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Halloween

Around 4 thousand years ago, cats were idolized as representatives of the goddess Bastet, and were even mummified alongside pharaoh mummies in Egypt. However, during the Middle Ages in Europe, the association of cats with pagan spirituality led to their persecution, especially during the persecution of witches. Cats, particularly black ones, were considered associated with witches and demonized. In the 15th century, Pope Innocent VIII included black cats in the list of heretical beings persecuted by the Inquisition, leading to a great massacre of cats. This persecution contributed to the proliferation of rats, which spread the Black Death and killed many people. Since then, black cats have been associated with bad luck and negative superstitions, although there are also those who respect them for fear of reprisals from the devil.

Vlad III, also known as Vlad Tepes the Impaler, who was born in Romania in 1431. His father, Vlad II, was part of the Order of the Dragon and was famous for protecting territories against the Turkish Empire. Vlad III grew up to become a cruel ruler, known for impaling his enemies on battlefields, earning him his nickname. On the battlefield, he was capable of creating scenes of horror, displaying the bodies of his opponents chained to stakes. During his childhood, he and his brother were handed over as hostages to Sultan Murad I, but Vlad III returned to Romania after his father's death and came into conflict with his brother on the battlefield. Despite his brutality, he is remembered as a national hero in Romania. The historical figure of Vlad Tepes became the legend of Dracula thanks to Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula", published in 1897, which became a horror icon.

The first recorded mention of werewolves dates back to 1 AD in Ancient Greece. The ancient Greeks wrote allegories about men who, due to curses or afflictions, turned into wolves. Shapeshifting is called lycanthropy, derived from the Greek words "lykos" (wolf) and "anthropos" (man). One popular story involves King Lycaon, who doubted Zeus' divine powers and tested him by serving him human flesh. As punishment, he was sentenced to the solitary existence of a werewolf, and Mount Lykaion in Greece was named in his honor, meaning "Wolf Mountain."

The frightening legend of the woman in white has several variants in various parts of the world. In Brazil, the woman in white is also called Bela da Noite or Midnight Woman. One of the main versions tells the legend of a young woman dressed as a bride. She appears on roads asking for rides from lonely drivers and asking for help getting home. The moment they pass in front of a cemetery, she suddenly disappears from inside the car, leaving drivers confused and terrified. Supposedly, the haunting was the manifestation of the spirit of a bride who died in an accident on the eve of her wedding. Therefore, she wanders the roads at night looking for her husband, for all eternity...

Mary I, also known as "Bloody Mary", was a queen of England who ruled in the 16th century. She gained notoriety for persecuting Protestants and promoting Catholicism during her reign. His nickname arose due to the persecutions that resulted in the execution of almost 300 Protestants for heresy, many of them at the stake. The name "Bloody Mary" remained associated with Mary I, generating a feared reputation in her memory. Furthermore, it is an urban legend often told in schools, it scares children and involves a dead girl appearing after being called. Bloody Mary is called by candlelight in the bathroom mirror. According to legend, calling thirteen times, Mary appears. “Bloody” means “bloody” and also “bloodthirsty”. In most variations of the legend, Mary appears to take revenge. However, there are those who say that she is good and just wants to talk and predict her future. Do you want to take a risk?

Sixty thousand people were executed for witchcraft during the early modern period, and one of the first was Agnes, also known as Mother Waterhouse, of Chelmsford, Essex. Agnes was the first woman to be executed in Britain under the Witchcraft Act of 1563. She confessed to having a cat called Satan to which she gave her own blood, claiming that in return the cat killed her neighbors' animals and spoiled them. your products. However, with current knowledge, it appears that Agnes was a victim of 16th century interrogation tactics, which involved sleep deprivation and false promises of immunity and pardon. Agnes was hanged in 1566, aged 64.

In Spain, especially in regions with Celtic influences such as Asturias and Galicia, Day of the Dead or All Saints' Day is celebrated in a similar way to Halloween, occurring on November 1st. In the Christian tradition, people visit cemeteries, decorate graves with flowers, and say prayers in memory of their deceased loved ones. In their homes, families gather to share stories about their relatives, both living and deceased, and also enjoy traditional treats for the occasion, such as fritters and "holy bones." Furthermore, in Spain, there is the custom of performing theatrical performances related to the myth of Don Juan Tenorio, the "Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest," created by Tirso de Molina. In legend, Don Juan Tenorio dared to visit the cemetery that night to confront the souls of the victims of his actions.

The traditional Halloween colors of orange, purple and black have Celtic roots. Orange symbolized vitality and energy, and during the night of Samhain, spirits were drawn to the living, especially those dressed in orange, in search of their energy. Black was used in religious ceremonies as it represented mastery, while purple was associated with ritual magic.

Halloween is a celebration full of traditions and symbolism. In addition to costumes and the famous "trick or treat", many traditional festival rituals aim to predict the future, particularly related to weddings. For example, in Ireland, a matchmaker cook buried a ring in mashed potatoes in the hope that a person would find true love. In Scotland, young women placed suitors' names on nuts and threw them into the fireplace; the nut that burned instead of exploding indicated the future husband. These rituals were used to seek love divinations on Halloween.

Halloween is characterized by several symbols that have specific meanings:
Pumpkin: Represents fertility and wisdom.
Candle: Symbolizes the lighting of the paths for the spirits of the beyond.
Cauldron: Considered a portal between the living and the dead, used to launch coins and messages with requests to the spirits.
Broom: Symbolizes the feminine power to cleanse negative energies.
Spider: Represents destiny, with its webs as support to move forward.#NL # Bat: Symbolizes clairvoyance, allowing us to see beyond appearances.
Frog: Related to the power of feminine wisdom, with lunar attributes and linked to feminine magic.
Black cat: Represents the capacity for meditation, self-confidence, independence and freedom.

The term "Halloween" probably originated from the fact that it was the day when witches gathered to cast spells and pronounce curses on people. Some versions of these stories suggest that witches had the ability to shapeshift into cats, which gave rise to the superstition that black cats were cursed or brought bad luck. In many parts of the world, unfortunately, black cats were persecuted on Halloween or used in sacrificial and black magic rituals. Furthermore, there is a belief that to find a witch on Halloween, simply wear your clothes backwards and walk backwards at night. Legend says that, exactly at midnight, a witch will appear before anyone who follows this custom.

Music is essential to create the Halloween atmosphere. Some popular songs for Halloween include: "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett (a song that features a monster party), "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. (the film Ghostbusters), and "This Is Halloween" by Danny Elfman ("The Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack) These songs help set the spooky and fun mood of the Halloween party.

Halloween-themed cuisine includes creative dishes and desserts such as caramel apples, decorated cakes, spooky cookies, finger-shaped sausages, pumpkin soup in pumpkins, sinister punch, bloody eye jello, marshmallow "brains" and other fun delicacies to the party. These dishes are decorated in spooky ways to create a festive atmosphere. Remember, presentation is key to the Halloween atmosphere.

Day of the Dead is a Mexican celebration that takes place on November 1st and 2nd, honoring deceased loved ones. With roots in indigenous Mexican culture, the celebration synchronizes with the Catholic dates of All Saints and All Souls. Families create decorated altars (ofrendas) in honor of the dead, with photos, candles, flowers and objects they cherished. Calaveras (skulls) are a common symbol, often depicted in a cheerful way. Parades, parties and public ceremonies take place in the cities, and traditional dishes such as "pan de muerto" (bread of the dead) are shared. It is a joyful and festive celebration, focusing on memory and respect for deceased loved ones, with traditions distinct from those of Halloween.

The tradition has its roots in the belief that during Halloween, the spirits of the dead and other supernatural creatures roam the Earth. People believed that offering food or gifts to spirits and creatures could appease their fury and provide protection. Today, the "Trick or Treat" tradition is a fun and joyful activity. Children dress up creatively, often wearing costumes of monsters and other scary characters, and visit homes in their communities. They ring the doorbell or knock on the door and say "Trick or Treat." Residents, in turn, distribute sweets and treats as a form of reward. However, there is an implicit element of mischief in the tradition. If residents don't offer sweets or treats, children can playfully do some light mischief, such as throwing toilet paper on the trees or ringing doorbells and running away.

The association of pumpkins with Halloween originates from the legend of Stingy Jack, who was a cunning and trickster who outsmarted the devil on several occasions. After his death, he was not accepted into heaven or hell, and the devil threw him a burning coal to light his way in eternal darkness. Jack placed the ember inside a carved turnip, transforming it into a rudimentary lantern. He came to be known as "Lantern Jack" or "Flayed Jack". In Ireland, people carved turnips or potatoes to create lanterns inspired by the story of Jack the Skinned. When Irish immigrants arrived in the United States, where pumpkins were more plentiful, they began using pumpkins instead of turnips, giving rise to the tradition of carved pumpkins, also known as "jack-o'-lantern."

The oldest origin of Halloween dates back to the Celts, a people who inhabited areas of Ireland, Scotland and Northern France. They celebrated the festival of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. Samhain was a celebration to welcome the spirits of the dead back to Earth. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the spirits of the past year's dead returned to Earth to visit their former homes and loved ones. In addition to the spirits of the dead, other supernatural beings, including evil spirits, were believed to roam the Earth as the barriers between the real and supernatural worlds were weakened. People lit fires and wore scary clothes to scare away malevolent spirits. People also disguised themselves by wearing masks to avoid being recognized by malevolent spirits. Additionally, one way to ward off evil spirits was to carve scary faces into turnips.

Skulls have a deep meaning in Halloween, as this celebration precedes All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day. They symbolize death as a state of transformation after earthly life, present in many cultures. In Mexico, skulls also carry the energy of ancestors and are adorned with flowers. The ancient Celts saw skulls as a symbol of mental strengthening for the human soul.

The belief in the curse of mummies arose due to the discovery of King Tutankhamun's treasure in 1922 by Howard Carter in Egypt, when he found King Tutankhamun's treasure. The death of Lord Carnarvon, the expedition's sponsor, shortly after the discovery, sparked rumors of a curse, amplified by the sensationalist press. Although Carter lived long afterward, the story persisted, and even minor incidents were attributed to the supposed curse. The real mummies were wrapped in bandages and would not walk like in horror films.

The tradition of wearing masks on Halloween has origins in Celtic and Druidic beliefs, where masks had magical powers and served as protection against spirits. They were used to disguise themselves and avoid being recognized by evil spirits who were believed to return to Earth on the night of October 31st. These days, scary masks are an essential part of Halloween fun, allowing people of all ages to express their creativity and enjoy transforming into terrifying characters.