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The custom of trick-or-treating and wearing costumes is thought to have originated with the first few centuries of the Christian era and European custom called Souling.
At the time, it was believed that the souls of the dead were out and around for a time after death. Offerings of food and drink were left out to placate them. It was also believed that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven.
On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. Dressing like dreadful creatures and roaming from door to door demanding treats gradually became more recent custom of trick-or-treating.
Today Halloween is more and more becoming masquerade, like Mardi Gras costumes. People in every imaginable costume are walking through the streets of big American cities on Halloween. But, even to this day, witches, ghosts, and skeleton of the dead remain the favorite of all Halloween costumes. In so doing, they are recognizing death as a part of life. But, the true value and importance of Halloween is in contact with neighborhood that we rarely see the rest of the year, which help us overcome our fears of strangers, reaffirming our social bond with other people.
Please join us by sharing photos of costumes of Halloween Past..... Whether it was homemade in the 30s or store bought in the 80s.... on a mannequin, in a gallery.. on a hanger, or being modelled by your favorite piece of "vintage"...you!
Thank you Jonathan for the picture above!!
The custom of trick-or-treating and wearing costumes is thought to have originated with the first few centuries of the Christian era and European custom called Souling.
At the time, it was believed that the souls of the dead were out and around for a time after death. Offerings of food and drink were left out to placate them. It was also believed that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven.
On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. Dressing like dreadful creatures and roaming from door to door demanding treats gradually became more recent custom of trick-or-treating.
Today Halloween is more and more becoming masquerade, like Mardi Gras costumes. People in every imaginable costume are walking through the streets of big American cities on Halloween. But, even to this day, witches, ghosts, and skeleton of the dead remain the favorite of all Halloween costumes. In so doing, they are recognizing death as a part of life. But, the true value and importance of Halloween is in contact with neighborhood that we rarely see the rest of the year, which help us overcome our fears of strangers, reaffirming our social bond with other people.
Please join us by sharing photos of costumes of Halloween Past..... Whether it was homemade in the 30s or store bought in the 80s.... on a mannequin, in a gallery.. on a hanger, or being modelled by your favorite piece of "vintage"...you!
Thank you Jonathan for the picture above!!
