Turnip Day
November 1, 2005
Yesterday was "Turnip Day", otherwise known as Halloween. I call it Turnip Day because in Scotland a jack-o-lantern was carved out of a turnip. It was used by a night watchman. In America the native pumpkin was substituted. Maybe next year I will carve a turnip. I grew some last year.
Halloween seems to have started out as the eve of the Celtic New Year. It was called Samhain and originally occurred at the end of summer. All fires were extinguished and a new ceremonial fire was kindled from which all hearth fires were relit, thus bringing in the New Year.
The Christian festival of All Hallow's Eve was celebrated on the same date and gradually the two holidays merged, with new customs developing. Halloween eventually became a secular holiday.
All-Saints' Day
Today is All-Saints' Day It commemorates all the saints of the Christian church, both known and unknown. It was originally a celebration of Christian martyrs.
Halloween or All Hallow's Eve (holy or hallowed evening – the day before All Saints’ Day) as it was known in medieval England, has now eclipsed All-Saints day in popular recognition. The general observance of Halloween was ordered by Pope Gregory IV in 837.