This is Viewpoints Explained…
This period marked the end of harvest season and the arrival of winter’s long and cold nights. According to records from the library of congress, Celtics believed the barrier between the living and the dead was at its weakest point on October thirty-first. To ward off these ghosts, people lit massive fires, disguised themselves in animal skins and left offerings for the dead.
As time passed and Christianity spread through Europe, the church reworked these older customs into new ones. By the eighth century, Pope Gregory the third designated November first as all saints day, or ‘all hallows day’ and the holiday incorporated many of the traditions of the festival of Samhain. The night before was known as ‘all hallows eve’ and today we call it Halloween.
Even many of our modern traditions like carving pumpkins and trick o’ treating grew out of this blending of faith and folklore. Long before jack o’ lanterns, the Irish in the 1800’s started this tradition by knifing scary faces into small turnips. These rough turnip lanterns were meant to frighten off any evil spirits said to roam on Halloween night. During the middle ages, needy children and adults took part in “Souling” and went door to door to collect food and money from locals in exchange for prayers for the dead.
Today, Halloween isn’t so much a night of fear and faith, but one of fun and imagination. Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween.
The question is whether more drug makers will follow Pfizer’s lead and expand the programs reach, or if this recent briefing will end up being more symbolic than systemic. Only time will tell if these promised discounts turn into real relief for so many who are struggling to afford the steep cost of treatment.
Leave a Reply