(no subject)

[owl]

Query: is there anywhere else in the world that has their fireworks at Hallowe'en, or is it just Northern Ireland? (You'd think the Loyalists would be right behind the let's-burn-the-Cafflicks implicit in Guy Fawkes night, but no. Perhaps the 11th of July is enough for them.)

Comments

[clanwilliam.livejournal.com]

My theory (wot I have never researched) is that the celebration of Halloween went to America from the UK, specifically (as opposed to all of Europe). Scotland and Ireland defintely kept on the tradition - can't speak for Wales - but England lost it due to the Puritans, Namely, a good chance to wipe out a Heathen, Pagan, Catholic practice, *and* do a spot of anti-Catholicism at the same time.

Anti-Catholicism really only hit the Protestants of Norn Iron much later on. And they've always maintained a healthy level of anti-establishaternaism.

[emmy-roo.livejournal.com]

Why would Puritans consider Halloween a Catholic practice? And why do you lump us with pagans and heathens? (I'm not offended in the least, just curious.)

[richenda.livejournal.com]

Because, generally speaking, it's Catholics (and Tractarian Anglicans) who celebrate the Vigil/Eve of a Holy Day (All Hallows being All Saints' Day, and Halloween being its Eve).
For some reason, and I'm not sure when, a lot of people mixed up All Hallows' (1st Nov) with All Souls' Day (2nd Nov)and decided that Halloween was about returning souls/hauntings.
I haven't heard a single firework, and don't expect to - hurrah! I don't like loud bangs, whichever day they happen!

[clanwilliam.livejournal.com]

Because they're directly related.

November is the month of the dead in the Catholic calendar. This in turn is directly related to the pagan end of year - ie, Halloween - due to Catholicism's happy habit of tieing in Christian ceremonies with existing festivals - and Halloween is a far more practical solstice than the real one in terms of time perception in these islands.

And the Puritan movement was about abandoning those ties that were still blatantly obvious even after so many years' separation - and were far more obvious in those countries that had held on to a longer connection with the Celtic church, which was far less shy about its direct connection on festivals.

(BTW, reared Catholic here myself, not Pagan in practice, but have had rather fascinating discussions on the subject with still-practising Catholic, Pagan, and non-Conformist friends and family. And the non-Conformist end of the family and friends will make it very clear what they've been reared to believe about Catholics and their practice over the years. And also what they've actually observed to be true.)

[emmy-roo.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)