Halloween: Pronounced "hAlloween" or "hOlloween" ???
- Thread starter BillGates
- Start date
The word Halloween is derived from the term "All Hallows Eve" which occurred on Oct. 31, the end of summer in Northwestern Europe. "All Saints Day," or "All Hallows Day" was the next Day, Nov. 1st. Therefore, Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day.
Apparently, the origins of Halloween can be traced back to ancient Ireland and Scotland around the time of Christ. On Oct. 31st, the Celts celebrated the end of summer. This was important because it was when animal herders would move their animals into barns and pens and prepare to ride out the winter. This was also the time of the crop harvests. This annual change of season and lifestyle was marked by a festival called Samhain -- pronounced 'sow-ane' and means 'end of summer.' Sow rhythms with cow.
There was much superstition associated with this time of change including the belief in fairies, and that the spirits of the dead wandered around looking for bodies to inhabit. Since the living did not want to be possessed by spirits, they dressed up in costumes and paraded around the streets making loud noises to confuse and frighten the spirits away. In addition, the new year began for the Celts on Nov. 1. So, the day of Samhain was believed to be a day that was in neither the year past or the year to come. Since it was in between, chaos ruled on that day. Often, people would pull practical jokes on others as a result.
Later, around the 5th century, as the Catholic Church developed and moved into the area, instead of adding a new day to celebrate, it took over the Samhain celebration. Nov. 1st became "All Hallows Eve" where all the saints of the Catholic church were honored. A later custom developed where people would go door-to-door on Nov. 2, requesting small cakes in exchange for the promise of saying prayers for some of the dead relatives of each house. This arose out of the religious belief that the dead were in a state of limbo before they went to heaven or hell and that the prayers of the living could influence the outcome. This may have been the precursor to Trick-or Treat.
The Jack-0-Lantern apparently comes from Irish folklore about a man named Jack who tricked the devil into climbing a tree. Once the devil was in the tree, Jack carved a cross on the trunk, preventing the devil from coming down. The devil then made a deal with Jack to not allow Jack into hell after Jack died if only Jack would remove the cross from the tree. After Jack died, he couldn't go to hell, and he couldn't go to heaven. He was forced to wander around the earth with a single candle to light his way. The candle was placed in a turnip to keep it burning longer. When the Irish came to America in the 1800's, they adopted the pumpkin instead of the turnip. Along with these traditions, they brought the idea that the black cat was considered by some to be reincarnated spirits who had prophetic abilities.
So, it appears that the origins of Halloween are a mixture of old Celtic pagan rituals superstition and early Catholic traditions.
Is this a choice between the pronunciation of "hal" (like the computer from 2001) and "hall" or a choice between "hall" and "whole"?
Tell me which one corresponds to "hall", as that's how I pronounce it, however, using improper capitalization gives me no clue as to how you want me to pronounce it. Example: say "computer". now say "compuTer". Did you notice the difference between them? Me neither.
Tell me which one corresponds to "hall", as that's how I pronounce it, however, using improper capitalization gives me no clue as to how you want me to pronounce it. Example: say "computer". now say "compuTer". Did you notice the difference between them? Me neither.
"hall" being the one with the A or the O? Because I say "halloween" pronounced as "hall-oh-een" or "hollow-een". If you're saying that "hAlloween" is being pronounced as "hal-oh-een" then your choices don't make any sense
BTW, I think you should change the poll options to the actual phonetic spellings that you're going after. It's kinda like saying "Do you pronounce "genre" as "genre" or "genra"?" Of course, everyone pronounces it the same way the pronounce genre...
I say Hollow....<shrugs>
things change...but everyone still knows what you're talking about...so does it really matter if its correct or not?
things change...but everyone still knows what you're talking about...so does it really matter if its correct or not?
- Nov 30, 2001
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Originally posted by: notfred
"hall" being the one with the A or the O? Because I say "halloween" pronounced as "hall-oh-een" or "hollow-een". If you're saying that "hAlloween" is being pronounced as "hal-oh-een" then your choices don't make any sense
BTW, I think you should change the poll options to the actual phonetic spellings that you're going after. It's kinda like saying "Do you pronounce "genre" as "genre" or "genra"?" Of course, everyone pronounces it the same way the pronounce genre...
Hehe, you're getting me confused - pretty soon I'll need to stop talking to customers so I can decipher everything....
- Nov 30, 2001
- 7,388
- 2
- 81
Originally posted by: radiocore
I say Hollow....<shrugs>
things change...but everyone still knows what you're talking about...so does it really matter if its correct or not?
It's an "argument" with my girlfriend, I say HALLoween is right, she says HOLLOWeen is right....
I voted for "holloween", even though I don't say "holloween". I say "halloween", it's just that I pronounce it as "hall-oh-een".
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