The pagan festival and Christian ritual origins of the celebration known as ôHalloweenö is the basis of the exploration of the traditions and contemporary aspects associated with this event in Nicholas RogersÆ (2002) Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night. RogersÆ (2002) traces the origins of European religious ceremonies, from the leminal festival known as the Celtic Samhain to the British celebration of the solstice known as All SoulsÆ or All SaintsÆ Day. Many Christians viewed Halloween as symbolic of paganism, fearing that its veneration of the dead could work spells on children and other harms. Eventually, during the 17th century the celebration of Halloween spread around the world, becoming associated with immigrants. One of RogersÆ (2002, p. 7) purposes in the book is to demonstrate the changes associated with this festival or celebration over the centuries, ôAnd how can we explain not only its ongoing popularity but also its emergence in the twentieth century as a North American festival that successfully transcended its ethnic roots?ö
The history of the older festivals that have evolved into international ôHalloweenö celebrations by Rogers shows how such festivals are connected through different places, eras, and customs. RogersÆ describes the early Druid festivals that were associated with and symbolic of nature, how masques and mummery were eventually included as elements in such celebrations, and the inclusion of reverence for the dead through various rituals that became a part of ôHalloweenö celebrations. Early accounts of Druidic celebrations stem from the writings of ôPliny the Elder,ö as far back as 24 A.D., (Rogers, 2002, p. 14).
ôHalloweenö celebrations or festivals were often custom and location specific, with different folk observance including a variety of practices, from bonfires to the selling of soul-cakes. The practices of paying reverence to the dead also embodied a ...