Although Halloween takes on different meanings as we get older, it seems we are never too old to celebrate in our own ways. As children, everyone would get his or her costume from the store, dress up, and go out for candy with parents close behind. In the teenage years, we all secretly wanted to go trick-or-treating, but many told their parents they were simply “too cool for that kid stuff” and spent time with friends instead. Now that we’re in college Halloween is a time to get excited again for costumes, but to attend themed parties rather than beg for candy. However, even through all these years and stages, how many people know why we have a holiday for trickery and treats?
While some may believe that Halloween is a candy company holiday, it actually dates back to the Celtics over 2000 years ago from modern-day Ireland. They celebrated their New Year on November 1st. This marked the end of their summer climate and harvest season and the beginning of cold winter, typically associated with death. They held their Samhain festival on October 31 when the ghosts of the dead returned to earth and were blamed for causing trouble and killing crops. The Celtics also believed that these spirits made it easier for druids to make predictions of the future.
The druids celebrated by building sacred bonfires for people to sacrifice crops and animals to the Celtic deities. It was during this time that people would dress in costumes of animal heads and skins and attempt to tell each other’s fortunes. After this, they would re-light the bonfire to protect them from the upcoming harsh winter.
Samhain was eventually combined with traditions from Roman culture after 43 A.D. when the Romans conquered the Celtics’ land. The first tradition was Feralia, celebrated in late October to commemorate the passing of the dead. The second was to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. It is believed that bobbing for apples came from Pomona’s symbol of an apple and its incorporation into Samhain.
Around 800 A.D., Christianity had reached the Celtic lands and began to influence traditions. November 1 had become All Saints Day, which is thought to replace Samhain by focusing on saints and martyrs still living. This day was also referred to as All-hallows or All-hallowmas, which led to Samhain (the previous night) being called All-hallows Eve. This latter term turned into the current Halloween as we call it.
All of this shows that cultures really do influence others, as Halloween has become an international festival of costume and feasting. While dentists may still claim it is evil, and parents may still try to spook you with razor and poison stories, Halloween’s origins and true meaning should prove to us all how important it is to bridge the land of the living with the land of the dead, even for just one night.
