미국에 할로윈 (Hollwoeen)이 있다면 한국엔 동지가 있다

미국에 할로윈 (Hollwoeen)이 있다면 한국엔 동지가 있다

할로윈의 유래와 우리나라에도 비슷한 날을 동지로 보고 그 내용도 살펴본다.

Hallowe’en is a popular festival in many countries all over the world, and every year it seems to get bigger.

The festival of Hallowe’en has its roots in Celtic and Roman traditions.

It all began with the Celts a people whose culture had spread across Europe more than 2,000 years ago October 31st was the day they celebrated the end of the harvest season in a festival called ‘soin’ that night also marked the Celtic New Year and was considered a time between years a magical time when the ghost of the dead walked the earth.

When the Romans invaded, they merged this with Feralia, their celebration of the passing of the dead.

As Christianity spread, the Church tried to replace these pagan feasts (페이건 피스트) with official Church holy days.

One of these was November 1. It was called All Saint Day, or “All Hallows”, and October 31 was known as “All Hallows’ Eve”, and then Hallowe’en.

​The pumpkin has become a symbol of Hallowe’en.

People empty a pumpkin, cut a face into the side, and put a candle inside to make a lamp.

It’s known as a Jack O’lantern, from an Irish legend about a man called Jack, who made a deal with the devil.

Black cats, frogs, mice and spiders are just some of the animals associated with Hallowe’en.

Generally, the more unpleasant the animal, the stronger the Hallowe’en connection. Nocturnal animals like bats are particular favorites, and if, as is the case with vampire bats, they like drinking blood, they are high on the Hallowe’en list.

In the past there was a tradition called “souling”. Poor people went around houses asking for food.

In exchange, they promised to say prayers for the dead. People no longer go souling, but the habit has been transformed into a modern Hallowe’en game for children in America, who dress up as ghost, witches and monsters and go around people’s houses, asking for sweets. This game is called ‘Trick or Treat’.

The young pranksters wore masks so they wouldn’t be recognized. Over the years the tradition of harmless tricks grew into outright vandalism.

Back in the 1930s it really became a dangerous holiday. There was such a hooliganism and vandalism. Trick-of-treating was originally an extortion deal- Give us candy or will trash your house.

Store keepers and neighbors began giving treats or bribes to stop the tricks and children were encouraged to travel door-to-door for treat as an alternative to troublemaking.

By the late 30s, trick or treat became the holiday greeting.

We need something to cheer us up and take our minds off the fact that winter is nearly here.

Korea has a similar festival to Hallowe’en called Donggi.

Donggi is the winter solstice by the lunar calendar. It marks the longest night and the shortest day of the year. Koreans eat red bean porridge topped with glutinous rice balls to chase away evil spirits and pray for good luck in the year to come.

In the past, Koreans sprinkled the bean porridge around the house, because they believed that the red color of beans prevent bad luck.