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From:
Subject: Interesting
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 10:02:16 EDT


All Hallow's Eve.

The ancient pagan festival known today as Halloween
represented the change of season from autumn to winter and
was celebrated on October 31st. It was also a time when the
souls of the deceased revisited their former homes and once
again enjoyed the company of their friends and kinsfolk
around an open fire. Bonfires are one of the chief symbols
of All Hallow's Eve, and were perhaps originally intended
to contrast the light and warmth of summer and early autumn
with the onset of wintry chill. However, in some
superstitious villages, strangers passing through town were
thought to be seeking out children to thrown upon the
bonfire. As a result, many innocent travelers were them-
selves tossed into the flames by misguided vigilantes
attempting to protect their families.



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