At the beginning of the 21st Century monsters still roam the remote, and sometimes not so remote, corners of our planet. It is our job to search for them. The Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ] is - we believe - the largest professional, scientific and full-time organisation in the world dedicated to cryptozoology - the study of unknown animals. Since 1992 the CFZ has carried out an unparalleled programme of research and investigation all over the world. Since 2009 we have been running the increasingly popular CFZ Blog Network, and although there has been an American branch of the CFZ for over ten years now, it is only now that it has a dedicated blog.

Saturday, 31 October 2015

HALLOWE'EN

October 31st is Hallowe'en.  It was brought to America by Irish and Scottish immigrants.  In origin, it was the start of the New Year among the pagan Celts.  In the Gaelic languages it is called Oiche Shamhna (Irish) and Oidhche Shamna (Scottish).  The day following it was called Samhain (pronounced sowwin).  This was the first day of the new year and not the name of an ancient god, as some have been misinformed.  

On the eve of Samhain it was believed that the gates to the Otherworld were open and this was a time the dead and other creatures could come for a visit.  It was not an anti-Christian occasion.



In Ireland, Jack-a-Lanterns were carved from turnips to add to the ghostly atmosphere.  When the celebration was taken up in the United States, the pumpkin was favored.

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