The "veil" is thin at this time of year. As the Earth speeds on its journey around the Sun, the tip of its axis provides us with a change of seasons. These seasons are also hence accentuated by longer or shorter periods of daylight. Longer for the warmer seasons, shorter for the cold. Ancient Celts and Teutonics (Germanic and Nordic peoples) recognized this and worshiped the Gods that they felt controlled Night and Day. Samhain (Celtic/Gaelic word for November) was when the loss of daylight was starting to be a serious concern... The crops were all in, and the live stock had just been brought in from the high pastures. It was the end of the agricultural and pastoral year. Animals were selected for breeding, others for slaughter. The ancients saw this change in day light as a "Battle" with the Sun God of life losing at this point to the God of darkness and death. The spiritual fear was that if the Sun God lost- All would be plunged into a terminal night! Plants would not grow and hence live stock would not feed thus all would parish. This struggle of course took place year after year, and even though the people learned they would not be wiped out, they kept this season in mind as a time when "The viel was thin", when people of the dead could come through and visit the living! These customs have held up through time for many thousands of years.
The little ones still don scary costumes to frighten away evil spirits, then go out for fun and mischief. Young adults still play the games and take the tests to determine their futures and fates. We all take time to remember those friends and relations who have passed on before us. These are some of the ways we deal with the ghosts that are with us every day.
Light a tallow candle
Build the bonfires bright!
Scare away the darkness
For this is Halloween night!
This is Halloween!
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