#orawareness

Hallows Eve is now known as Halloween and its meaning has long been lost or cast aside as a simple superstition. I'm afraid that is the fall of humanity upon this night. As many cultures have composed, Hallows Eve is the evening where the dead are more in touch with our world than ever. The veil between living and dead is as this as the sheer veil of a belly dancer. Celtic: Hallows Eve was called Samhain and this was celibrated by the Celtics the night before November 1st, their new years. Samhain was when the druid people would dress in animal skins and heads to hide themselves away from the spirits that would eventually destroy their crops. The celebration involved a large bon fire and prophetical visions as this was the time of year the visions for the winter would be the strongest. Many rituals were done this night by many of the Celtic people and their hearths were not lit until the next morning, marking the beginning of the new year and winter. Christian: As missionaries from Roman Catholicism appeared, they celebrated All Saints Day, November 1st. Now, as they found it easier to spread their religion by partaking in the celebration of a local's religious celebrations, Hallows Eve became part of their celebrations though they were adjusted slightly to their tastes. This vision of Hallows Eve is the long standing sight in human comprehension. Judaism: This religion does not allow Halloween by Jewish Halakha due to the violation of Leviticus 18:3 that forbids partaking in gentile customs. Now even though this is the case and there are many arguements among Jewish Rabi on the subject, Jews have the Purim holiday where jewish children dress in costumes and celebrate. It lasts from the evening of February 28 to the evening of March 1st, coinsiding with the 14th of the Hevrew month of Adar. This celebration is for the salvation of the Jewish people form Ancient Persia and the plot "To destroy, kill and annihilate all the jews, young and old, infants and woman, in a single day" as stated in Megillah. Islam: This religion has leaders that continuously argue that Muslims should not participate in Halloween as it is equivalent to participating in Christmas or Easter and congratulates the Christians. It is also argued that it does not as there are costumes that are acceptable and do not contain question to the religion. Hinduism: Hindus do not partake in Hallows Eve but celebrate the dead in the festival of Pitru Paksha where the Hindus pay their respects and perform a ceremony for the ancestral souls to stay at rest. This celebration normally happens in the month of Bhadrapada that normally falls mid-September time frame. the festival Diwali conflicts with Hallows Eve occassionally but the Hindus do participate in dressing up in costumes occassionally. Diwali is a festival where Hindus light a row of clay lamps to symbolize the inner light they are protected by from dark spiritualism. This festival is as Christmas is to Christians.

Truly yours,