The Ocala Halloween celebration is a week away and this year’s edition will offer many more opportunities than last for children of all ages to have fun.
Ocala Halloween, A Brief History
Most of us fondly remember Halloween. As children, we looked forward to dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating with friends and thrilling to spooky ghost stories. However, we may remember less fondly the tummy aches that sometimes followed an evening of overindulging in candy. Now that we have families of our own, we thrill at the look of excitement and anticipation in our children’s eyes as they prepare to create their own Halloween memories. Our celebration is a wonderland of fun. But to be sure, most of us have long forgotten the beliefs at the root of this special day. Therefore, you may find a recounting of the history of Halloween interesting.
Over two thousand years ago, a people called Celts dominated the British Isles and Northern France. They celebrated the new year on November 1st. That day represented the end of the harvest and the beginning of a long, cold winter. The Celts believed that on the day before the advent of the new year, the demarcation between the world of the dead and that of the living became blurred. As a result, the dead were able to cross over and wonder among us. Of course, their presence spawned many spooky, unexplainable incidents. The Celts called this day Samhain. They dressed in costumes and danced as their priests, known as Druids, lit huge bonfires and sacrificed crops and animals to their gods.
All Saints Day and The Ocala Halloween Celebration
In 43 A.D. the Romans conquered the Celts, whom they would then rule for over four centuries. Over time, they gradually combined two of their celebrations with Samhain. In October the Romans traditionally devoted a day to honoring the dead, believing them to have passed to a less corporal existence. Their day of celebration was called Feralia. Soon after, they celebrated the harvest and honored Pomona, the goddess of fruit trees. Due to the similarity between the Celts Samhain festival and the two celebrated by the Romans in October, the Roman empire eventually merged all three into one.
Hundreds of years later, Christians began to celebrate All Saints Day in May. When Pope Gregory moved the celebration from May to November 1st in 1000 A.D., it was merged with Celtic/Roman celebration. While the combined celebration initially became known as All Hallows Day, it gradually evolved to be called Halloween.
In America, the celebration of Halloween was rare until early in the twentieth century. But it was celebrated in Maryland. Of course, from there it eventually spread to the rest of our nation.
Bellow you will find three resources that will inform you of the many exciting events planned for Halloween 2021 in the greater Ocala metropolitan area. However, a word to the wise. While the world has made great advances in combating the pandemic, we have not yet returned to the old normal. Therefore, organizers commonly have special COVID-19 policies in place and sometimes cancel or postpone events. Because of these considerations, we would recommend that you consult event websites or check with organizers to avoid disappointment. Read on, be well and stay safe:
Halloween Festivities | Ocala / Marion County Florida
Pumpkin patches, haunted trails, & more. Ocala/Marion has something for everyone. Here’s a list of Halloween happenings for a spooktacular October. Learn more here: OCALA / MARION COUNTY FLORIDA
Halloween events in Marion County
Haunted houses, corn mazes, trunk-or-treats and festivals in Marion County. Learn more at WWW.OCALA.COM
Kirby Family Farm – A Nonprofit Educational Facility
Visit our creepy critters area. Take a train ride on a historic railroad and enjoy kinda spooky stories and silly Halloween jokes. Meet and Greet with BooBoo the Racoon and other farm mascots. Ride the Italian Carousel, Antique Ferris Wheel, and other fun amusement rides. Visit multiple Candy Stops in a safe environment where your child 10 and under (Special needs under 18) can collect candy or other goodies from great organizations participating in this event! Play challenging carnival games just for fun & much more. Learn more on the Kirby Farms website.
“Halloween wraps fear in innocence, as though it were a slightly sour sweet. Let terror, then, be turned into a treat.” – Nicholas Gordon
See Halloween in the eyes of innocents. It is a time when children make memories full of candy, adventurous ghosts and imagination, a magical day indeed.
Andrew Kruglanski, MBA, ABD
Broker, Ocala Home Guide Realty
(352)234-3048
andy.k@ocalahomes.online