From October 31st through November 2nd, a number of festivals, holidays and solemnities take place, all loosely related and revolving around remembrance of the dead.

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A far cry from the faux Palins, pirates, and princesses of today, costumes during Halloween's precursor centuries ago included animal skins and heads, drag getups, and even mechanical horse heads, historians say.

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Fending off religious tourists and struggling to organize a coven on Halloween.

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The origins of Halloween

Have we all forgotten? That once upon a time, long before mean old witches, evil demons, goblins and ghosties, the ancestor of Halloween was a time for remembering.

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Why We Need Halloween

Halloween is almost upon us, and we are starting to get some of the usual griping which typically goes along with the season. Many of the more devout Christians don't like it because it's a pagan holiday.

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Over the years, Halloween has been dominated by hooligans, tamed as a children's holiday and embraced by gays. While the occasion has something for everyone, more adults than ever are seizing the chance to wear a different identity.

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Happy all hallows, Halloween, and Feast of Samhain

Tonight when a small child dressed up like Count Chocula comes to your door and asks for sweets, you might not think your participating in a grand tradition older then anyone can remember; that this is some unique American wrinkle upon an ancient holiday. Not so.

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Halloween is actually an ancient year-end spiritual ritual, but these days you might not recognize it in its Spider-Man mask, says Gettysburg College sociology professor Charles Emmons.

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There are many different beliefs on how to treat All Hallows Eve. Some treat it as if is a day for evil, some treat is as a time to play tricks and gobble up candy; while there are some who treat it like a sacred holiday.

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Celtic rituals may have initiated the observance of Halloween thousands of years ago with images of witches ghosts, devils and hobgoblins.

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On Samhain night, Oct. 31 2007, people all over the world will be uniting in a ritual to help protect and preserve one of the most sacred sites in Ireland, and indeed the world: The Hill of Tara and the surrounding Skryne Valley, in County Meath, Ireland.

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The idea is for people all over the world to re-light the signal fires for Tara, but this time we are sending the energy back - focusing the light and protection back at Tara, from wherever we are in the world.

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Samhain marks one of the two great doorways of the Celtic year, for the Celts divided the year into two seasons: the light and the dark, at Beltane on May 1st and Samhain on November 1st.

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Some Samhain/Halloween Fun and Maybe Some Things You Didn't Know

Before you begin to read the article you must know that if during the reading you see something that you don't feel pertains to you scroll down and you will find something. I tried to include something in this article for everyone.

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