-
"Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of harvest and the start of winter. Believing the boundary between the living and dead blurred on October 31st, Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off spirits. After Roman conquest, Celtic traditions merged with Catholic culture, resulting in the celebration of "All Hallows Eve" on October 31st and "All Hallows Day" on November 1st."
-
Around 800 BC, the Celts migrated from Central Europe, eventually reaching the British Isles after an extensive voyage.
-
The Celts, a diverse group of warrior tribes, shared cultural ties and excelled in metalwork. They lived in wooden huts, balanced agriculture with warfare, and valued personal honor, women's choices in marriage, and nature, following the Druidism religion.
-
In 55 BC, Julius Caesar initiated the invasion of Britain, with full conquest occurring in 43-47 AD under Emperor Claudius. Romans integrated conquered tribes into provincial administration, fostering town growth near army bases. Roman-built cities like Londinium and Verulamium showcased impressive structures, roads, and public baths, influencing British society for nearly four centuries until the early 5th century AD.
-
In 122 AD, Emperor Hadrian oversaw the construction of Hadrian's Wall during the Roman occupation of Britain. Spanning 117 kilometers in northern England, this 6-meter-high stone wall served as a defensive barrier against uncontrolled northern tribes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it demonstrates remarkable Roman engineering and safeguarded the Roman province of Britannia with patrols by soldiers.
-
After the Romans left in 410 AD, the Romanized Celts faced a new threat: the Anglo-Saxons, Germanic and Danish tribes settling in Britain. By the late 6th century, Pope Gregory I's monk, Augustine, Christianized the island, becoming the first Archbishop of Canterbury. The Anglo-Saxons established kingdoms, shaping the foundation of today's English language with words from Old English like "house," "man," and "friend."
-
Written in the early 8th century but based in 6th-century Scandinavia, Beowulf is an epic poem portraying the heroic actions of its main character. As the earliest written work in Old English, it offers glimpses into the values of its era. Beowulf, a valiant warrior, battles the monstrous Grendel and a dragon, embodying the timeless struggle between good and evil while exemplifying the qualities of a genuine hero—courage, loyalty, and selflessness.