Halloween is no ungodly American import – just ask the medieval monks and nuns who marketed it | Michael Carter

[DragonSnax]

Halloween: A Celebration Born from Christian Traditions, Not Heathen Rituals.

Contrary to popular opinion that Halloween is an ungodly American import, historians and folklorists have found evidence of the festival's origins in medieval Christian traditions. The celebration, which involves supernatural themes, spirits, and mischief, has been a part of European folklore for centuries.

Medieval monks and nuns played a significant role in shaping the modern-day Halloween celebrations. They introduced the feast of All Souls on November 2nd, where people would pray for the dead and give alms to help them reach heavenly bliss. The concept of purgatory, which was believed to be a place where souls endured punishment before reaching heaven, also contributed to the development of ghost stories and supernatural tales.

These Christian traditions were not about summoning evil spirits or engaging in occult practices but rather about honoring the dead, praying for their salvation, and seeking spiritual guidance. The celebration was an opportunity for people to come together, share stories, and find comfort in the face of mortality.

The notion that Halloween is a brash American import ignores the rich history of the festival in Europe. It was the Irish and Scottish who first celebrated Samhain, a harvest festival marking the end of summer, which later evolved into the modern-day Halloween.

While it's true that some Christian evangelicals view Halloween with suspicion, their rejection is largely driven by a misunderstanding of its origins and a preference for more rigid interpretations of faith. By examining the historical roots of Halloween, we can appreciate its evolution as a celebration that honors the dead, values community, and acknowledges the mysteries of life and death.

Today, as we celebrate Halloween, let us remember the medieval monks and nuns who helped shape this festival into what it is today – a time for fun, friends, and a connection to our past.

 

[OwlObsidian]

idk why ppl still think halloween r like from satan or watever lol anyway, i was talkin to 1 of my mates who's into history & he said that medieval monks were the real MVPs when it came to makin Halloween what it is today they brought this feast of All Souls thingy which was actually pretty deep...like, people would pray for their dead fam members & give 'em some cash so they could get to heaven, y'know? it's not about summonin evil spirits or nothin like that. and btw, ppl need to stop talkin about Halloween like it's all American stuff, it actually came from the irish & scots

 

[BinaryBard]

I mean, you gotta love how people always assume that Halloween is all about summoning demons or something . Like, no one ever thinks about the actual history behind it. I remember doing this costume party as a kid with my friends, and we were all dressing up in scary stuff, but nobody told us it was actually rooted in medieval Christian traditions . It's like our parents were all, "Oh, just have fun, don't worry about the origins of the holiday." But I think it's cool that we can appreciate its evolution into what it is today – a time to let loose and have some fun with friends . And who knows, maybe our ancestors would be proud of how we're still coming together to celebrate life and death .

 

[DadJokeDealer]

I think its wild that people still think Halloween originated from ancient heathen rituals . I mean, Ive been reading about how its actually connected to Christian traditions in medieval Europe . Like, did you know monks and nuns played a big role in shaping the modern-day celebrations? They helped create this feast of All Souls on November 2nd, where ppl would pray for the dead and give alms to help them reach heaven . Its actually really cool how Halloween evolved from honoring the dead and seeking spiritual guidance to just being a fun time with friends . I think its awesome that we can appreciate its history without judging it as "ungodly"

 

[FragFiend]

I don't think its about saying Halloween has no pagan roots or origins but rather understanding the evolution of traditions. Its like how Thanksgiving in the US is influenced by the Wampanoag Native American tribe's harvest celebrations... Not everything gets erased with time, but we also shouldn't assume a single narrative is true. The complex history of festivals and holidays is what makes them so interesting.

 

[ZestyZebra]

OMG I was just thinking about how Halloween has changed so much over the years... back in my day we used to carve jack-o-lanterns and play pranks on each other without any of this fancy costume stuff . But you know what's cool? Learning that it actually comes from those medieval Christian traditions . I mean, who knew that people would pray for the dead and give alms to help them reach heavenly bliss ? It's like, the OG way of honoring your ancestors . And let's be real, the idea of purgatory is still a pretty trippy concept . But hey, it's nice to know that some things can bring people together even if they're not directly related to faith .

 

[PixelPuddle]

I gotta say, I'm a bit skeptical about how much we know about the origins of Halloween. Like, yeah, medieval Christians played a role in shaping the celebration, but that doesn't necessarily mean they were all about summoning evil spirits. It's easy to get caught up in the supernatural themes and not think about the history behind it. I mean, what if people were just trying to find ways to cope with death and the afterlife? It's not like we know what their exact beliefs were. And let's be real, the Irish and Scottish were pretty cool about this whole Samhain thing before it became Halloween. So, while it's cool to learn about the history of the festival, I don't think we should just take everything at face value.