The History of Halloween

From an Ancient Celtic Festival to "All Hallows' Eve"

Halloween's story begins over 2,000 years ago with the Celts, a group of people who lived in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. They celebrated their new year on November 1st with a festival called Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

Samhain marked the end of summer and the harvest, and the beginning of the dark, cold winter. The Celts believed that on the night before the new year—October 31st—the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred. It was thought that ghosts of the dead returned to Earth. To scare away any unfriendly spirits, people would light bonfires and wear costumes, often made from animal heads and skins.

Later, as Christianity spread, the Church tried to replace some of these ancient traditions. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints' Day to honour all saints. This day was also called All-hallows. The night before, October 31st, became known as All Hallows' Eve, which eventually became... Halloween!

The History of Trick-or-Treating

The fun tradition of trick-or-treating has a history that's a mix of different customs. It's believed to have roots in both the Celtic festival and later Christian practices.

• Souling: In medieval England and Ireland, poor people would go door-to-door on All Hallows' Eve, asking for food in exchange for a promise to pray for the souls of the homeowner's deceased relatives. They would be given "soul cakes," which were small pastries. This practice was called "souling."
• Guising: In Scotland and Ireland, young people would participate in a custom called "guising." They would dress up in costumes and go from house to house, singing a song or reciting a poem in exchange for treats like fruit, nuts, or coins.

When Irish and Scottish immigrants came to America in the 19th century, they brought these traditions with them. Trick-or-treating as we know it today really took off in the 1920s and 1930s as a community-organised event to provide a fun alternative to pranks and mischief.

The Legend of the Jack-o'-Lantern

Jack-o'-lanterns are a staple of Halloween, but they didn't start with pumpkins! The tradition comes from an old Irish legend about a man named "Stingy Jack." The story goes that Jack tricked the Devil, and when he died, he was not allowed into Heaven or Hell. The Devil gave him a single ember from the flames of Hell to light his way as he roamed the Earth forever. Jack placed the ember inside a hollowed-out turnip, creating a lantern.

The Irish and Scottish would carve scary faces into turnips or potatoes and place them in windows to scare away evil spirits—and Stingy Jack himself! When these traditions came to America, people quickly discovered that pumpkins, which were native to the continent, were much easier to carve, and the pumpkin jack-o'-lantern was born.

Halloween Costumes: A Way to Ward Off Spirits

Have you ever wondered why we dress up on Halloween? The tradition of wearing costumes goes all the way back to the Celts and their festival of Samhain. As they believed that spirits roamed the earth, people would wear costumes made of animal skins and heads to either disguise themselves from the spirits or to scare them away.

Over time, this tradition evolved. People started dressing up as ghosts, demons, and other creatures, often performing tricks or reciting songs in exchange for food. In the Middle Ages, some Christians even dressed as saints or biblical figures for All Saints' Day parades. Today, costumes are a fantastic way for kids and families to express their creativity, from classic monsters to superheroes and everything in between!

So, as you get ready for your Halloween celebrations—carving pumpkins, picking out the perfect costume, and heading out for a night of trick-or-treating—remember the fascinating history behind these traditions. From ancient Celtic rituals to modern-day fun, Halloween is a holiday rich with stories and imagination!