How did it start?

The origin of today’s Halloween dates back 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced sow-in or sow-en.)

In the year 800 BC there was a diverse group of tribal societies living in Central Europe that gradually expanded their influence over a wide range of lands including what is now Ireland, Scotland, England, and France. They came to be known as the Celts. During hundreds years of living and development, they established distinguished cultural, artistic and religion systems.
Every year, the Celtics celebrated two important festivals: the Beltane on May First, which

celebrated the arrival of Spring and of renewal, and the Samhain on November First which meant to mark the end of the harvest, the arrival of Winter, and also the beginning of a New Year (according to the ancient Celtic calendar). Prior to the Samhain day was the night of October 31 which was the most fearful time to the Celts. It was a common belief that the night was a supernatural time during which the boundary between the living and the dead was distorted; souls who had not yet passed into the other world may return to the streets and visit their old homes. The dead would walk amongst the living, communicating to some the unknown future, often resulting in prophecies and predictions for the future.In order to avoid any bad luck that might happen because of the return of the souls, Druids (Celtic priests) carried out animal and human sacrifice rituals around huge bonfires. The Celtic people dressed in costumes at night expecting to frighten these spirits away and also to avoid being recognized by spirits. At that time all nocturnal animals like bats, black cats, spiders, etc. were considered the embodiments of evil and bad luck.

The Roman Empire had been battling against the Gauls and the Celts from 400 BC. Finally around 50 BC Rome established a permanent presence in England and in 50AD built a city where London now stands. Their conquest lasted until 410 AD when they finally withdrew from the area. Their influence and culture brought many changes to the culture, religion and customs of the Celts.
Christianity later spread throughout Europe. Around 610 AD, Pope Boniface IV, in an effort to compete with the tradition of the Celtics, change the All Saints’ Day from May to November 1st, to honor Christian Saints. Later, the Roman Catholic Church made November 2nd All Souls’ Day in order to honor the dead. The two holidays were celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and people dressing up as saints, angels and devils. October 31 became known as the All Hallows’ Evening, which was shortened into All Hallows’ Even and then eventually shortened to Halloween.

These actions did not make Celtic people forget their ancient customs, but gradually over the years the customs from these holidays mixed, and the modern Halloween which we now celebrate was derived from the mix of these influences.

How did Halloween come to America?

The arrival of the Pilgrims in America in the 1600’s hardly allowed any celebrations, never mind Halloween. In the 1840’s a potato famine in Ireland brought millions of immigrants to America. These immigrants brought their traditions and customs with them, and as time passed, Halloween began to become more of a community and neighborly celebration. Millions of people nowadays celebrate the holiday each year without knowing its origins, which makes the holiday that much more exciting. Some still see its superstitious nature and its ties to the deceased. Some religions even view it as an unholy holiday. These attitudes explain why there are parents restricting their children in taking part in some of the holiday activities like trick-or-treating, and many churches warning parents to keep children at home on that night as their children could possibly be kidnapped by some cult and offered as sacrifices to evil gods.

However, Halloween today is more about parties, fun, and fellowship, one of the most looked forward to holidays of the year when family members and friends gather together to enjoy a costume party, sharing food and treats, fortune telling games, bobbing for apples, and telling scary ghost stories.

The origin of the Jack-o-lantern

Long time ago, in old Ireland, there was a man called Jack who was a clever yet lazy man. Jack was always drunk, and he could find no work and so turned to gambling or any other cunning trick to acquire money for his drinking at the pub. Things went on like that until one Halloween night when the Devil encountered Jack and was going to take his life. However Jack was a clever fellow and played a trick on the Devil, and so was released from his fate and the Devil agreed to never bother Jack again. After Jack died, he went to Heaven, but the Saints denied him entry, as he was not a good man during his living. Jack was made to descend into Hell, and there stood the Devil waiting for Jack. The Devil for sure wouldn’t take Jack either. He threw Jack an ember so he could see his way in the dark and asked him to go find a place for himself elsewhere. And from that day on, Jack wandered around with a lantern he made by putting the ember into a hollowed out turnip to keep it glowing longer. Jack’s Lantern lit the way for his endless wanderings.

So originally the lantern was actually a turnip. When the Europe immigrants came to America and saw the pumpkins, they choose them to make the lanterns because pumpkins are much bigger and make more beautiful lanterns than the turnip.

The tradition of Trick-or-Treat

Today’s Halloween trick-or-treating that children do to get candy was not really started until the early 20th century. However, it seems to resemble the medieval practice of “souling” during the old age of the ancient Celtics on Halloween night. As it was the night of the return of the spirits, the living Celtics believed that if they made food and placed it in front of the door for the spirits; they would take and leave the home in peace. In some other place, beggars or homeless people went to each house to ask for food (or money) or as it is called in Scotland, “guising”, and in return they prayed for the hosts and their relatives.

For today’s Halloween, trick-or-treating is mostly considered an activity for children. Kids in different costumes of devils, angels, pumpkins, super heroes and famous people run around together, knocking on house doors and asking for candy. It’s a time for them to have fun, create memorable moments, make new friends and satisfy their sweet tooth.

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