Essay about Why we believe in ghosts - 2803 Words

English 1 research paper 29 March 2013 Why people believe in ghosts. Lying in bed in the middle of the night while sleep eludes me, a noise breaks through the silence. Oh my God! What was that!? Maybe it was just my imagination, or maybe it was just the house settling. There it is again! I must be hearing things. I get cold and my body starts to shiver uncontrollably. I peek to where the sound comes from and I could swear I see something through the dark room; it appears even darker than the surrounding area. Oh my! I think it just moved. My breathing becomes labored and I pull the covers over my head, trying to calm myself down while making my brain work through what just happened. Was I dreaming? Or did I just see a ghost? Many of†¦show more content†¦The belief in Doppelgangers and poltergeist has also crossed the ocean over to the U.S. Many people still report poltergeist activity in their homes. Another example of a cultures belief in ghosts is Ireland’s and Scotland’s (also known as the Celt’s) belief in Samhain or All Hallow’s Eve. Samhain is a festival that is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd. Samhain is a time of the year that celebrates the last harvest before the winter comes, and is dedicated to the â€Å"Lord of the Dead† (Guiley 19). The Celt’s believe that the dead will come out of their final resting place and mess with the crops. Also, it is believed that communication with the dead is easier during Samhain. It is said that the veil that separates the living from the dead is at its thinnest during this time. The Lord of the Dead holds a sentencing of spirits, where if they were good they can exist in the form of a human, and if they were bad, the form of an animal. Offerings of food and drink are made to the Lord of the Dead so he would not be so severe in his sentencing. Many Celt’s would dress up on S amhain to confuse the spirits that were roaming around so they wouldn’t stop, but continue to pass them by (Guiley 19). This festival is still celebrated today as Halloween. Currently, Americans hold by some of the old traditions by dressing up and making offerings by handing out candy. Many Celt’s still hold beliefs in the old ways. Celt’s also believe in what isShow MoreRelated The Ghost of King Hamlet Essay1301 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ghost of King Hamlet      Ã‚   Many Shakespeare plays contain ghosts, perhaps most notably and most disturbingly in Macbeth and Hamlet. 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