What is the origin / history / story of the name Halloween ?
The name Halloween is a contracted form of the name "All Hallows Eve", that is, All(Hallow)s E(v)en. In the 800's A.D. [specifically, in either 834 A.D., 835 A.D., 837 A.D., or 844 A.D. (according to various scholars)], the Roman Catholic Church stated that the feast day of All Saints' Day was to be transferred from May 13th to November 1st. All Saints' Day was the day which honored all the saints of the church, meaning saints who were both known and saints who were unknown. The Western Churches celebrated this day on November 1st while the Eastern Churches observed this day on the first Sunday after Pentecost. In medieval England, All Saints' Day was known as All Hallows' Day, and the evening period prior to All Hallows' Day became known as All Hallows' Eve ("Eve" comes from the Old English word "Even", which referred to the evening period; another similar name that was used for the evening prior to All Hallows' Day was "All Hallow Even"). In a nutshell, the origin of the name Halloween went as follows: from "All Hallow(s) Even", to "All Hallows' Eve", then "Hallowe'en", and finally, "Halloween".
What is the Origin of the Name Halloween ?
Origin of Halloween - History of Halloween - Story of Halloween
Halloween Customs in the United States
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