Origin of Halloween: (Was Religion in the wizarding world)

[prefectmarcus at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 23669

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "M. Barnett" <fyregirl at c...> wrote:
> Margaret Dean wrote:  "...Hogwarts celebrates Muggle holidays such 
as 
> Christmas and Halloween."  
> 
> Um ... isn't Hallowe'en (Samhain) a Pagan holiday?  And wasn't 
> Christmas originally a Pagan holiday, centered around the winter 
> equinox?
> 
> Or it could be that I am associating 'muggle' with 'Christian'.
> 
> Michelle :)

As I understand it, the Catholic calendar has a lot of days dedicated 
to individual saints.  In addition to this singular days, there 
is/was a day set apart where you celebrate all the saints at once.  
That day is/was called "All Hallows' Day".  This falls on the first 
of November.

So, the night before "All Hallow's Day" would be known as "All 
Hallows' Eve".  This has been corrupted over the centuries 
into "Halloween".

Now as to there being some pagan day associated with the 31st of 
October, I cannot say.  Maybe somebody more knowledgable than I could 
add some words of wisdom here.  :)

Marcus