As the end of October nears by, ghosts, pumpkins, spooky decorations fill the streets bringing the beauty of Halloween to life. Children dress up to bring fiction to reality for this one day while holding buckets of candy after a long night of trick-or-treating. Beyond all the glamor and excitement, there lies a rich, deep-rooted history with Halloween. Halloween wasn’t always what we know it as today starting off as a sacred festival in ancient Celtic traditions and transformed into the celebration we know and love today.
Halloween began as the mark of the end of the summer and the beginning of a harsh winter which was often when most human death occurred. The Celts who lived around 2,000 years ago believed that October 31 was Samhain, a day where the ghosts of those who are dead returned. During this day Celtic priests would light bonfires and burn crops and animals to their deities and to repel present ghosts. Many Celts wore costumes during these rituals sparking a long lasting tradition. After the Romans took control of Celtic land, Roman polytheism and then Christianity slowly spread into Celtic traditions, especially when replacing Samhain with All Souls’ Day on November 2. The differences in the two days were minute as All Souls’ Day also included costumes and bonfires. The night before All Souls’ Days was called All-Hallows Eve which is now the Halloween we know today.Â
Halloween spread throughout colonial America, though not breaking through the Protestant New England due to their strict religious beliefs. Due to syncretism of cultures between colonists and Native Americans, a more traditional celebration of Halloween emerged with parties, pranks, and scary stories at the forefront. Eventually Halloween became a community celebration towards parties and group stories moving away from the superstitions and fears of ghosts or witches.
Influenced by Europeans, Americans started to don costumes and go door-to-door, which eventually turned into trick-or-treat. Theories of how this custom started include children dressing up to make adults guess their attire to gain candy, or that Celtic people would leave food for the spirits. The fear behind black cats is associated with the tale that witches disguised themselves as black cats, bringing bad luck. During Halloween, black cats are often figures in decorations and costumes. Pumpkin carving is another practice that originated from Celtic rituals of carving scary images on turnips to fend off the ghosts. Many other Halloween traditions include indulging in candy apples, completing haunted houses, and bobbing apples.Â
Halloween has evolved considerably from its ancient Celtic origins into the vibrant, community-oriented celebration we take part in today. Beginning as a superstitious day, Halloween has turned into a festival filled with fun, costumes, and candy.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/
https://hauntpay.com/2023/10/the-history-of-halloween-and-its-traditions/
