Turn Halloween Into An All-Hallows Eve Dinner Play

"Trick Or Treat" is still observed by many families on Halloween though many others have given it up altogether to participate in Fall Harvest Festivals.

At least one young Mom, and for sure there are more, put her ideas to work for herself and other parents when she discovered Halloween had Christian ties.

Maybe, like her, you might be interested in knowing more about the Halloween holiday tradition. So here goes.

Celtic legend has it...

Halloween, celebrated in the USA on October 31, is a Celtic harvest celebration derived from Gaelic traditions. The early Gaels gathered to prepare for winter by sharing and storing supplies and food.

The ancient Gaels believed the barrier between the worlds of the alive and the dead disappeared and caused havoc to occur among humans on earth on this one night. They practiced a religious tradition which included dressing up in scary costumes much the same as seen practiced today in some ritualistic tribal cultures. They believed if they mirrored (superstition) the dead they would frighten the evil spirits away or placate them.  This worked for them to maintain their perception of the world.

The Celt and Gaelic families are considered from the very ancient Europeans of Iron Age Europe. Eventually the modern world of Europe emerged with the Roman Empire. Romans considered Celts to be barbarians.

If you planned a Halloween event around the first meeting between the Celts and Romans there will be no problem in preparing a costume. 

One report of the first meeting between Celts and Romans in Italy in 400 BC tells a story of the Celts being accepted as superior warriors because of their weapons.  The Romans backed down after meeting them and gave them the land they demanded.  

 Christian legend has it....

Halloween was formed from the term All Hallows Eve. All Hallows Eve began as a way in which to honor Christian martyrs. The early Christians believed a feast best conveyed their honor and remembrance for all those martyred for their faith. The Roman Catholic church maintains a list of martyred saints whose lives have been documented as given in the service of their faith.

Catholic Harvest Celebrations still practice this tradition on All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day. 

If you chose to plan a celebration to celebrate All Hallows Eve with a dinner honoring the saints here's a great site for gathering information: eHow And here's another: Suite 101

The Dinner and The Play

Write a basic script using the information from Queen Medb Encampment to guide your dialogue for the first meeting of the Celts and Romans. You'll see the site contains all you'll need to get costumes together.  

I suggest any good cut of meat for the main dish.  Possibly a nice size roast cooked in a crock pot with lots of spices and vegetables served with heafty loaves of baked bread. Then plenty of fruit and pies for desert.  That should please any hungry appetite. Yum!