But what is the true history of Halloween?
Though it’s wildly popular today, Halloween is not merely a modern phenomenon.
Here, we explore its age-old origins, tracing its twisting evolution and contextualizing its spellbinding traditions.
Ephemera, 1912 (Photo:Toronto Public Library, Public domain)
The wordHalloweenhas evolved fromHallowe’en.
In turn, this whimsical word is shorthand for hallowed evening, and refers specifically toAll Hallows' Eve.
What is the history of Halloween?
It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Celtic New Year.
During the festival, people would collect resources for the winter and gather animals from the pastures.
By the first century CE, most Celtic territory was conquered by the Romans.
Inevitably, rituals and festivals began to blend, culminating in new hybrid holidays.
During this time, Pope Gregory III reinterpreted the Pagan festival as a series of Catholic holidays.
Trick-or-Treating
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To many,trick-or-treatingis the custom most closely associated with Halloween.
Jakub Schikaneder, “All Souls' Day,” 1888 (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Historians have linked this practice to both Samhain and medieval customs in the British Isles.
Traditionally, these cakes would be blessed by priests and were distributed in honor of the dead.
Wearing Costumes
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
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The use of scary costumes is also related to Samhain.
Represented by a white sheet with cut-out eyeholes, the homemadeghostis arguably the most iconicHalloween costume.
While seemingly innocuous, this interpretation is rooted in a particularly morbid ritual: the burial of dead bodies.
Wooden coffins were once a luxury in the United Kingdom.
In addition to a ghostly get-up, dressing up as awitchis also popular among trick-or-treaters.
Carving Jack-o'-Lanterns
Much like kids in costumes, glowingjack-o'-lanternshave become a Halloween nightstaple.
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!”
While, today,pumpkins are carvedto create these luminous decorations, they were originally crafted fromturnips.
Using the root vegetable as a lantern dates back to medieval Britain.
Historians connect this concept to thewill-o'-the-wisp, a folkloric trope.
According to Irish legend, the will-o'-the-wisp is a ghostly light.
Lesser-Known Traditions of the Past
Bobbing for apples.
These traditions often focused on the future and the living rather than the dead.
Bobbing for apples. (Photo:Howard Chandler Christy, Public domain)
In one version of the game, women would discretely mark the apples before they were placed in water.
She would then toss it over her shoulder and see what letter the peel formed on the floor.
It was said to reveal the initial of her future husband.
Photo: Toby Bradbury viaFlickr(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
She was instructed to gather hazelnuts and call each one with the name of a suitor.
But traditionally, bonfires were lit as a way to guide souls looking for the afterlife.
Folkloric festivities vary from location to location, and most cultures have each put their own twist on traditions.
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The special day remains beloved by spook-loving adults and treat-seeking children alike.
It includes ritual altars, surrounded by offerings.
It is an annual celebration of the dead, paying respect to those who have passed.
Photo: Vincent van Zeijst viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 4.0)
The days are filled with colorful decorations, as well as holiday-specific foods and drinks.
Bonfires are held as in the ancient days.
These tasty rolls carry hidden charms that predict the future.
Photo: timdifford viaFlickr(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
If you find a ring in your roll, expect happiness.
A thimble, however, indicates you will never get married.
you’re free to find recipes for both Irish dishes onIrish Central.
Photo: Erik Drost viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY 2.0)
Annually, children go door to door (often in costumes), singing for gifts.
How will you be celebrating Halloween this year?
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