All Hallows Eve
Every recorded civilization has created some form of ritual observation focused on what happens to people when they die, where they go, and how the living should best honor the deceased or respond to the dead who seem unwilling or unable to move on.
Around the world, Halloween is celebrated in one form or another, from the Mexican Day of the Dead to the Chinese Tomb Sweeping Day. Today's Halloween in countries like the United States and Canada - where the tradition is best known - has to do with this ancient tradition, even though some aspects of the celebration are relatively new, dating back to the Celtic festival of Samhain.
The word "Halloween" is an abbreviation for "All Hallows Evening," which is the night before All Saints Day, November 1st.
- All Saints' Day was first celebrated in AD 609 on May 14th, but Pope Gregory IV moved the feast to November 1st. It is said that this happened because the city of Rome could not accommodate the large number of believers who flocked in May, and winter was chosen for fewer people. Others say the rescheduling was done to accommodate the ancient belief on this particular date.
- The vacation's roots lie in Celtic traditions, particularly the celebration of Samhain, which means "end of summer" in Old Irish. The Celts celebrated the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter on October 31st.
- Tradition says that we can approach the "other world" and contact spirits and the dead on this day.
- The colors associated with the festival are orange and black. Orange symbolizes the autumn harvest, and black represents death and the "other world".
- The story associated with candles and pumpkins is that of Jack, a man who was denied access to Heaven and Hell. Jack managed to capture the devil, who promised never to bother him again in exchange for his release. After a life of debauchery, Jack died and was forced into Hell, finding the gates of Heaven locked. The devil, however, keeping his promise, did not accept him and threw him a coal from the hellfire, which Jack took and put in a turnip he had with him to see better, and since then he wanders around to find a place to rest.
Whether it's Halloween or Dia de Los Muertos, whichever of the two celebrations you prefer, we are happy to share our love of color, different cultures, and traditions with you.
Enjoy our limited halloween collection here.
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