Traditionally, when we think about Halloween what comes to mind is the many costumes, costume parties, haunted houses, carving pumpkins, bonfires, trick or treating, and staying out all night. However, about 2000 years ago in the Celtic times, October 31st was believed to be the night when the ghosts of the dead and the living roamed the earth together. Some thought it was a night of dread, while others believed it was a night that told fortune and brought aide to the future.November 1st to the Celts was the day that marked the end of summer festival, know as Samhain (sow-in), the Celtic New Year. This day also marked the beginning of the long, dark, cold winter to come. Many would use this time to prepare for the harsh winter ahead, by storing food and such, so they didn't have to leave their homes during this time. The Celts believed that the winter was the cause of many deaths among the village every year, which would bring them back the night of October 31st.
October 31st was said to be the night when the spirits of the dead would back to earth and roam. Some Celts believed that the ghosts would cause trouble, even damage crops along the way. Some even thought that if they left food on their door steps this would appease them and they wouldn't do any harm to them. People started wearing masks, thinking that whatever demon brought such droughts and disasters would be scared of by the masking. The Druids, the Celtic Priests, would even go as far as killing animals in sacrifice to the Celtic Gods, and wear their skins. They would then join around bonfires, which they believed represented the sun that they hoped would return soon after the winter. They believed by practicing this it made it easier to see into the future and make predictions of the winter ahead. Some even believed that they could communicate with the dead on this night, which aided in their predictions.
In later times, Christianity spread through the Celtic lands, in which the pope Boniface IV made November 1st the day to honor the saints. This later came about as All Saints Day. Then eventually, the night of October 31st was called All-hallows Eve and then Halloween as we know it. Then again in later times, the Catholic Church made the day of November 2nd All Souls Day; in honor of the dead that passed in the past year. They celebrated this time of year much like the Samhain festival, with bonfires, parades and costumes.
Many traditions we practice today we have no idea why we do. For example, trick or treat, was believed by the Celtic Priests that the dead would play tricks on mankind and cause destruction. So the Celts or country folks would give the Druids food as they visited their homes just to appease them. Not much has changed with this, except now we go door to door begging for candy and treats. Carving of Jack o' Lanterns is said to come from a guy named Jack. He was said to have tricked the devil into climbing up a tree, which then he carved a cross into the trunk trapping the devil there. When Jack died he wasn't granted access into heaven nor hell because of his evil ways and for trapping the devil himself. So the devil gave him an ember to light his way through the dark, cold and long winter. Jack then placed the light in a hallow turnip so that it would stay lit longer. When the Irish came about they used pumpkins instead, this brought the official meaning of the Jack o' Lantern.
Witches and the avoiding of black cats on Halloween came from the legends and beliefs of the Native Americans. They believed ion evil spirits and the African slaves with beliefs of black magic. Many would have superstitions of witches casting spells on people, that they could transform themselves into various shapes and was said to have caused other magical mischief. The black cat represented what they believed to be the spirit of the dead and what witches were able to transform themselves into. It always came about that if a black cat was to cross your path you would have nothing but bad luck. Some even believe it to this day.
Halloween is a holiday most of us look forward to every year. The costumes, the candy, the pumpkins, the parties, but up until this past week I had no idea why we celebrated it. There are many stories of how is came about and some do differ but most stay pretty consistent. I think it's one of the oldest holidays we celebrate to this day that hasn't changed much in its celebrating.
