The Origins of Halloween
Michelle Wong, Contributor
What are the origins of Halloween? Growing up we were taught that children and walk the neighbourhood trick-or-treating for candy dressed as spooky things like ghosts, vampires, zombies, werewolves, and so forth. Similarly, houses would be decorated with fake spider webs, scary dolls, and flickering lights. However, have you ever questioned where does this holiday come from exactly, or why was it made to be a scary holiday? It seems not many people actually know the origins of Halloween.
This holiday has its origins in an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “SAH-win”). This religious event celebrated the beginning of the harvest at the end of summer, and people would light bonfires, wear costumes, and dance to ward off ghosts. They also made lanterns from gourds to light up their lands. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 All Saints Day, a solemnity to honour saints. All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions from Samhain, and the evening before All Saints Day was called All Hallows Eve. This later became Halloween, and all the spooky events and warding off ghosts occurred on October 31. That’s not all! November 1 was also considered to be a new year in ancient Ireland, and marked the transition of a warm, bountiful summer to a cold, dark winter oftentimes associated with death. As such, the night of October 31was considered the night when the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, and spirits could traverse Earth.
Wait, there’s more! According to Pioneer Woman, Samhain’s big bonfires attracted a insects, which then attracted bats which then became associated with Halloween — nothing to do with witches and vampires sadly. However, black cats actually do have a connection with witches! During the Middle Ages, witches were believed to avoid suspicion by turning themselves into black cats. Orange and black, the colours often associated with Halloween, date back to Samhain, where black symbolized the “death” of the summer season and orange represented the harvest season.
Halloween stemmed from religious Celtic roots and was to ward off ghosts, celebrating their harvest at the end of summer; quite a celebratory event, if you think about it! But how did this event come from Ireland to North America? The late 19th century saw a wave of Scottish and Irish immigrants coming to North America, whose traditions later influenced people of many cultures. The holiday was initially more common in Maryland and southern colonies than the more strictly Protestant New England. The different Celtic and Catholic customs began to be incorporated with Indigenous ideas, and soon a more American version of Halloween came to be. This included sharing stories about the dead and telling fortunes. As time progressed, parents were encouraged by the local newspapers and community leaders to remove anything that was “frightening” or “grotesque,” slowly making Halloween no longer as superstitious or religious as it was in the 1800s.
What about trick-or-treating? There are many theories surrounding this topic, and its has not yet been discovered exactly the tradition came to be. One speculated idea was that this custom came from Ireland; young people would partake in guising where they would, in costume, sing or tell jokes or perform some trick before receiving fruit, nuts or coins. Another speculated idea was that trick-or-treating is an act of souling. This act dates back to the 15th century when Christians would go door-to-door asking for treats or “soul cakes” in exchange for a promise to pray for the souls of giver’s relatives. Though it is still not confirmed where trick-or-treating originated from, this activity has created many fond childhood memories and remains a tradition in modern society.
Halloween began as a celebratory and spirit-warding religious Celtic holiday, but as time passed and cultures mixed, it became the holiday we all know today. So the next time you think about Halloween decorations, parties, or costumes, this author hopes that you recall the origins of the day. Have a spooky holiday and stay safe!
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