History of Halloween
Halloween is one of the most popular holidays celebrated today, but do you know how this crazy celebration got started? From its ancient beginnings to its modern traditions, the story of Halloween is far stranger than any haunted house or horror movie. So grab some candy corn, put on your costume, and get ready to learn all about this spooky holiday!
First things first - Halloween began as an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain
(sah-win). The Celts lived in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of Northern France over 2000 years ago. November 1st was considered the end of summer and the start of winter for them. Samhain was seen as a time when the veil between the spirit world and the living was thinned. How crazy is that?
On Samhain eve, October 31st, the Celts believed the ghosts of the dead could mingle with the living. They would leave food offerings outside their homes to appease spirits and wear costumes to blend in with the roaming ghosts. The Celts also practiced fortune telling and made predictions about the coming year during this time. Let's just say this was not the best party to get ghosted at!
When the Romans invaded Celtic lands, they brought two festivals with them that contributed to our modern Halloween. Feralia was a day in late October when Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. Pomona was a
festival honoring the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. This holiday symbolized the harvest and is thought to be where the tradition of bobbing for apples originated from. Talk about a weird way to pay tribute!
Later, when Christianity spread into Celtic lands, the church designated November 1st as All Saints Day. This was called Hallowmas and was a holy day to honor saints and martyrs. See how the name changed to All-Hallows Eve and eventually Halloween? Clever! Since the pagan Celts already celebrated Samhain at this time, the church just adapted their harvest festivals to become church-approved holidays.
In colonial America, British and Irish immigrants brought their Halloween customs with them. During the second half of the nineteenth century, expanded Irish
immigration due to the Irish Potato Famine brought increased popularity of Halloween to North America. Over time, Halloween evolved into the family friendly holiday we know today.
Although costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and candy are conventional Halloween traditions, some cultures have their own wild and wacky ways to celebrate! In the Czech Republic, chairs are stacked in the street to ward off spirits. Guatemalans adorn giant kite frames with whistles and strings to 'scare away evil spirits' in the sky. In Sweden, kids dress up as witches and go door to door trading artwork for candy. Talk about getting creative for candy!
Clearly, Halloween has transformed over the centuries from pagan ritual to community fun. Its evolution reflects both ancient traditions and newer North
American customs. This spooky holiday reminds us of the thinning boundary between the spirit world and our own. Plus it gives everyone an excuse to get a little weird! Whatever your Halloween plans are, embrace the strange history and traditions that make this holiday special. Just don't take any unwrapped candy - safety first!
