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| "Le Mauvais Pas" Woodblock Print Felix Vallotton, 2893 |
Halloween is just around the corner, and everywhere I look there are pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts and other indicia of the holiday. I started a bit of research about Halloween for this post, but quickly despaired, because of the vast number of theories about the real origins of Halloween.
Many of the theories are conflicting. Let's just say that it's a centuries old tradition, which some say dates from the Celts over 2000 years ago. The Celts believed that on the night before November 1 (the start of their new year), the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
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| "Black Cat" Watercolor (c) Beverly Brown |
Most would agree that the holiday we know today has roots that are both pagan and sacred. Halloween falls on the night before All Saint's Day--a day recognized by the Roman Catholic Church in 609 A.D. to honor those who have died and gone to heaven. According to
History.com: "The All Saints Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middles English Allhowmesse, meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic region, became to be called All-Hallows Eve, and, eventually, Halloween."
History.com: "The All Saints Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middles English Allhowmesse, meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic region, became to be called All-Hallows Eve, and, eventually, Halloween."
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| "Morning Light, Isleworth Graveyard" Etching (c) Austin Cole |
I thought it would be fun to share images of some paintings that evoke the mystery of Halloween. No matter which tradition you adhere to, the holiday evokes images of the dead, of ghosts and spirits, of black cats. Of dark nights and graveyards. Here's to a spooky, scary season!
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| "Le Poker" Woodblock Print Felix Vallotton, 1896 |
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| "The Scream" Edvard Munch |
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