20 years ago, nobody in Russia had not heard about Halloween, but today there is hardly, at least one person who does not know about this holiday. Many people know that All Saints' Day - it's something like the end and the beginning of the annual cycle. That is why this day is recommended to keep all of no use, ossified and boring behind - in the past, but a new sculpt their own hands, and then boldly go into the future, and hope only for good. In many parts of the world Halloween especially wish to meet all those who are fond of spirituality, mysticism and magic. Whether they are orthodox vuduistami, supporters Maghreb Magic, Ayahuasca, or successors to the glorious traditions of the Celts. Religiosity is perhaps not the main component, for the intersections in many religions, perhaps more than the stars in the Milky Way

Halloween was invented by the Celts. The thing is that these people shared a year into two parts: the old part of the winter season. October 31 Celts celebrated the end of the harvest and New Year's Eve. On the last night of October to Celtic legends, their god of the sun steals the prince of darkness Samhain. It was on this night, once a year open the gates of hell, and dead souls come into our world and hold a carnival. To appease all of this evil Celts exposed to a variety of street food, as well as the obligatory sacrifice was part of the crop.

But the most interesting - is the name of the holiday. Why Halloween? This title celebration was much later, in the ancient Celts called this holiday, as the Prince of Darkness - Samhain. In the IX century the Western Church was banned celebrate a pagan holiday and found a celebration on the same day, a Christian holiday - the day "All Saints". The clergy had hoped that people would seek protection of the saints, and will not waver in evil force for your own safety. But the Celtic people continued to celebrate Samhain and jokingly called it the same way as the Christian holiday - All Hallows' Even, translated as "Eve of All Saints," which will be abbreviated - Hallow E'En.

Traditions of Halloween

Halloween was believed, is the best time to communicate with spirits, because the fabric between worlds on this day the most subtle. Nowadays, Halloween is not just handed out, children dressed in costumes of candy horror stories, but also organize games with fruits. This tradition has become part of Halloween, when the Romans occupied Celtic territory, it was then that the Roman tradition, mixed with the Celtic tradition. The Romans also had two traditional holiday - it Feraliya, commemoration of the dead, at end of October and the second feast in honor of the goddess of fruit and trees - Pomona. Symbol of the second of the day was an apple, which is why Halloween arrange games with these fruits. In England even have a game - to eat an apple floating in water without touching it with his hands. According to legends, who will gather more apples, and he will be more successful in the new year. If girls get to break an apple from a branch, it was thought that this year she will marry.

Another tradition - the lighting of fires in the hope that the sun will stay bright longer and will help crop growth. Bonfire attracts mosquitoes, which in turn attract bats and owls, have entered into the mythology of Halloween. Bonfires were believed to also help to attract fairies, and many believe that this is why Halloween was accompanied disguises - to become someone else. Costumes are also made in order to scare or fool the evil spirits.

Business Card Halloween - lantern-pumpkin. Why such an attribute? This tradition has been seen as the Irish legend of Jack the icon lamp. Jack was a drunkard and trickster, and one day, he managed to fool even Satan. He drove the devil into a tree and let him down in exchange for a promise that the soul of Jack did not go to hell. Satan has kept his word, but Jack did not realize that the doors of paradise for him permanently closed because of his wicked business. Soul Jack was forced to wander in the eternal cold emptiness, and so Jack could see the way, Satan gave him a lamp in a hollowed turnip with charcoal inside. When the Irish came to America, they found that pumpkins are much more convenient for "lamps Jack" than turnips. So candlelit pumpkin has become a major symbol of Halloween. Light a candle in the lantern from a pumpkin serves the same function as the spark fires druids - it shows the spirits wherever they go, and also protects against evil forces.

Costume

Well, what kind of Halloween without a costume? In fact, the tradition of wearing costumes evil spirits - is not just entertainment, the Celts believed that evil spirits dressed them, do not recognize these spirits, they may come across on Halloween night. Since these days Halloween is popular enough, the suit can be purchased at the store or rent. But it is also possible to make a suit and with his own hands, it all depends on your skill and imagination. I could cite as an example the most simple costume for Halloween - a witch costume. To him, you will need to find in her wardrobe only 4 things:

Black sweater (golf shirt, dress, etc.)

Black gloves.

Black wig with long hair.

Black hat with large fields.

The final touch - make-up in style a la Gothic, and we can go out to scare people.

Halloween in Russia

Despite the fact that Halloween has appeared in Russia recently, he has safely found its fans and has found its own traditions. This holiday is very popular among young people, who likes to celebrate it in the nightclubs and discos. To this end, many entertainment venues are preparing for Halloween the various Halloween-party. Well, those who are going to celebrate Halloween at home to make sure that the apartment was an atmosphere of All Saints' Day. To do this you certainly need a pumpkin big and small, to turn them into lanterns. Done such a flashlight is quite simple. With a sharp knife cut off the tip of the pumpkin, then spoon the pumpkin scrub of the seeds and fibers. Also, carefully cut the flesh, the wall thickness of pumpkin did not exceed 2 cm using a pen to draw a smiley pumpkin and cut along the contours of a sharp knife. Now you can put a candle inside - the flashlight is ready!

What to cook for Halloween?

The holiday does not happen without treats and Halloween is no exception! On the table must be a dish of apples, pumpkins, and various cakes. Here are some recipes to help you set the table in accordance with the Celtic tradition. I think everyone knows how to cook pumpkin pie, but pumpkin recipe platsindy - many will be new! Of course, do not forget about apples and baked goods!

Platsinda with pumpkin

350 grams of flour, 1 egg, 100 g sugar, 150 g margarine, 400 g of pumpkin treated. Pumpkin mince prepared from purified from the skin and seeds of pumpkin. Pumpkin rubbed on a grater, salt, and give a little to settle, then gently squeeze and add sugar. Prepare unleavened dough. Roll out a large round cake, spread with margarine. In the middle put the stuffing out of pumpkins and edges of dough together. Bake in an oven at a temperature of 200-220 ° C. After baking platsindu cut into pieces and smear with butter.

Apple slices in pastry

Prepare the dough. To do this, mix the melted butter in a saucepan with the egg yolks, add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of cold milk, add a little flour, 1 tbsp. spoonful of sugar, pinch of salt, stir and dissolve the remaining milk, place whipped into a thick foam of egg whites and gently stir the bottom up, that whites are settled. The dough should be consistency, as the average density of sour cream. Apples (best Antonov) Peel and core, cut into neat slices of thickness 1 / 2 cm, pour the sugar and let soak for 25-30 minutes. Thereafter, each slice of apple to take a fork dipped in dough and put in a pan with hot oil. Roasted apples have on low heat until until they are lightly browned on both sides. Pan with the apples for 5 minutes to put in the oven with an average heat. Ready to lay the apples on a plate or platter, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

Vanilla cupcake

Dissolve yeast in warm milk, add salt and, add flour and knead the dough, roll it into a bowl, top notched in radius, drop batter into the pan with warm water (2-2,5 L), cover and keep warm for recovery. Separate the egg white-erase with sugar and vanilla, add softened butter and rub together until fluffy. When dough increase in volume about 2 times, remove it from the water with a slotted spoon and shift into another bowl, knead, then add eggs, worn with sugar and oil, knead again, so that the dough is smooth and kept pace with the dish, add the raisins and desire - peeled chopped walnuts or almonds. Batter to shift into the form (up to 1 / 2 of its height), cover with a cloth and put in a warm place. As soon as the dough rises and fills the form approximately 3 / 4 height, put the cake baking in the oven for 30-50 minutes. Ready to take the cake from the mold, sprinkle with powdered sugar, put on a plate with paper towel and serve.

Fun & Games for Halloween

Make the holiday a success, of course, you must create the proper atmosphere. This will help us play! Since Halloween is associated with sinister spirits of the game, which we consider to be appropriate. Halloween spirit - it's fear and terror, therefore, the party would be appropriate to a game called "bloody mess". For this game you need a big pot of spaghetti and tomato sauce. Tomato sauce is poured in the spaghetti, all thoroughly mixed, then go get enough sleep the various charms, pins, keys and other small items. This entire mixture is poured into a large bowl. Players are blindfolded, and they begin to look into this basin, these subjects. The winner is the one who will find more items. A very entertaining game with apples, it is particularly popular with the children. In bowl pour water, and go to apples. The essence of the game - who can no longer get the apples out of the water without using their hands, only his teeth. Like this game - a game with crumpets. Buns with a hole in the middle of the rope hangs from the doorway. Participants in the game for a team trying to eat donuts, but not touching her hands. Who eats first, he won! Create a festive atmosphere we are so - you Neskuchnyi Halloween!