Halloween Party Invitations Themed with Traditions

LAFAYETTE, La. - Sept. 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Ghostly Halloween Party Invitations Themed Traditions

As the second most popular holiday in the U.S. begins to roll around, lots of people begin planning for all the parties, celebrations, and haunted house activities. After all, what would Halloween be without ghostly and scary invitations for Halloween party, http://www.holiday-invitations.com/halloween-invitations.htm fun? However, before getting started, it might be a bit interesting to learn how many of the traditions for Halloween got started, so here's a brief overview of the more popular ones.

Colorful and Creative Costumes

The donning of creative and colorful costumes, it is believed, began in the Pagan Celtic roots of Samhain. One assumption is the people of those days dressed as ghouls to trick evil spirits that were supposively let loose on each October 31st, so they wouldn't be possessed by these ghostly spirits. Another old wise tale is that they dressed in costume just for amusement, and to create a little mischief. A third possible theory is that faeries dressed as beggars and would walk around asking for food. This could possible be the origins of what we now know as 'trick or treat'. However, after Samhain was replaced with All Saints Day by the Catholic Church, the people would dress as devils and dead Saints for their festivities. For those days, this custom has progressed to where it is today – enjoyed by all!

The Mischievous Acts and Evolution of Trick or Treating

Although there are lots of opinions as to how and when the practice of trick or treat began, one of the more popular theories is that it start in the days when faeries dressed as beggars and would go door to door begging for food, and for those who did not show offer treats would be tricked by these magical faeries. It is said that on All Souls Day the poor would beg for sweet pastries, called soul cakes, in exchange for prayers for their loved ones who had departed, which would, supposively, expedite their passage to heaven. Sometimes, groups in costumes would perform and sing in exchange for ale, food, or even money. In the U. K., effigies of Guy Fawkes were prepared by children to be burned, as they would go door to door, asking for a penny for Guy, on Guy Fawkes Day.

Two Possible Origins for Bonfires

Old theories vary, but basically, bonfire origins fit into two different thoughts. First is the ritual of extinguishing home fires, as one sacred bonfire is lit in each town as the new year ends. And, the reason home fires were extinguished was to frighten away evil spirits from the peoples' homes, but others thoughts are that home fires were lit from embers from the sacred bonfire to begin the new year. And, the second possible origin was from the U.K. holiday, Guy Fawkes Day where they would burn effigies of the Catholic pope, and later one of Guy Fawkes himself.

The Involvement of Apples During Halloween

Apple is a seasonal fruit and was also the symbol of Pomona, the Roman goddess, frequently thought at the time to possess qualities of resurrection, knowledge, and immortality. Peeling a long apple peel, bobbing for apples, and other manipulations of the fruit were believed to foretell the future, especially on this night of Samhain. You can find lots of creative party invitation wording for Halloween at http://www.holiday-invitations.com

Continuing Interest in Jack o Lantern

This practice dates back to the old Irish folk tale of Jack, who supposively tricked the devil and was not allowed in hell or heaven. The story goes that the devil, having pity of Jack, gave him an ember to use for light during his eternal walks on Earth, and carried the amber in a hollowed out turnip. However, because of their availability and size, pumpkins were later substituted for turnips in the U. S. It is told that the Celtics used a hollowed out rutabaga to carry an ember from the Samhain bonfire home to use for lighting their home fires. However, the relationship and significance to the Irish tale of Jack is not known.

Telling of Ghoulish Ghost Stories

The telling of ghost stories, it is believed, has its beginning in the original Celtic beliefs that the spirits of the deceased, both bad and good, wandered the Earth on one day of the year, October 31st. Centuries later, when the church replaced Samhain with All Souls Day and All Saints Day, the dead were spoken about and remembered. Today, in the U.S., such ghostly stories are used to scare and amuse children and even some adults to get them in the Halloween spirit.

So, regardless of the tradition you find most interesting and useful, these have withstood the test of time and have only become more enjoyable and popular. That's why many people use these as themes and incorporate them in their wacky Halloween party invites wording at http://www.holiday-invitations.com/halloween-invitation-w... they customize and send to their invited guests.