The history of Halloween
For many around the world, the weeks leading up to 31st October are a flurry of pumpkin carving, putting up decorations, designing costumes and buying additional ‘candy’ for hyped up kids.
Despite it being one of America’s favourite holidays, the origins of Halloween are believed to have started with the Celts, in what is now known as Ireland. One avid history buff, p-dogg, says that 1st November was ‘New Year’, marking the end of summer and harvest and the beginning of winter.
“Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.” More>
As time progressed, the celebration became merged with the Catholic All Saints’ Day on 1st November.
“The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.” More>
Versions of the tradition moved from Europe to the USA during the waves of migration in the 19th century. But what does the original celebration have to do with the American version featuring trick-or-treating and pumpkins?
Lizzy says dressing up as ghosts and ghouls was actually an ancient tradition, believed to be so the real people would blend in with the otherworldly creatures that were haunting the earth that night.
“This gradually evolved into trick-or-treating because children would knock on their neighbours’ doors, in order to gather fruit, nuts, and sweets for the Halloween festival.” More>
According to Bridghid, pumpkins weren’t involved in the original Samhain tradition, however carved out vegetables were.
“Celts would walk around with various root vegetable lanterns to guide the roaming dead to the next world. They also carved spooky faces into them (the lanterns, not the dead) to keep malignant spirits away.” More>
Well there you go! It’s nice to know behind every money making holiday, there’s a semblance of tradition. If you’re celebrating Halloween here in the UK or Ireland, have a great day!
- Permalink
- Comments (5)
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Subscribe
[...] History of Halloween “Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.” More> [...]
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onYahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog » Blog Archive » The history of …Here’s a quick excerptDespite it being one of America’s favourite holidays, the origins of Halloween are believed to have started with the Celts, in what is now known as Ireland. One avid history buff, p-dogg, says that 1st November was ‘New Year’, … [...]
Great post! And Happy Halloween! I found another post about Halloween today on Peterman’s Eye…thought you might want to check it out!
http://www.petermanseye.com/interesting-times/day-s-events/315-ghostlusters
Cheers!
i thought it was just for fun. Wow this taught me a lot.
Trick-or-treating began here in the North of England as Mischievous Night; the kids round here think they can wreak havoc and (hopefully minor) vandalism on the 4th November. The police despair – but a hundred years ago farm gates would be thrown in ponds, cattle driven into the wrong fields and all kinds of crude pranks. “Treat” wasn’t an option.
Nowadays – well kids are kids and of course they try to get away with both – and Guy Fawkes Night as well, bless ‘em.
But – the Feast of the Dead it remains. Remembrance Day is still celebrated about this time, and Parliament opens at Celtic New Year.
Guy Fawkes and his lads – they tried to kill the King at Samhain……..hmmmm……………….