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Hallowe'en or Halloween?

I've changed my MSN note wishing everyone "Happy Hallowe'en" earlier as it's how I've seen it written in quite a few places and immediately I got people saying it's actually "Halloween".

So.. what on earth is the difference? I always thought Hallowe'en is correct because it comes from All Hallow's Eve and that Halloween is just an americanization or something?

Reply 1

liamb

9

Hallowe'en is short for 'Hallowed Eve' i.e. the day before All Saints' Day. In the Middle Ages it was thought witchcraft and Satanism was based on an anti-Church that mocked the real Church. Therefore the night before one of the holiest days of the year was a fine time for the forces of evil to throw a party - hence our celebrations which effectively mock the mockers. Therefore technically you're right but remember being right isn't the same as being popular - which is why everybody hates me :smile:

Reply 2

francescarella

18

yeah i thought hallowe'en was an abbreviation of "All Hallows Eve"

meh. call it what you want.

Reply 3

MKJL450

Its Halloween :s-smilie:

Reply 4

Valbonne92

16

Halloween!

I cannot be asked to go out tonight, it is toooo cold!

Reply 5

-WhySoSerious?

17

Anyone seeing Quantum of Solace?

Hallowe'en

It is hallowe'en, but every says/writes halloween, but i don't care either way coz it's my birthday =]=]

Reply 8

el scorcho

11

i've always called it halloween because the movie's called halloween.

i wouldn't get really upset over it or anything though

Reply 9

liamb

9

Ah, so Hollywood has the final word. It really must be Hallowe'en (and Friday the 13th!) :smile:

Reply 10

Puma

15

-WhySoSerious?

Anyone seeing Quantum of Solace?

Going to watch it later :biggrin:

Reply 11

SuperStaah

12

I've always called it Halloween, never seen it spelt as Hallowe'en until this thread.

Ruthie!

It is hallowe'en, but every says/writes halloween, but i don't care either way coz it's my birthday =]=]

Happy Birthday! :biggrin:

Reply 12

BJack

19

minim

So.. what on earth is the difference? I always thought Hallowe'en is correct because it comes from All Hallow's Eve and that Halloween is just an americanization or something?

Hallowe'en is correct but over time words have a tendency to lose apostrophes (see 'bus, etc.) and the new spelling becomes accepted. To be honest, using the apostrophe looks a little dated.

Hallowe'en...

if you call it hallowe'en michael myers will come and get you

Reply 15

Crosseyed And Painless

13

Both are dictionary-fine but I prefer Hallowe'en.

Reply 16

alex-hs

16

minim

I've changed my MSN note wishing everyone "Happy Hallowe'en" earlier as it's how I've seen it written in quite a few places and immediately I got people saying it's actually "Halloween".

So.. what on earth is the difference? I always thought Hallowe'en is correct because it comes from All Hallow's Eve and that Halloween is just an americanization or something?

Definitely Hallowe'en. It's just thick/ill informed people that miss out the apostraphe.

Also is wishing people a "happy Hallowe'en" not a bit against the spirit of things? (Pun retrospectively intended)

Reply 17

nuodai

17

"-e'en" is to "even[ing]" as "ma'am" is to "madam"... but it doesn't really matter how you spell it. Both are accepted spelling variations of the same thing. There's no need for snobbery on either side of the equation to be honest.

Reply 18

sweetlovinchick2k1

Ruthie!

It is hallowe'en, but every says/writes halloween, but i don't care either way coz it's my birthday =]=]

Happy Birthday! Have a good day! :biggrin:

Reply 19

Gaylei

13

alex-hs

Definitely Hallowe'en. It's just thick/ill informed people that miss out the apostraphe.

Also is wishing people a "happy Hallowe'en" not a bit against the spirit of things? (Pun retrospectively intended)

i think thats the american part of it because they wish people happy holidays on these days... but yeah I get your point! thats a bit like saying happy death when some one dies!

Hallowe'en or Halloween?

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