Halloween

Celtic Neopagan Wiccan had a festival called Samhain. A Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter between the autumn equinox and winter solstice where they gathered and feasted at the ancient burial mounds, which were seen as portals to the other world, would be open at this time.

The bonfires and rituals during this time were deemed to have protective and cleansing powers. They believed the veil to the other world was thinned meaning spirits/fairies could more easily come into our world. They would honor the souls of their ancestors and dead kin by going door to door revisiting their homes a practice called mumming or guising. Divination was also a big part of the festival and often involved nuts and apples.

In the 9th century the church had shifted the day of All Saints’ Day to November 1st and 2nd later becoming All Souls’ Day. It is believed that over time Samhain and All Saints'/All Souls' eventually became modern day Halloween.

Dia De Muertos which has roots in the Aztec, Mayan and Toltec cultural celebration of the Day of the Dead.

The Aztecs (/‘æzteks/) were a Mesoamerican culture in central Mexico. The Aztec Empire was a confederation of three city-states established in 1427 Tenochtitlan, Mexica and Texcoco. The term Aztecs was restricted to the Mexica of Tenochtitlan, it was also referred to Nahua peoples of central Mexico in the prehistoric era, as well as the Spanish colonial era (1521–1821).

The Mayan (/‘maie/) were indigenous people of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. Maya civilization (A.D. 250 to 900)

To all my Mexican gente We are Native Americans and U.S. Corporate government raped us of our heritage but that’s another mfn topic.

Traditional methods for producing Calaveras (Skulls) have been in use since the 1630s. The skulls are created either for children or as offerings to be placed on altars known as Ofrendas.

In pre-Columbian time the images of skulls and skeletons were shown often in paintings, pottery, etc. representing rebirth into the next stage of life. During the 20th century a political caricaturist named Jose Guadalupe Posada became famous for making Calaveras as vain skeletons dressed in the clothing of the wealthy. The most famous one was Catrina, wearing a feathery hat, fancy shoes and a long dress. Catrina is considered to be the personification of The Day of the Dead.

Honor your ancestors and passed on family members, create an alter with their photos. Light some candles representing the bonfires, put some fruit/food on your alter and give honor and homage to the ones that led the way for you.

-Philip Wathen