TW...to think celebrating Halloween and horror is outrageous

I am sure someone will and bring up the documents.

Out of interest “hallow” means “holy,” so who was the previous Holy?

The Irish and Scottish carried on their version of Halloween to this day, where as the English dropped theirs. They included elements that were already in the culture before Christianity, the same happened globally, Mexicans added elements and nade Halloween their own too. The English didn't start Halloween though it was a Catholic thing.

I still have zero idea what point you're trying to make.

You said that "Initially it was a Catholic three day event that came from Rome not the celts. The celts made it their own"

This is, objectively and historically, not true. Halloweens origins are in the Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated before the Catholic Church even existed.

I am certainly not claiming that the English ruled the Catholic Church, I don't even know why you think I'm making that claim. I'm also not English.

You're categorically wrong. My husband is a historian, I'm Irish, and my best friend is a folklorist. I'm not going to sit and dig out documents for you because I've seen you around, and you're just out for an argument.

Use Google.

Where are the acient documents to support that the celts started the global halloween? I would genuinely be interested.

I think you're confused.

Although the English are descended from the ancient Britons and are Celts in the main I haven't seen anyone claiming they invented Halloween.

The Celts in Ireland however did and this predated Christianity. The Catholic Church appropriated it.

Had it not have been Halloween weekend where people were in the town dressed up and events happening I don't think anyone would have picked the head up.
It was awful, unlucky timing and what's the chances you come across someone's head while out and about?
I feel really sorry for the people who picked it up, I wouldn't be able to sleep for at least 8 weeks if it were me, they must have had the shock of their lives. I doubt they saw the incident happen and then picked it up.

Halloween comes from Samhain, which is a centuries old festival. People have always dressed up, later gone mumming, all sorts. It's part of it. It's terrible what happened, but I don't think changing history is exactly going to work out too well now.

Personally, I love it. It's about welcoming the darker half of the year, paying respect to the dead, and of course having fun. It's not that bloody scary, none of the kids in my village are remotely scared and we all go all out. Lovely seeing them so excited!

The Pope who ran the Catholic church for 2000 plus years mostly resided in Rome. Rome wasn't celtic. Rome told each country to bring in All saints day etc. In Mexico they do things a little different to the celts which is understandable.

It seems a bit like the English are up themselves, with some Tudor or whatever nonsense, if they think they ruled the Catholic Church not Rome.

I absolutely agree.
Oíche Shamhna aka Halloween hasn’t held any attraction in my estimation for a very long time. I dislike it intensely.

I like Halloween but keep the limit to pumpkins, spiders, owls, witches, black cats etc...I too hate the gory horror side of it that has become the norm. I had no idea about the tragic event in Edinburgh. Absolutely awful.

It's popular because it's transgressive. It's part of pretty much every human culture to "celebrate" the dark and scary side of life sometimes, it's how we process and manage fear and co-exist with things that terrify us. Look at traditional, non-Disneyfucked fairy tales. Violent and scary as fuck, because children need tangible hooks to hang their fears on. It's healthy and natural.

I don't understand what point you're trying to make, here.

Halloween comes from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated before the Catholic Church was formed.

I suppose people are more desensitised to things now.

Do you think maybe you struggle to tell the difference between fiction and reality (genuine question)?

Do you wonder the same about why people like to watch sad films like Titanic or read sad books like Jodi Picoult?

I hadn't heard anything about this. That's absolutely awful. That poor man.
We just decorate with pumpkins and bats. But I do agree some of the things I've seen recently have been quite full on with regards to being gory or potentially upsetting to others.

Lots of people I follow on Instagram posting dress up of their kids in horror centred costumes and then in the next story it's about how awful all the death and destruction in Gaza.

I think this is really about the social media and news you consume. If you come off of social media then life feels a lot more peaceful and normal.

This. Our whole village goes crazy for Halloween, and the kids (and some adults) have the most amazing costumes! Apple bobbing, Halloween games, spooky stories, trick-or-treating, dressing up, carving pumpkins, decorating the house and garden. What's not to love?! It's amazing! 😍

The Catholic church was ruled in Rome, Rome wasn't celtic. If you look in Mexico and Poland, they all do things a little differently as did the celts.

That's awful

yes I find commercial Halloween grim

terrible story about Edinburgh. RIP to the poor chap.

That's basically the opposite of every source on the history of Halloween that I can find (that seem to universally say that it was a Celtic festival appropriated by the early Catholic church).

Because it's fun, and god knows we all need a bit more of that in our lives these days.

Initially it was a Catholic three day event that came from Rome not the celts. The celts made it their own. Some countries retain what it originally was. You had a turnip with a candle for a Jack represention and to trick evil you dressed up. Some dress up on All saints day as saints and have another party as its a fast day. People attend graves, hence grave stones and ghosts.

We love Halloween and it's a marking of the change of seasons

Yeah a coach as in a bus!