron las celebraciones celtas como una prctica hertica,
destruyendo bajo este pretexto gran cantidad de la cultura, monumentos, y tradicionesceltas,
para afianzar su dominio poltico y social del viejo continente. Fue la poca de sometimiento
de los pueblos libres paganos, que eran convertidos al cristianismo demonizando sus
creencias, adoptando sus festivales, y convirtindolos al cristianismo. As, el de Samain se
convirti en el da de Todos los Santos, de donde deriva el nombre ingls de Halloween.
Por el Samhain era costumbre vaciar nabos (posteriormente calabazas, debido a una tradicin
irlandesa) para ponerles dentro velas. Varios siglos despus, esta tradicin (que renace en la

actualidad gracias al movimiento neo-pagano) tiene continuidad en el actual Halloween,

exportacin de los irlandeses a Estados Unidos en el siglo XIX y principios del XX.

Samhain (Saman) en la cultura gallega[editar]

Vase tambin: Galicia

Rafael Lpez Loureiro, maestro de escuela de Cedeira (La Corua) fue el responsable de
redescubrir esta tradicin y comprobar que exista por toda Galicia hasta hace menos de
treinta aos. Adems, tambin comprob su pervivencia en el norte de Cceres, alrededor de
la zona en la que estn situadas las aldeas de habla gallega, y en zonas deZamora y
de Len cercanas a Galicia y donde la lengua y las tradiciones gallegas estn muy arraigadas.
Adems, este estudioso analiz la relacin de la costumbre de las calabazas con el culto a la
muerte y a semejanza con las tradiciones hermanas de las islas britnicas. Hasta lleg a
detectar peculiaridades como la de Quiroga (Lugo), donde la calabaza tallada se seca y se
conserva para usarla como mscara en el Entroido. Su trabajo sobre esta tradicin, recogido
en el libro Caliveras de meln (calaveras de meln) y en otra de posterior aparicin, empez
a llamar la atencin de los antroplogos. Lo que no tuvo en cuenta Lpez Loureiro es la
relacin entre el Samain y Magosto.
Hoy en da se celebra con gran arraigo el Samhain o Saman (adaptacin al gallego de la
palabra galica) en algunas de las ciudades y pueblos de Galicia, como La
Corua,Ferrol, Cedeira, etc.
En la villa de Ribadava se celebra cada 31 de octubre la fiesta "a noite meiga" (la noche
embrujada) en la que la ciudad "se llena" de fantasmas, brujas, vampiros... El castillo es lugar
de un gran pasaje del terror, entre otras actividades.

Samhain en la leyenda celta irlandesa[editar]

Artculo principal: Irlanda

El Ciclo de Ulster est salpicado de referencias al Samhain. Muchas de las aventuras y

campaas emprendidas por los personajes comienzan en la fiesta de la noche de Samhain.
Algunos ejemplos de estas historias presentes en el folclore irlands son:

Echtra Nerai, la aventura de Nera; y

Cath Maige Tuired, en la que las deidades Morrigan y Dagda se renen y mantienen
relaciones sexuales antes de combatir contra los fomorianos, una raza semi-divina que
habitaba Irlanda en tiempos antiguos.

Renovacin de Samhain evitando la influencia de Estados

Unidos[editar]

Lpez Loureiro tambin divulgo la tradicin de las calabazas y su relacin con el Samhain por
colegios y asociaciones de todo tipo, lo que est provocando que cada vez haya ms lugares
en los que se celebra esta fiesta sin pasar por la influencia de Estados Unidos. Tambin
promovi, hace trece aos, del Samhain que an hoy se celebra enCedeira (La Corua).
Primero desde la asociacin Chirlateira, y despus desde Amigos do Saman,
organizando cada ao una exposicin y un premio a la calabaza mejor esculpida. Adems, se
celebra una procesin de nimas, en la que los jvenes de la villa desfilan por las calles
disfrazados y portando luces como si fuesen la Santa Compaa. Hay una merienda y actan
grupos de animacin. Desde hace tres aos se conceden los premios anuales del Samhain
otorgados a Isaac Daz Pardo a Xaqun Marny al grupo Milladoiro. El acto de entrega se
celebra en una caldeirada cultural, y la fiesta se cierra con el De aqu nun ano, un pregn
que se lee al final del evento.
Heredera directa de la fiesta de Cedeira el Samam o Festa das Cabaas que celebra la
agrupacin A Revolta, integrada en la Fundaom Artbria de Ferrol (La Corua). Despus de
un ao de participacin en el Saman del norte, introdujeron en el casco urbano de Ferrol (La
Corua) el tallado de calabazas. Adems del obradoiro y de la posterior exposicin.
Desde Artbria reconocen que la tradicin del tallado no se conservaba en la ciudad, pero si
que haba recuerdos en todas las aldeas de los alrededores, especialmente hacia la zona
Norte. En Narn (La Corua) est desde hace bastante tiempo la fiesta organizada por la
Asociacin de Vecios de San Mateo. En Ferrolterra (La Corua) la Festa das Caveiras
de Naraho. En Palmeira la fiesta organizada por el colegio pblico.
Un texto teatral, Indo para o Saman, de Carlos Labraa, ensea a los ms pequeos esta
tradicin gallega. Un cuento de Celia de Sa, del programa Plis Plas de la Radio Galega,
recoge tambin esta tradicin, y la revista que publicaba el programa le dedic varios aos
artculos. El semanario A Nosa Terra recoga tambin en sus pginas esta tradicin, y a
medida que se va acercando el Da de Difuntos son cada vez ms las pginas de que recogen
la existencia de esta costumbre. Poco a poco el Saman est ganado popularidad dentro de
las tradiciones gallegas.

Fuego fatuo
Este artculo o seccin necesita referencias que aparezcan en una publicacin
acreditada, como revistas especializadas, monografas, prensa diaria o
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Puedes aadirlas o avisar al autor principal del artculo en su pgina de discusin
pegando: {{subst:Aviso referencias|Fuego fatuo}} ~~~~

Para la habilidad innata de la raza drow, presente en relatos de la literatura fantstica,

vase Fuego ferico.

Imitacin de un fuego fatuo.

Un fuego fatuo (en latn ignis fatuus) es un fenmeno consistente aparentemente en

la inflamacin de ciertas materias (fsforo, principalmente) que se elevan de las sustancias
animales o vegetales en putrefaccin, y forman pequeas llamas que se ven andar por el aire
a poca distancia de la superficie, se encuentran en los lugares pantanosos y en
loscementerios. Son luces plidas que pueden verse a veces de noche o al anochecer. Se
dice que los fuegos fatuos retroceden al aproximarse a ellos. Existen muchas leyendas sobre
ellos, lo que hace que muchos sean reacios a aceptar explicaciones cientficas, ya que desde
antao las personas han tenido este fenmeno como el alma de un ser fallecido.

Teoras sobre su origen[editar]

Una posible explicacin naturalista y cientfica para el fenmeno es que la oxidacin de
la fosfina y los gases de metano producidos por la descomposicin de
materiasorgnicas puede producir la aparicin de luces brillando en el aire. Experimentos
realizados por ejemplo por el cientfico italiano Luigi Garlaschelli han reproducido las luces al
aadir sustancias qumicas a los gases producidos por compuestos en putrefaccin, sin
producir dichas luces ignicin alguna. Los crticos afirman que esta teora no explica
fcilmente los casos en los que se han descrito luces balancendose, bajando, volando arriba
y abajo o movindose contra el viento.
William Corliss escribe en Remarkable Luminous Phenomena in Nature (Sourcebook Project,
Glen Arm, MD, 2001:290): No se ha demostrado mecanismo satisfactorio alguno donde los
gases que emanan de zonas pantanosas ardan espontneamente. Ms an, la mayora de las
luces nocturnas bajas son fras, que no es lo que se esperara de la combustin del metano.
Adems, nadie ha explicado cmo las nubes de gas luminoso pueden mantener su tamao y
forma mientras se mueven errticamente durante varios minutos.
Otros creen que organismos bioluminiscentes (por ejemplo el hongo fluorecente Armillaria
mellea) o la fosforescencia natural de las sales de calcio presentes en las osamentas
provocan la luz. Otras explicaciones incluyen causas similares a las del rayo globular.

Ms recientemente, bajo la ms amplia etiqueta de luces terrestres, ciertas

teoras pseudocientficas sobre cmo se producen han sido propuestas por los profesores
Derr y Persinger, y por Paul Deveraux. Derr y Persinger propusieron la teora de que las luces
terrestres pueden ser generadas por la tensin tectnica, que calentara las rocas vaporizando
el agua que contienen. Las rocas piezoelctricas como el cuarzo producen as electricidad,
que es conducida por esta columna de agua vaporizada hasta que alcanza la superficie,
apareciendo como luces terrestres. Esta teora implicara que la mayora de las luces
terrestres se dan en lugares con tensin tectnica. De ser correcta, explicara por qu tales
luces suelen comportarse de forma errtica e incluso a veces aparentemente inteligente,
desafiando a menudo las leyes de la gravedad. Sin embargo, la explicacin de Deveraux es
ms amplia, pues ste piensa que la relacin entre las luces y el paisaje es ms dbil, estando
tambin relacionadas probablemente con muchas otras cosas: condiciones climticas,
orografa, lneas telricas, nivel fretico, etctera. Esta explicacin, sin embargo, es rechazada
por la mayora de los expertos por no ser cientfica.
Sin embargo, otras explicaciones tericas parecidas que incluyen la emanacin de luz por
parte de corrientes elctricas producidas naturalmente no incluyen elementos
pseudocientficos. Adems, las teoras basadas en fenmenos elctricos explican ms
fcilmente el movimiento aparentemente libre atribuido a las luces y la reaccin de stas a la
introduccin de objetos cercanos (incluyendo seres humanos).

Mitos y leyendas[editar]
Entre la poblacin rural europea, especialmente en la cultura popular galica y eslava, se cree
que los fuegos fatuos o "will-o'-the-wisp" (nombre comn en el Reino Unido)
sonespritus malignos de muertos u otros seres sobrenaturales que intentan desviar a los
viajeros de su camino, alejndose cada vez que alguien trata de acercarse (comprese con
el puck). A veces se cree que son espritus de nios sin bautizar o nacidos muertos, que
revolotean entre el cielo y el infierno (comprese con wili). Modernas
elaboracionesocultistas los relacionan con la salamandra, un tipo de espritu completamente
independiente de los seres humanos (a diferencia de los fantasmas, que se supone que han
sido humanos en algn momento anterior). Tambin encajan en la descripcin de ciertos tipos
de hada, que pueden o no haber sido almas humanas.
Se cree que el Hitodama (la imagen clsica de las almas como una llama o bola de humo azul
o verde) que aparece en el folklore japons tuvo su origen en los fuegos fatuos.
En el folklore hngaro es conocido como lidrc y se suele crear colocando un huevo de gallina
negra bajo una axila. Esta criatura proteger y bendecir con salud y riqueza a su dueo y
creador. Igualmente, el fuego fatuo aparece en numerosas leyendas populares de las Islas
Britnicas, siendo a menudo en ellas un personaje malicioso. En su libroBritish

Goblins, William Wirt Sikes menciona una leyenda galesa sobre un fuego fatuo
(pwca en gals) en la que un campesino que vuelve a casa al anochecer avista una luz
brillante movindose bastante por delante de l. Desde ms cerca, logra ver que la luz es
una linterna portada por una pequea figura oscura a la que sigue durante varias millas. De
repente se halla en el borde de una enorme sima con un rugiente torrente de agua corriendo
bajo l. En este preciso momento el portador de la linterna salta cruzando el agujero, elevando
la luz muy por encima de su cabeza y lanzando una risa maliciosa, tras lo cual apaga la luz
dejando al pobre campesino lejos de su casa, sumido en la oscuridad al borde del precipicio.
sta es una historia cautelar bastante comn sobre el fenmeno, si bien los fuegos fatuos no
siempre se consideran peligrosos; hay algunas leyendas que los hacen guardianes de tesoros,
de forma muy parecida a como el leprechaun irlands guiaba a los que tenan la valenta de
seguirlo hasta riquezas seguras. Otras historias tratan sobre viajeros que se pierden en
el bosque, se encuentran con un fuego fatuo y dependiendo de cmo le tratan ste los pierden
an ms en l o le guan fuera.
Katherine Briggs menciona a Will el Herrero de Shropshire en su Diccionario de las hadas. En
este caso Will es un herrero malvado a quien San Pedro le da una segunda oportunidad en las
puertas del Cielo, pero que lleva tan mala vida que termina siendo condenado a vagar por la
Tierra. El diablo le provee de un nico carbn ardiente con el que calentarse, que entonces l
usa para atraer a los viajeros imprudentes a los pantanos.
En algunas zonas rurales de Venezuela existe la leyenda de que los fuegos fatuos son los
espritus del conquistador espaol Lope de Aguirre y sus hombres, que no encuentran reposo
en el ms all y vagan por este mundo.

Literatura[editar]
En la literatura, el fuego fatuo tiene a menudo un significado metafrico, describiendo
cualquier esperanza o meta que gua a alguien pero que es imposible de alcanzar, o algo que
uno encuentra siniestro y desconcertante.
Algunos ejemplos de referencias en la literatura son:

En el cuento esotrico de Johann Wolfgang von Goethe La serpiente verde y la bella

azucena: Al salir delante de la puerta vio dos grandes fuegos fatuos flotando encima del
bote amarrado y le aseguraron que se hallaban en los ms grandes apuros y que estaban
deseosos de verse ya en la otra orilla....

El poema de Samuel Taylor Coleridge Balada del viejo marinero describe el fuego fatuo.
Dicho poema fue publicado por primera vez en las Baladas lricas, en 1798.

Alrededor, alrededor, por un lado y por el otro

Los fuegos-de-la-muerte bailaban a la noche;

El agua, como leos de una bruja

Arda verde, y azul, y blanco.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Balada del viejo marinero, en Baladas lricas.

En El vizconde demediado, de Italo Calvino; el doctor Trelawney, va a hacer

investigaciones al bosque y al cementerio en busca de fuegos fatuos para capturarlos.

En el inicio de la ms conocida obra de Bram Stoker, Drcula, el protagonista, Jonathan

Harker es conducido por un misterioso cochero hacia un castillo durante la Noche de
Walpurgis. El joven observa cmo el conductor se baja de cuando en cuando del carruaje
en pos de unos fuegos fatuos que iluminan fugazmente el camino. Ms tarde descubrir
que el personaje no es otro que el Conde Drcula y que segua las luces porque
marcaban el lugar de tesoros enterrados.

La raza anhela adorar. Puede adorar lo simple o venerar lo obvio? Toda la mitologa y
el folclore eleva una indignada protesta en el pensamiento. El sol daba luz, por tanto no
era gas caliente ni llama, sino un dios o un carro. El ignus fatuus engaaba a los hombres
por la noche. Era un espritu; nada tan simple como la descomposicinpoda cubrir la
necesidad. El secreto de la victoria de George Patton, escrito el 26 de marzo de 1926.

El poeta flamenco Willem Elsschot, alias Alfons-Jozef De Ridder, escribi Het

dwaallicht (Fuego fatuo) en 1946.

J. R. R. Tolkien menciona en El seor de los anillos (publicado por primera vez en 1954
1955) luces de los pantanos en las Cinagas de los Muertos:

Por ltimo Sam no pudo contenerse:

Qu es todo esto, Gollum? dijo en un murmullo. Estas luces? Ahora nos rodean por
todas partes. Nos han atrapado? Quines son?
Gollum alz la cabeza. Se encontraba delante del agua oscura y se arrastraba en el suelo, a
derecha e izquierda, sin saber por dnde ir.
S, nos rodean por todas partes murmur. Los fuegos fatuos. Los cirios de los cadveres,
s, s. No les prestes atencin! No las mires! No las sigas! Dnde est el amo?
Sam volvi la cabeza y advirti que Frodo se haba retrasado otra vez. No lo vea. Volvi sobre sus
pasos en las tinieblas, sin atreverse a ir demasiado lejos, ni a llamar en voz ms alta que un ronco
murmullo. Sbitamente tropez con Frodo, que inmvil y absorto contemplaba las luces plidas.
Las manos rgidas le colgaban a los costados del cuerpo: goteaban agua y lodo.
Venga, seor Frodo! dijo Sam. No las mire! Gollum dice que no hay que mirarlas.
J. R. R. Tolkien, A travs de las cinagas en Las dos torres.

Da de Todos los Santos

Da de Todos los Santos

Todos los Santos, pintado por Fra Angelico.

Da de celebracin

Catlicos: 1 de noviembre
Ortodoxos: el primer domingo despus
de Pentecosts

Lugar de celebracin Internacional

El Da de Todos los Santos es una tradicin catlica instituida en honor a todos los santos,
conocidos y desconocidos, segn el papa Urbano IV, para compensar cualquier falta a las
fiestas de los santos durante el ao por parte de los fieles. En diversos lugares del mundo se
celebra la tradicin de honrar y traer a la memoria a las personas que han muerto.
En muchos pases el invierno est asociado a la estacin ms lgubre y fra. La "muerte" de la
Naturaleza, segn la tradicin, se iniciaba cuarenta das despus del equinoccio de otoo (22
de septiembre), precisamente con el Da de Todos los Santos, el 1 de noviembre. Se rinde
culto a los muertos y en estos das (el da 2 es el da de las almas, da de los muertos) y se
vinculan con la vuelta de sus almas durante estos das y a diversas manifestaciones de su
presencia entre nosotros.

Historia[editar]
La Iglesia primitiva acostumbraba a celebrar el aniversario de la muerte de un mrtir en el
lugar del martirio. Frecuentemente, los grupos de mrtires moran el mismo da, lo cual
condujo naturalmente a una celebracin comn. En la persecucin de Diocleciano, el nmero
de mrtires lleg a ser tan grande, que no se poda separar un da para asignrsela. Pero la
Iglesia, creyendo que cada mrtir deba ser venerado, seal un da en comn para todos. La
primera muestra de ello se remonta a Antioqua en el Domingo antes de Pentecosts.
Tambin se menciona este da en comn en un sermn de San Efrn el Sirio en 373. En un
principio, slo los mrtires y San Juan Bautista eran honrados por un da especial. Otros
santos se fueron asignando gradualmente, y se increment cuando el proceso regular de
canonizacin fue establecido; an, a principios de 411 haba en el Calendario caldeo de los

cristianos orientales una Commemoratio Confessorum para el viernes. En la Iglesia de

Occidente, el papa Bonifacio IV, entre el 609 y 610, consagr el Panten de Roma a la
Santsima Virgen y a todos los mrtires, dndole un aniversario.
Gregorio III (731-741) consagr una capilla en la Baslica de San Pedro a todos los santos y
fij el aniversario para el 1 de noviembre. Gregorio IV extendi la celebracin del 1 de
noviembre a toda la Iglesia, a mediados del siglo IX.

Celebracin[editar]

Cartel de Tosantos en Cdiz,Espaa, de 2005. En esta ciudad andaluza es tradicional el disfrazar cada 31 de
octubre los productos de los mercados: frutas, verduras, cochinillos, pescados, gallinas, etc.

En Chile tambin se celebra cada 1 de noviembre. Ese da es feriado nacional.

En Colombia ms especficamente en Cartagena de Indias, se celebra el tintililillo, evento

en el cual un grupo de chicos va de casa en casa pidiendo alimentos a travs de cnticos
para hacer una comida tradicional, llamada el Sancocho. En el departamento del Atlntico
se celebra en esta fecha el da de los angelitos, festividad en la que los nios salen a pedir
dulces durante el da.

En Bogot se realizan fiestas para infantes y adultos donde se reparten dulces

mientras los asistentes se encuentran disfrazados.

En Espaa, dentro de la tradicin catlica, se realiza una visita a donde yacen los seres
queridos, que ya han fallecido, les dejan flores en las tumbas y rezan por ellos. Adems,
suelen comer los tpicos dulces de las fiestas que son los huesos de santo y los buuelos.

En Cdiz se celebra el 31 de octubre los Tosantos, disfrazando a los

conejos, puercos y gallinas de los mercados de la ciudad; tambin se hacen muecos
con frutas, verduras y frutos secos que reflejan de modo crtico y humorstico la
realidad social del ao. As como muchos polticos, personajes de la prensa rosa,
gente del Carnaval de Cdiz, as como gente que ese ao ha tenido un papel
importante en Cdiz, Espaa o incluso el mundo.

En Baos de la Encina (Jan), son varios das y los ms importantes fiestas en el ao.
Antiguamente, que toda la noche tocaban las campanas a muerto, los hombres se
iban a la sierra, se celebra el 31 de octubre para quitarse de en medio (las mujeres
quedaban rezando). Hoy hombres y mujeres, por Peas de hombres solos o mujeres,
matrimonios o amigos, se van al campo, a acasillas, a chambaos o a donde pueden a
pasar dos o tres das, ya que desde hace aos, uno de los das previos es fiesta local.

En Benacazn (Sevilla) se celebra el da de Tozanto, siendo una tradicin inmemorial

en el pueblo salir al campo con los amigos a pasar el da, lo que se denomina
popularmente echar los santos. Manda la tradicin, antes de salir al campo, pasarse
por el cementerio de la localidad a visitar a los difuntos, llevndoles ramos de flores.

En Ceuta es el Da de la Mochila, la gente sale al campo portando una mochila de

frutas y frutos secos con la que pasa el da.

En Galicia es muy celebrado, la gente acude a los cementerios a llenar de flores las
tumbas de sus muertos.

En Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete) suelen prepararse las migas de nio.

En Catalua, la noche del 31 de octubre se celebra la denominada castaada (no

confundir con el Magosto Gallego del 11 de noviembre) en la que se
comen boniatos al horno, castaas y unos dulces especiales para este da
llamados panellets.

En Cocentaina (Alicante) se celebra la "fira de tots sants" o feria de todos los santos.
Una licencia de mercado concedida por el rey de Aragn Pedro IV el Ceremonioso en
1346 la convierte en una de las ferias de productos ms antiguas e importantes de
Espaa.

En Begjar (Jan), son varios das, entre el 31 de octubre y el 2 de noviembre. Existe

la costumbre de que los muchachos y las muchachas salgan con las cazuelas
repletas de gachas a la calle para con un cucharn tapar con ellas las cerraduras de
las casas, con esta creencia se cree que as no entrarn malos espritus a las
viviendas. Otra muestra de mucho arraigo es comer tortillas con chocolate y poner

mariposas de aceite en las casas para iluminar el camino de los muertos. (Vargas
Jordn, Santiago: Creencias y costumbres populares de Begjar (Jan), 2004).

En el norte de Crdoba, como por ejemplo en Los Pedroches, se encienden velas en

las casas y se comen las tradicionales gachas de leche.

En Extremadura, se sale al campo a consumir frutos secos, celebrando la chaqueta o

los calbotes.

En la dehesa de Guadix y en Jan se comen pestios y boniatos.

En la Regin de Murcia, se organizan mercadillos callejeros en muchos de sus

pueblos y ciudades, en los que se venden principalmente flores y productos
gastronmicos tpicos de estas fechas: arrope, carne de membrillo, pan de
higo, huesos de santo y frutos secos.
Tanto en Espaa como en Mxico es costumbre representar Don Juan Tenorio la
noche del Da de Todos los Santos.

En Guatemala, se realizan visitas a los cementerios dejando usualmente flores y a

veces comida a los difuntos, se vuelan barriletes Gigantes en Sumpango y Santiago
Sacatepquez y se degusta el platillo llamado Fiambre (Combinacin de embutidos y
verduras). Es da de asueto nacional. 1

En Mxico, donde se conjuga con el 2 de noviembre en el cual se festeja el da de los

muertos, se hacen ofrendas en las tumbas para dar a los fallecidos generalmente
comida, bebidas, flores y cosas que les gusten, que se quitan el da 2 por la noche,
permitiendo de esa manera, que los fallecidos disfruten la noche del primero de
noviembre de sus ofrendas. Las ciudades en las cuales existe una mayor tradicin
acerca de estas celebraciones son Ptzcuaro, Janitzio, Tzintzuntzan, as
como Ahuatepecy Ocotepec en el Estado de Morelos, el Distrito Federal en el panten
de Mixquic, Tempoal en el Estado de Veracruz, entre otras.

En Per tienden a asistir a los cementerios. Las personas se dirigen a los cementerios
llevando flores a las tumbas de sus seres queridos. En las tierras altas tambin llevan
comida, para compartir simblicamente con las almas de sus muertos. Es feriado
nacional.

En Piura, el 1 de noviembre se celebra el da de angelitos, que conmemora a

todos los nios fallecidos, regalando dulces a nios cuyas caractersticas sean
iguales al ser perdido. Al da siguiente la celebracin es de los difuntos adultos.

En Bolivia las personas acostumbran a elaborar pan con formas diferentes como
caballos, escaleras y todo tipo de masas y dulces para recibir y compartir con los

difuntos que segn las creencias llegan el 1 de noviembre y se van a las 12:00 del 2
de noviembre, adems de visitar los cementerios para que la gente de una oracin
para el muerto y a cambio se le ofrece cierta cantidad de panes frutas lo que haya en
la mesa de ofrenda.

En Filipinas se celebra cada 1 de noviembre. Las personas, como siempre, se dirigen

a los cementerios llevando flores, encienden velas y felicitan a sus seres queridos. Si
no podan visitar, encendan las velas en frente de puerta de sus casas.