Introduction to Halloween

Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan holiday where the boundary between the world and the afterlife was believed to be at its thinnest, and was later influenced by the Christian feast of All Hallow’s Eve, which honored Christian saints and was celebrated on the night before All Hallows Day.

Historical Background

In the medieval era, thousands of saints existed, making it impractical to dedicate a day to each, so Pope Gregory III established All Hallow’s Day on November 1st to honor them collectively. This day was followed by All Souls Day, which commemorated ordinary people, especially those trapped in purgatory, and churches would accept prayers and donations to aid their journey to heaven, with alms and charity given to the poor.

• All Hallows Day and All Souls Day made up a festival called All Hallow Tide, a celebration to remember the dead, which is one of the most important Christian holidays.
• The first Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, was celebrated late at night with illuminated churches, liturgy sung in Latin, and incense, focusing on the fate of the wicked, and was often illustrated with paintings of souls on church walls.

Pre-Christian Influences

Halloween originated from the Christian feast of All Hallows, but its true origins may predate Christianity, adapting local customs such as the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the start of winter and a time when the boundary between the world of the living and the dead was at its thinnest.

In pre-Christian Ireland, spirits known as the Eshi roamed the land during a time called sin, entering through burial mounds and doorways like the hill of Tara. Not all spirits were benevolent, with frightening beings like the Puker and banshee lurking, the latter being a spectre that stalked forests and let out a blood-curdling scream, believed to be an omen of death.

Evolution of Halloween Traditions

People would protect themselves from malevolent beings by building bonfires and carving lanterns with frightening faces. The time was also marked by rituals, including divination to predict the future, such as trying to take a bite from a floating apple to determine who would marry next.

The jack-o’-lantern, a famous Halloween symbol, originated from carved turnips in Ireland and Britain, used to scare away evil spirits. Irish immigrants in the Americas replaced turnips with pumpkins, which were easier to carve and gave a warm glow.

• The tradition of trick-or-treating originated from Christianity, specifically All Souls Day, where people would go door-to-door asking for food and charity, a practice known as souling, and wealthy patrons would distribute soul cakes to the poor, which eventually evolved into children asking for treats and donations.
• The tradition of dressing up in costumes, including terrifying ones, on Halloween may have originated from Celtic folklore, where people believed in disguising themselves during a time of sin.

Global Celebrations

Halloween is a patchwork of various traditions, largely influenced by Angloeltic settlers who brought their folk customs to North America. However, the celebration is observed worldwide, with many countries preserving traditional Christian practices, such as souling in Portugal and the Philippines.

Other unique traditions include Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations, a multi-day festival coinciding with the Christian holiday of All Souls, where families build private altars to honor the dead, decorated with bright fabrics, fruits, candles, and photos of loved ones.

Conclusion

Halloween is seen as a night of good fun, an excuse to meet friends and enjoy seasonal activities, rather than celebrating anything demonic. The holiday marks the transition into the dark half of the year, and despite its Christian roots, it has a deeper connection to nature and its rhythms that have shaped human rituals for thousands of years.