Bite My Big Apple!: Halloween is Here!!!

Halloween is finally here!!!

A Summary about the History of Halloween

"Halloween - All Saints Day, otherwise known as All Hallows (hallowed means sanctified or holy), All Hallows Eve as a time of the wandering dead, but the supernatural beings were now thought to be evil. The folk continued to propitiate those spirits (and their masked impersonators) by setting out gifts of food and drink. Subsequently, All Hallows Eve became Hallow Evening, which became Hallowe'en--an ancient Celtic, pre-Christian New Year's Day in contemporary dress."

"All Saints Day - were a time for honoring the saints and praying for the recently departed who had yet to reach Heaven. All Saints was introduced in the year 609, but was originally celebrated on 13 May. In 835, it was switched to 1 November (the same date as Samhain, known today as Halloween) at the behest of Pope Gregory IV. Some have suggested this was due to Celtic influence, while others suggest it was a Germanic idea."

It is believed that Halloween is originated from Ireland where the Celtics lived over 2000 years ago. On November 1^st, they celebrated the first day of the year, known as Samhain, which also marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with death of people and animals due to the harsh weather. They believed that the night before the New Year, on October 31^st, the spirits of the deaths, bad or good, would return, causing troubles or trying to find the passage to the afterlife.

Samhain was the biggest and most important holiday of the Celtic year. It was considered a magical holiday, and there are many stories about the Celtics practices and beliefs during this festival:

"· Some say the spirits that were unleashed were those that had died in that year, and offerings of food and drink were left to aid the spirits, or to ward them away.

· Other versions say the Celts dressed up in outlandish costumes and roamed the neighborhoods making noise to scare the spirits away. A possible origin of wearing costumes on Halloween.

· Another belief is that the Celtics honored, celebrated, and feasted the dead during Samhain. A sacred, central bonfire was always lit to honor the Pagan gods, and some accounts say that individual home fires were extinguished during Samhain, either to make their homes unattractive to roving spirits, or for their home fires to be lit following the festival from the sacred bonfire. Fortunes were told, and marked stones thrown into the fire. If a person's stone was not found after the bonfire went out, it was believed that person would die during the next year. Some Celts wore costumes of animal skulls and skins during Samhain. The origin of the Bonfires.

· Faeries were believed to roam the land during Samhain, dressed as beggars asking for food door to door. Those that gave food to the faeries were rewarded, while those that did not were punished by the faeries. This is reported to be the first origin of the modern "trick or treat" practice."

When all is said and done, make sure you give enough candies to the kids. You never know!

But why apples, pumpkins, Ghosts? Here is why:

Apples

" Apples: A seasonal fruit, and also the symbol of the Roman goddess Pomona, commonly thought at the time to possess qualities of knowledge, resurrection, and immortality. Bobbing for apples, peeling a long apple peel, and other manipulations of the fruit were thought to foretell the future, on this night of Samhain."

Jack O' Lantern

"Jack o'lanterns: From the Irish folk tale of Jack, who tricked the devil, but was not allowed in heaven or in hell. The devil, taking pity of Jack, gave him an ember to light his way on his eternal walks on Earth, carried in a hollowed out turnip. The purpose of these lanterns may have been threefold. The Celtics may have been used to light one's way while outside on Samhain night; to represent the spirits and otherworldly beings; and/or to protect oneself and one's home from them. People suggest that they were sometimes set on windowsills to keep them out of one's home. However, others suggest that they originated with All Saint Days (1 November) All Soul's Day (2 November) and that they represented Christian souls in purgatory."

Oh, well!! No one knows exactly the origin and the meaning of the pumpkin on Halloween, but let's keep carving them anyway! It's fun and it looks very cute as a decoration.

Ghosts Stories

"Ghost stories probably have their roots in the original Celtic belief that the spirits of the dead (both good and bad) wandered the Earth on October 31 (Samhain). Later, when the church replaced Samhain with All Saints Day and All Souls Day, the dead were remembered, and spoken about. In the United States today, they are used to amuse and scare children (and some adults) to get them in the "spirit" of Halloween."

The Halloween Parade in New York City

In New York City, Halloween is a big party. Many people celebrate it and it’s a very fun week to walk around Manhattan. Wherever you are, you will see people dressed up as a specific character, some of which are scary, others funny, some cute and sexy, and others ugly. It doesn’t matter how they look! It’s just fun to watch it and be part of this big celebration. You will also see many kids trick or treating from restaurants to bars, getting on and off buildings and stores. It’s very exciting for everyone!

On October 31^st, as New York City's tradition since 1973, New York's Village will turn into a big party. In the largest Halloween celebration in the world, where people get together to have a great time and also to celebrate a religion tradition, although I don't see any religious thing about it, you will see hundreds of features such as puppets, marchers and marching bands, as well as a limited number of floats and cars.

New York's Village Halloween Parade is a fun and unique way to celebrate Halloween, but make sure you will dress for the weather!

Where will it happen?

The Halloween Parade begins on Sixth Avenue at Spring Street, and continues north along Sixth Avenue to 16th Street.

Where to go?

There are a myriad of options to celebrate Halloween in NY, which makes it so difficult to chose because they all rock!

If you like to be scared, The Haunted House Times Scare located at Times Square is a spooky place. I’m sure it will beat the pants off you. I would be frightened and am not brave enough to go. Even though the characters are all actors, they would scare me to death, seriously!
There are many clubs, but since my favorite one is Lavo, I need to mention that their Halloween will be great!

In this website you will find many options that will make you even more confused! Hahah

A great option is the All Access Pass, which will allow you to go to many hot spots in NY.

Now just to have a good laugh, enjoy some funny costumes ideas for you to rock on Halloween this year. Enjoy it!