Thursday, October 29, 2009

A Little History for Thursdays: Bits from Books #1

Will a little advise from a friend, (and a panicked search for it online after FOUR bookstores failed me,) I've finally become the owner of book dedicated to the history of Halloween.  The book is titled, "Halloween, From Pagan Ritual to Party Night."


Today, I thought I would just share a little tidbit with you from this book since I haven't been able to really dig into it yet.  Did you know (according to this book's author):

In Naples, one custom once associated with the rite of Hallowtide, (the linked festivals of All Saints' and All Souls' days,) was the opening of the charnel houses, which contained the bones of the dead.  They were opened on All Souls' Day and decorated with flowers.  "Crowds thronged through [the charnel houses]  to visit the bodies of their friends and relatives.  Sometimes the cadavers were dressed in robes and placed in niches along the walls."

The original Haunted Houses? Hmm..

No comments: