Halloween, Easter and xmas all have religious beginnings. Halloween is an ancient Celtic ritual called Samhain . Today also known as ‘all hallows eve’ and is sacred to wiccans*** The church tried to usurp the time by declaring 1 November all saints day
Before fireworks were banned here (you now need a licence here) my favourite ritual was bonfire night , 5 November. Commemorating the Guy Fawkes plot to blow up the British parliament in1605. He was executed in the most disgusting and excruciating way which could be devised at the time.
In modern times, he was burned in effigy on huge bonfires and fireworks were
set off.
The poem: (composed in 1805)
Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England’s overthrow.
But, by God’s providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James’s sake!
If you won’t give me one,
I’ll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn’orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((9))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
***Wicca was invented by a retired British servant called Gerald Gardener and is based on what he thought he knew about druidism . Going by the Wiccans I’ve met over the years, they seem to be slightly woolly little old ladies of both sexes. Quite gentle and harmless as far as I can tell.