Halloween started in Ireland as a Christian holiday, but later perceived as a pagan holiday for people to celebrate the dead or spirit of their ancestors. But today people started dressing in costumes to scare away evil spirit.
Brief history of Halloween: according to Wikipedia, the word Halloween or hallowe'en dates to about 1745 and is of christian origin. The word "Hallowe'en means "hallowed evening" or "holy evening" It comes from a scottish term for All Hallows' day in scots, but today's Halloween festival are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic speaking countries, some of which are believe to have pagan roots... While some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of dead called... In Poland, believes some Christian church traditionally observed hallowe'en through a vigil, and fellow by a visit to the graveyard or cemetery, where flowers and candles are often placed in preparation for All Hallows' Day"
I believe Halloween or Hallows Eve is actually an annual holiday celebrated on the 31st of October in several western countries like; Germany, Canada, America, Australia, Ireland etc. Halloween is said to be ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. A Gaelic festival to mark the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or the dark half of the year when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.
In some part of European countries or even America it is an holiday, where people dress up in costumes to scare away evil spirit. For example, in Germany children dress up in costumes and go from house to house to get sweet or candy. The children will often says "sweet or bitter?" Which implies the treat or trick on neighbors.
I want to believe the world is now a global village, and there is nothing wrong with exchanging or sharing culture but some Africans believe the western culture will affect african culture and norms. There are still many Africans who do not believe in the Halloween celebration, especially among Christians, who believe that Halloween is nothing more than a witchcraft celebration because of some traditions that are involved. For example, the wearing of a scaring costumes, if you got a trinket etc.
To cut the long story shot, some Africans (Nigerians), believe Halloween is America or European witchcraft festival or voodoo and do not really like the Halloween festival, even though there are similar festival in Nigeria such as; the Odo festival, the Oro festival, Iriji festival, and the Eyo festival in Lagos. However, the Odo festival which marks the return of the dead to those still living in some villages in eastern part of Nigeria (Igboland).
Also, Eyo festival it is a festival usually held in Lagos to escort the soul of a departed Lagos king or chief and to usher in a new king. The Eyo masquerades are always dress up in a white costumes with their faces covered, and clad Eyo masquerades is said to represent the spirits of the dead, and their dance routines. Just like Halloween is believe to be associated with ghost or spirit so is Odo and Eyo festival is in Nigeria.
Although, among the Nigerians the indigenous religions or festival have largely lost majority of their traditional followers to Christianity and Islam. Even though Christianity is also European or western religion; today the Africans (Nigerians) are taking it more serious than them, those who introduced it to them. Of course Christianity is a pure religion of love and peace if we do it in the right way. Like I often say, Christianity is not a religion, it is one faith or believe in Jesus Christ.
In the past nobody no what is Halloween in Nigeria, it is just recently people started talking about Halloween in Nigeria. Also few years ago, I heard some young people celebrated Halloween in Nigeria but this was totally different from how it been celebrated in Germany. Some adult just organized Halloween costumes part in Lagos Island. Trust me, Nigerians or Africans would always want to copy everything from western world, even though they do not really know the origin of the Halloween. Some Africans still believe whatever come from the western world is good and African can copy or adopt it into their own culture but Halloween festival is not welcome in Nigeria, especially among fundamentalist Christians who see it as evil or satanic festival.
Anyway, the difference is that the Americans or Europeans do not take Halloween serious or attach any spiritual meaning to it like some Africans have assumed. I want to believe Halloween is only a big business in the United State, big generating business revenue growth through such festival, just like Christmas. Keep buying costumes and candy, and have fun too! Happy Halloween Germany!
Another thought provoking from Queen's court desk!
