Tag Archives: Pagan

The Origins of Halloween

October 31, 1300

history-illustration-finishedIllustrated by Jennifer Boatner

Evolving from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain, modern Halloween has become less about literal ghosts and ghouls and more about costumes and candy. The Celts used the day to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, and also believed that this transition between the seasons was a bridge to the world of the dead.  Over the millennia the holiday transitioned from a somber pagan ritual to a day of merriment, costumes, parades and sweet treats for children and adults.   http://www.history.com/topics/halloween 

 

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St Patricks Day

finalstpat2

Illustration by Sarah Pippins

This image represents the origins of Saint Patrick’s stories and ideas which are incorporated into the famous holiday celebrating Irish descent. Saint Patrick is actually a Roman Catholic from Britain who was kidnapped by the Irish at a young age. After he escaped he returned to Ireland to “drive all the snakes out.” Historians believe this to refer to Druidism and Pagan practices since druids were known to have snakes tattooed on their forearms. Saint Patrick also used the shamrock to represent the Holy Trinity which was actually first used to represents various goddess triplets such as Morrigan and her sisters, Macha and Badh. Ironically, the song, Wearin’ o’ the Green, which praises Saint Patrick reads this:

“So if the color we must wear be England’s cruel red; Let it remind us of the blood that Irishmen have shed; And pull the shamrock from your hat and throw it on the sod; But never fear, ’twill take root there, though underfoot ’tis trod.”

 

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