...The Boondock Saints I chose to view and analyze the film The Boondock Saints. There were many different elements I focused on while viewing the film. These elements were broken down into the following categories: narrative, theatrical elements, cinematography, editing, sound, and the overall experience. I will begin with stating my personal interpretations and my own understandings of the narrative. Throughout the film there are two main characters. These two characters are Irish brothers that share a deep sense of their Catholic religion. Their names are Murphy and Connor McManus. Murphy and Connor are two ordinary men who are put in an extraordinary situation; Connor risks his own life to save the life of his brother. The situation starts from a bar fight with two Russian mafia soldiers. The Russians lose the fight with the two brothers; the next morning they come after the McManus brothers for revenge. Murphy and Connor kill the two men in self defense and go to the police station. While in the holding cell, they are given a message from a spiritual force to rid the world of evil men. From that moment they devote themselves to a battle between good and evil. Another important character is David Della Rocco, also known as the “Funny Man” or just Rocco. Rocco is a package boy for the Yakaveta family Italian mafia. The head of the Yakaveta family is “Papa” Joe Yakaveta. “Papa” Joe sets up Rocco in a situation to have him killed; Rocco finds out about “Papa” Joe’s plans and...
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...Like Christmas, New Year’s Day, Ramadan, or Yom Kippur, Halloween is celebrated almost in every country, even if the celebration implies only external attributes, such as pumpkins, costumes, and children asking for candies. Though the initial meaning of Halloween had a lot to do with occult powers, spirits, and protection against evil forces, today it is more of a merry holiday, a little bit spooky, but still enjoyed both by adults and children. So, what are the origins of Halloween? Historically, the word Halloween is a contraction from the phrase “All Hallows Even,” which meant the day before All Hallows Day (more known as All Saints’ Day) (About.com). It was a Catholic holiday dedicated to the commemoration of saints and martyrs for faith; today, though, we know it more as a holiday of trick-or-treating, scary costumes and entourage, and funny pranks. Gradually, Halloween has lost its religious connotations, and has turned into a holiday gladly celebrated by youth and adults across the Western world on October 31. Though it is considered that Halloween has its origins in the early Middle Ages, some scientists think that it is even more ancient. Peter Tokofsky, an assistant professor in the department of folklore and mythology of UCLA, believes that Halloween as we know it today arose from the Celtic festival Samhain (Albany.edu). Samhain was demarcating the end of summer; on this day souls of the dead were believed to be penetrating the real world. This was also the Celtic...
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...Halloween: Then and Now This paper will cover the origins, religious influence, the changes in Halloween, as well as the traditions and superstitions associated with Halloween. It will show how Halloween started as a dark festival full of traditions and superstitions, and how it has now turned into a happy celebration for the young and old alike. Halloween is on October 31, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. According to The History Channel on Halloween (2012), Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago. Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition, it is thought to have its origin with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts (para 1). According to the Encyclopædia Britannica on Halloween (2012), over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities. It's one of the most popular holidays, second only to Christmas. While millions of people celebrate Halloween without knowing its origins and myths, the history and facts make the holiday more fascinating. During the ancient festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland, November 1 was considered the end of the summer period, the date on which the livestock were brought in from pasture and land tenures were renewed (para 1). It was also a time when the souls of those who...
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...The holidays Halloween and the Day of the Dead are similar in some ways but overall different. Halloween is celebrated in America and The Day of the Dead is mainly recognized in Mexico. During Halloween kids walk around collecting candy in costumes. Preparations for Dia De Los Muertos include making an ofrenda which will hold offerings for the dead. The purpose of the holidays is different as well. Throughout the three days that the Day of the Dead is celebrated, the loved ones who have passed away come back to life and enjoy time with their families. On October 31st in America, the bad spirits were known to come alive and needed to be banished before All Saints Day which is why people wore costumes. Therefore, Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos are different. The two holidays are celebrated in different parts of the world. Halloween is celebrated all throughout America, Canada, Australia and in some parts of Europe. Halloween became popular in North America when the Irish immigrants brought their practices with them. Dia De Los Muertos is only celebrated in Mexico. It was first celebrated by the Incas in South America. Therefore, the two holidays are celebrated in different parts of the world and...
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...Halloween: The gate between the living and the spirit world opens Holly A. Moran Keuka College COM320.355 Abstract Halloween is a magical and superstitious time of year. It is a time when the spirits, fairies, goblins and witches come out to join the living. Not so long ago people believed that, and some still do, that the spirit world is closer on the night of Halloween. It is a night when you can talk with your deceased loved ones, find out who is going to die before the next Halloween or find your mate. Though we no longer hold sacrifices to the Lord of the Dead, we still celebrate with a lot of the same traditions that took place hundreds of years ago. Of all the festivals and celebrations that we observe today, few have a tale stranger than Halloween, also known as the eve of Allhallows – or Hallowmas or All Saints’ Day. All Saints’ Day is one of the gloomiest festivals of the church, while at the same time it observes the supernatural ceremonies with which the church has always been at war. This, after all, is the night when ghosts walk and fairies and goblins are astray. (Linton, 1950) Druids held the earliest celebrations in honor of Samhain, Lord of the Dead, whose festival actually fell on November 1. November 1 was also the Celtic New Year’s Day, the beginning of winter and the time known as “the light that loses, the night that wins.”(Linton, 1950 pg. 4) Halloween (Hallowe’en) is one of the world’s oldest...
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...November 2015 Celebration of Halloween Halloween is a celebration that usually takes place on the night of October 31st. Before it evolved into this name it was once called “All Hallows Eve”. ”Today, Halloween is a festival of fun for kids. It is an occasion to dress up as little monsters, ghost or witches” (Why is Halloween Celebrated). Many religious people have their concerns and dislikes toward this holiday. “Over time the custom of adults dressing up as demons changed and the children took over. As they went from house to house they would knock at each house and cry ‘trick or treat’ ” (Why is Halloween Celebrated). But how did all this come about? Halloween dates back to 2,000 years ago. “In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain” (History of Halloween). During the Celtic festival of Samhain people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward of what they believed were roaming ghosts. “By 43 A.D., the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory” (History of Halloween).While the Romans were ruling the lands there were two festivals, Feralia, a day Romans traditionally commemorate the passing of the dead and the second was to honor Pomona , the Roman goddess of fruit and tree. An apple symbolizes Pomona which explains why the tradition of bobbing for apples is practiced on Halloween. “By the end of the 19th century...
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...Organ of Halloween and all saints day Halloween dates back to over 2,000 years ago in what is now United Kingdom, Ireland and Northern France would hold a festival commemorating the end of the year. The festival was call the Samhain, which mint the end of the year signaled the end of summer and the harvest season which would spark the begging of a land and harsh winter to come next year, this harsh winter would cause a number of death to the people and there livestock. They would kill there livestock during the festival because they knew that they would not survive the winter anyway, in these event they thought the night before new years that a wall between the living and spirit world would open allowing spirits good and bad to mingle with the living and they would believe that they would cause trouble, ruin crops, and search for a way back for the after life. The Samhain was considered a magical holiday, no one knows how the Celtics practiced or believed while they held the festival, some say that the spirits who were unleashed are those that had died in that year, food and water was use to aid them or scare them away. Others say that the Celtics would dress in costumes and make noise to scare the spirits away. All saints day saints day is on November 1, it is the day the church remembers the martyrs who gave there life for what they believed in. Back before the date was official, they would tell stories of the heroic men and women of faith for the witnesses to Christ...
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...Halloween vs. Day of the Dead Amy Barrows Com/170 10/31/2012 Margaret Munger Similar traditions are held between the Day of the Dead and Halloween, yet they have very different origins. They both started out as their own separate festivals/celebrations but over time they gained either Catholic or Christian tendencies. Which only served to make them even more similar, leading confusion for many Americans now a days. Most people know of the similarities but do not know of the origins of either! Even most Americans who celebrate Halloween do not know of it is origins! Day of the dead was a celebration to celebrate the Aztec goddess Mictecacihuatl, Lady of the dead. They celebrated for about a month long in their calendar what all know as August. They had all the same traditions as they do now but back then the altars/shrines they made were at the graves themselves to bring the family/descend person back to the land of the living. Aztecs would spread the flor de muertos (flower of the dead) from the grave sites to their homes. A way of leading the lost souls to their families and loved ones. Aztecs would even make foods and treats with the deceased name on the calaveras de azucar (skull of sugar). This all went on for many centuries until the Spaniards came and influenced their religion with more Catholic ties. Example being they changed the month-long celebration to be only two days coinciding with November 1, All saints day and November 2...
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...Alberto Escobar Lara” Maracay Edo- Aragua. Halloween. Halloween is the last day of October, when according to Christian tradition, the spirits of the dead return to where they lived and witches and demons make real that day. But why is Halloween celebrating around the world? Some people view Halloween as a time for fun, putting on costumes, trick-or-treating, and having theme parties. Others points of view it as a time of superstitions, ghosts, goblins and evil spirits that should be avoided at all costs. But what are the real origins of Halloween? Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago. All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. Halloween festival is the part of best holidays around the world, it is related to the scarier aspects of life such as like death, magic, and mythical creatures in the life. Halloween activities include tricks, treating, bonfires and costume parties, visiting of haunted houses, reading scary stories, ghost tours, and watching horror movies. There are among the various famous Halloween personalities available in our stories and movies such as like Ghosts, spiders, gnomes, skeletons, ghouls, black cats, and Dracula. Halloween is a great festival holiday to center a party around...
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...Halloween Halloween is the last day of October, when according to Christian tradition, the spirits of the dead return to where they lived and witches and demons become real that day. But why is Halloween celebrated around the world? Some people view Halloween as a time for fun - putting on costumes, trick-or-treating, and having theme parties. Others view it as a time of superstitions, ghosts, goblins and evil spirits that should be avoided at all costs. But what are the real origins of Halloween? Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honouring the dead. Halloween is referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago. All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. Halloween is related to the scarier aspects of life such as like death, magic, and mythical creatures in the life. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires and costume parties, visiting haunted houses, reading scary stories, ghost tours, and watching horror movies. There are various famous Halloween personalities available in our stories and movies such as like Ghosts, spiders, gnomes, skeletons, ghouls, black cats, and Dracula. Traditional Halloween colours are black and orange. People like to use those colours for things such as clothes, cars, masks, accessories and decorations. Pumpkins and scarecrow decorations symbolise...
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...Halloween: Harmless or Haram? An Islamic Perspective Every year, on the evening of October 31st, millions of children across North America paint their faces, dress up in costumes, and go door to door collecting treats. The adults often decorate their houses with ghostly figures, carve scary faces on pumpkins, and put candles in them to create “Jack-O-Lanterns.” Unfortunately, among the millions of North Americans indulging in this custom, many are also Muslims. This article will shed some light on the significance and origins of Hallow’een, and why Muslims should not participate in it. Origins of the Hallow’een Festival The ancient Celtic (Irish/Scottish/Welsh) festival called Samhain is considered by most historians and scholars to be the predecessor of what is now Hallow’een. Samhain was the New Year’s day of the pagan Celts. It was also the Day of the Dead, a time when it was believed that the souls of those who had died during the year were allowed access into the “land of the dead”. Many traditional beliefs and customs associated with Samhain continue to be practiced today on the 31st of October. Most notable of these customs are the practice of leaving offerings of food and drink (now candy) to masked and costumed revelers, and the lighting of bonfires. Elements of this festival were incorporated into the Christian festival of All Hallow’s Eve, or Hallow-Even, the night preceding All Saint’s (Hallows’) Day. It is the glossing of the name Hallow- Even...
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...Origins of Halloween General Purpose: To inform people of the origins of this great holiday. This year when you carve scary faces into a pumpkin, or eat that Halloween whopper have you ever wondered about the history of where Halloween started? Millions of people a year celebrate Halloween every year but very few know why. Well, I’m here to maybe shed some light or should I say darkness. Halloween is a very scary night but it originated from the Christian religion. All Saint’s Day is November 1. The day before that is what early Christians called All Saint’s Eve or All Hallows Eve. (Hallow meaning saints) Overtime All Saint’s Eve turned into Halloween. But for the real history of the holiday we have to go back almost 1000 years to the early Celts in Ireland! A long time ago, the Celtics believed that Summer ended on October 31. So to get prepared for the end of the season of harvest or life and get ready for the season of death they celebrated Samhain. They believed that on this day the gap between the living and the dead was thinnest and that ghost and ferries could easily cross over. The Celtics would leave food at their doors to keep ghosts at bay and would wear costumes to “blend in” with the dead spirits. This is where we get our costumes today. They believed dressing up would honor the good spirits and keep away the bad ones. Sometime around the 8th century Pope Gregory the 4th merged All Saint’s day with the same day as Samhain and merged the traditions. One of the...
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...and black cats are symbols of Halloween, these objects are associated with a different holiday called the Day of the Dead. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, particularly in the Central and South regions, and by the people of the Mexican ancestry living in other places, especially the United States. The Day of the Dead is becoming very popular in the United States. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family members and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and to help support their spiritual journey. The Day of the Dead is a two day celebration. The Day of the Dead occurred on November 1st and...
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...Pumpkin In the spring Peter made a plan. He wanted a pumpkin for Halloween. Halloween is in the autumn. 'I will plant a pumpkin in my garden,' he said. Widgit symbol copyright Widgit Software 2010 www.widgit.com HALLOWEEN STORY AND ACTIVITY In the summer Peter watered his plants. He saw all the plants growing. 'The sun and the water help them grow,' he said. Widgit symbol copyright Widgit Software 2010 www.widgit.com HALLOWEEN STORY AND ACTIVITY In September Peter looked at his pumpkin. It was huge. 'Good!' he said. 'Next month is Halloween.' Widgit symbol copyright Widgit Software 2010 www.widgit.com HALLOWEEN STORY AND ACTIVITY 1 2 3 4 In October the autumn leaves were falling. Peter made a plan for his party. His mum invited Peter's friends from school. She helped Peter cut the pumpkin. Widgit symbol copyright Widgit Software 2010 www.widgit.com HALLOWEEN STORY AND ACTIVITY It was 31st October. Peter and his family got the garden ready. Everyone arrived. They had lots of fun. 'Thanks, Peter,' they said when they left. Widgit symbol copyright Widgit Software 2010 www.widgit.com HALLOWEEN STORY AND ACTIVITY Peter planted some seeds. Peter watered his plants. His pumpkin grew and grew. He cut the stalk. He cut off the top. He cut out some triangles for eyes. He cut out a nose and a mouth. Widgit symbol copyright Widgit Software 2010 www.widgit.com HALLOWEEN STORY AND ACTIVITY Possible vocabulary to check: spring...
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...origin of Halloween dates back 2000 years ago to the Celtic celebration of the dead. The Celtic festival was held on November 1st, the first day of the Celtic New Year, honoring the Samhain, the Lord of the Dead. Celtic ritual believed that the souls of the dead returned on the evening before November 1st. This particular time of year signified the final harvest, a time of gathering and preparing for winter. Winter was a time of famine and some would not survive through the long months ahead. Samhain was a way of honoring those who had died, a celebration of the spirit remembered. The celebration included burning sacrifices and costumes. It was a common belief that the "veil" between the world of the living and the world of the dead was thinnest on the eve of Samhain. In Modern times, many have twisted this thought to evil intent, though its origin is much more honorable. The dead could return on this one night to the places where they had lived, and food and entertainment were provided in their honor. This symbolized a village existing in harmony with its past, present, and future....
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