History of Halloween!

Posted by scarygeek on October 31, 2009 at 08:44 am

Halloween’s origins date back over 2000 years ago in what we now know as Ireland, Northern France, and the United Kingdom. The Celtic people of that area celebrated Samhain, which is pronounced Sow-in. Samhain was the night of the Ancient Harvest Festival which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter, and was held at the end of the Celtic year. The Celts believed that on this night the boundary between the living world and the spirit world was distorted and spirits from the dead returned to the living world to destroy their crops and to cause them trouble. They also believed the presence of these spirits also allowed them to predict what was to come in the future. Wearing animal skins and heads the people gathered around sacred bonfires built by the Druids to burn crops and animals as a sacrifice to the Celtic Deities. When the celebration was over the people took fire from the sacred bonfire to light their hearth fires which was to help protect them during the winter months.

Two Roman traditions were combined with the Celtic Samhain after the Romans conquered most of the Celtic lands between 43-400AD.  The first is Feralia the day the Romans honored the dead and was celebrated at the end of October. The second day was the day to honor Pomona, the Goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and may explain why we sometimes bob for apples on Halloween.

Later in 800AD Christianity would have its part in influencing Samhain. It is believed that in an attempt to make this day a  Church-Sanctioned day Pope Boniface IV designated November 1st as “All Saints Day” a time to honor saints and martyrs andwas called “All-Hallows.” Later around 1000AD the church would also designate November 2nd as “All Souls Day”  a day to honor the dead, and was celebrated with large bonfires, parades and costume very similar to Samhain.

In Midievel England the first trick-or-treaters were born. They practiced “souling.” Poor families would go door to door begging for sweet breads and cakes in exchange for prayer for the souls of the families. English and Irish immigrants brought their own version of Halloween to the United States but it did not become popular until the 1930’s. Halloween is now the second highest grossing holiday of the year! Happy Halloween Everyone! Be Safe!

Sources:

History.com

HuddlesfieldDailyExaminer.com

FoodConsumer.com