The celebration of the dead is born

by Kate Pelusi staff writer

The origins of Halloween can be traced back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celts according to the web page "Halloween Eternal."

The Celts celebrated Oct. 31 as their year's harvest. It was also known as the day of Samhain, (pronounced sow'an) a festival to honor the dead.

Ireland and Scotland also celebrated the festivities. The Irish called it La Samon and the Scottish called the day Hallowe' en.

After the Roman conquest over the Celts, Christian culture had incorporated elements of the Celtic holiday. The church leaders moved All Saint's Day from May to Nov. 1. All Soul's Day was also added to be celebrated on Nov.2.

The association with evil spirits and pagan rituals to the several forms of Samhein can possibly explain the popularity of devils, ghosts, goblins and witches in modem Halloween rituals.

One explanation for the practice of Trick or Treating can be traced back to a custom in Ireland. On the feast of St. Colomb Kill, peasants would go door to door asking for money or food.

Irish and Scottish immigrants brought over their cus- toms of Halloween to America. Through the years: much of the heavy religious and occult background has been lost and Halloween is merely celebrated as a fun light-hearted holiday. eiL killer bats - ~·· small , Texas, not to m.eatiooits team of scientists and ilmlsti-Center for DiseaseCo~ con- wp OD one-road town to saveits thirty~ person~OD and the rest of humanity. everything to do witb ational Vampire As-tter ways to kill $7. eted, all-star cast in•amond Phillips. town sheriff r bats on 1ns , who fills the per is the bat ults the of useless e that is l &tronalYcaution all who have been procraswith school assignments not to go to "Bats...You'll find a strong yearningto finish all of yourworkandwantto do moreduringthe movie.

A very important aspect of Halloween to America's youth is Mischief Night, which is celebrated on Oct. 30.

The pranks associated with Mischief Night originally were a custom of Halloween celebrations. However, Halloween soon became promoted as a safe, family holiday and the practice of playing tricks on other people diminished. Those who still wanted to play tricks on others eventually moved their day of mischief to Oct. 30.

Although college age students can still celebrate Halloween in different ways, some believe it has lost much of the excitement that comes when you are a child. "Halloween was more exciting when I was little," Ana Neiva said. "If you go out Trick or Treating now, there are bitter old people who won't give candy to older kids."

Yet there are those who won't allow the candy-donationage limit ruin their holiday fun.

"I still get dressed up for Halloween," Megan Hartman said. Hartman also passes on the Halloween tradition of fervent candy seeking to eager youngsters.

Children dressed up as monsters-the irony of it all.

"It's more fun for little kids if they see older kids having fun," Hartman said, who enjoys taking little kids out Trick or Treating.

• that the "Bats" release was h of Halloween--not so.

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The movie's music is comparable to that supennarketsoundtrack that is selling out at ams nationwide. The music did not complement the movie scenes.

Twolivebats were usedin the filming of the movie; the remainder of the bats were computer generated. All of the other bats intelligently declinedthe producer's invitation.

The moves and grooves of Eastern Europe are in- vading Cabrini Campus on Monday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. with the whirl-wind performance of "The Tamburitzans." This group of young dancers from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, are ready to create a night of unique and exciting entertainment for the Cabrini Community.

The group was established in 1937 at Duquesne University and has been presenting dazzling shows for over 60 years, featuring performers from all over Canada, the United States and Eastern Europe.