Kids & Youth World

Halloween is Coming!

The History of Halloween

When did Halloween begin? Where did this mysterious tradition of trick or treating come from? These are just questions we may think about when this holiday rolls around.If not, then our children do.well lets go back to where it all began.Ancient times, in another land across the sea.

It is written that Halloween began around 100 A.D. when Roman pagans prayed for the deceased.As the years past on, things changed. In 834 A.D. Gregory IV opened up this feast for the church and it became known as "All Saints Day", which allowed the dead to be remembered.This day is known in Christian religions as " All Souls Day and All Saints Day" and is celebrated on November 1st.

In Britain, Ireland and Scotland this feast was known as Samhainn.This is where they honor their dead.They celebrated this feast with bonfires.The Druids believed that the dead returned on this night and were to be entertained by the living.Those who did not celebrate would have horrible things happen to them.This is how the " Trick or Treating" part of Halloween started.Those who gave generously were able to prosper, and those who ignored this Druid event had tricks played on them.

The Halloween decorations began to appear in the U.S. in the late 1800's ;Pumpkins,witches,black cats, Halloween Parties and pranks. In the mid 1800's many Irish had emigrated to the United States.Along with them came many of their traditions, customs and religious holidays.Many emigrated to North America.They saw that in the fall, pumpkins were plentiful and thus the tradition of the Jack O'Lantern began.In Ireland they used to carve Turnips, but because the pumpkin was so plentiful here, they chose the pumpkin. The Jack O'Lantern came from Irish Folklore.It is said that a man named Jack , who was known to be a drunkard quite the prankster had tricked the devil into climbing a tree.Jack then carved a cross on the tree trunk, which trapped the devil in the tree.Jack made a deal with the devil, that if the devil would never tempt him again, he would set him free.

Well after Jack had passed away, he was not allowed to come into Heaven because of all the evil things he did while he was alive, and because he had tricked the devil, he was not allowed into Hell either.Instead he was forced to roam the earth in darkness, but because he was afraid of the dark, the devil gave him a piece of a glowing ember.He placed inside a turnip he had carved out as a lantern, thus the term "Jack O'Lantern".The Irish used the turnips originally but after they came to America, they soon began to use the pumpkins. Modern day Halloween still didnŐt get going until the 1920's.Acity in Minnesota called Anoka had the very first Halloween celebration in 1921.They had 2 parades, a pumpkin Bowl and a dance.This followed the next year with Allentown, PA, and then New York City and then finally all over the country.By the 1960's almost 95% of the country celebrated Halloween.

What is Diwali and why is it celebrated?

DEEPAVALI or Diwali means "a row of lights".It falls on the last two days of the dark half of Kartik(October-November).For some it is a three-day festival. It commences with the Dhan-Teras, on the 13th day of the dark half of Kartik, followed the next day by the Narak Chauds, the 14th day,and by Deepavali proper on the 15th day.

There are various alleged origin attributed to this festival. Some hold that they celebrate the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu.In Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Kali. It also commemorates that blessed day on which the triumphant Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.On this day also Sri Krishna killed the demon Narakasura.

In South India people take an oil bath in the morning and wear new clothes.They partake of sweetmeats.They light fireworks which are regarded as the effigies of Narakasura who was killed on this day.They greet one another, asking," Have you had your Ganges bath?" which actually refers to the oil bath that morning as it is regarded as purifying as a bath in holy Ganges.

Everyone forgets and forgives the wrongs done by others.There is an air of freedom, festivity and friendliness everywhere.This festival brings about unity.It instills charity in the hearts of people.Everyone buys new clothes for the family.Employers , too , purchase new clothes for their employees.

Waking up during the Brahmamuhurta (at 4a.m.) is a great blessing from the standpoint of health, ethical discipline, efficiency in work and spiritual advancement.It is on Deepavali that everyone wakes up early in the morning, The sages who instituted this custom must have cherished the hope that their descendants would realize its benefits and make it a regular habit in their lives.

In a happy mood of great rejoicing village folk move about freely, mixing with one another without any reserve, all enmity being forgotten.People embrace one another with Love.Deepavali is a great unifying force.Those with keen inner spiritual ears will clearly hear the voice of the sages, " O Children of God! unite, and love all". The vibrations produced by the greetings of love which fill the atmosphere are powerful enough to bring about a change of heart in every man and woman in the world.Alas! That heart was considerably hardened, and only a continuous celebration of Deepavali in our homes can rekindle in us the urgent need the turning away from the ruinous path of hatred.

On this day Hindu merchants in North India open their new account books and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year.The homes are cleaned and decorated by day and illuminated by night with earthen oil-lamps.The best and finest illuminations are to be seen in Bombay and Amritsar.The famous Golden Temple at Amritsar is lit in the evening with thousands of lamps placed all over the steps of the big tank.Vaishnavites celebrates the Govardhan puja and feed the poor on a large scale.