Halloween is traditionally celebrated on 31st October, generally in much of Europe and North America. However, the history behind this well known Autumn festival is fascinating and journeys way back to the Iron Age and Celtic Britain. This blog will investigate where Halloween originated from, its ancient traditions and how it is celebrated today.
Samhain
Samhain, (pronounced sow inn), translates roughly as ‘Summer’s End. It is the most important date in the Celtic calendar, marking the end of Summer and the start of a New Year. Symbolically, death and re-birth or, in practical terms, moving from the bountiful harvest time, to the dark, cold, and challenging Winter period. It is believed the day corresponding with November 1st, on contemporary calendars, was New Years Day for the Celts. On the eve before, (October 31st in modern calendars), they believed the veil between the living world and the departed thinned. With the boundaries between the two worlds weakened, ghosts of the dead could wander the land.
To appease the spirits the Celts built sacred bonfires, sacrificed crops and animals. In addition to this, they wore masks and disguises to keep their face hidden from the wandering spirits. It is thought Celtic priests, or Druids, could perform divination during the event, predicting future marriages, health problems and deaths. As History.com states, ‘for a people entirely dependant on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were a constant source of comfort’.
Once the celebrations ended, the people re-lit their hearths (earlier extinguished), from the flame of the sacred bonfires. This symbolic act ensured protection for their dwellings during the dark Winter months.
The Arrival of the Romans
The Roman Empire conquered the majority of Celtic lands by 43 A.D. With their arrival, came their traditions and festivals. Therefore, the Festival of Feralia and the introduction of the goddess Pomona, soon superseded the early Celtic beliefs.
The Festival of Feralia, marked the time when Roman's traditionally commemorated the dead, this occurred on February 21st each year. On this date, Romans left offerings at the tombs of their ancestors. Offerings must include wreath arrangements, a sprinkling of grain and salt, plus bread soaked in wine. In addition to this, they scattered violets around.
Pomona, the goddess of fruits, particularly apples, is often linked with Halloween and October. However, it is believed that Pomona remained a lesser goddess and there are no historic records to suggest the Romans held festivals, certainly in October, in her name. It could be that later changes, by the Catholic church, blurred the lines of history, as is often the case. Likewise, the apple symbolises Pomona, so many think that Halloween traditions, like bobbing apples, originate from this time too, again however, this is circumspect.
The Rise of Christianity
On 13th May 609 A.D. Pope Boniface IV converted the Pantheon in Rome into a Christian church, consecrating it to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs. At the same time, the Catholic feast of All Martyr's Day established in the Western Church, which later expanded to include All Saints. At first, the dates for these feasts varied, however, by the 9th Century, British churches began holding the ceremonies on November 1st. This later extended to the rest of the Catholic Church.
All Saint's Day is also known as The Feast of All Saints, all Hallows' Day, The Feast of all Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints and Hallowmas. The night before this took the name All Hallows Eve, eventually becoming Halloween. The church marked All Saint's day in a similar way Samhain, with bonfires and costumes. Tricks and pranks familiar to the Celtic festival (and attributed to evil spirits) evolved into the spirits of the Saints. Offerings of food to ward off evil spirits, became offerings of food to the poor in the Christian practices, people begged at the door for sustenance.
In addition to All Saint's Day, the Church made November 2nd All Soul's Day. It is now widely believed that the church chose these dates to supplant Pagan festivities, such as those previously outlined above. Belief and practices for All Soul's day vary among Christian denominations. However, the three day religious feasts held for the Saints and the Souls certainly intertwined with the original Pagan festivals, likely to help convert ‘heathens’ to Christianity.
The Reformation, during the middle ages effectively ended the celebrations among Protestants, although Halloween continued to be celebrated as a secular holiday.
Halloween In America
Early American colonists, primarily Protestants, did not generally mark Halloween, it remained forbidden. However, by the 1800s, harvest festivals soon began to incorporate elements of Halloween traditions. As a wider variety of ethnic groups travelled and settled in America, the old traditions of Halloween started to re-emerge. With the Irish potato famine, mid 19th Century, a huge influx of Irish Catholics ensured that celebrations spread nationally.
Following old traditions, Americans began dressing up and visiting neighbours, door to door asking for money or food. This eventually became ‘Trick or Treat’. Divination re-emerged, with young ladies believing they could divine the name of their future husband using mirrors or apple peelings.
Modern Halloween Celebrations
By the 20th Century Halloween transpired into one of America's most significant holidays, especially for children. Halloween parties, held by communities and between friends became very popular. The tradition of knocking on doors and calling ‘Trick or Treat’ is probably the most well known activity for Halloween. Sweets are offered to the callers in the hope that no tricks will be played, however, many homes and businesses are still vandalised during the dark hours of the festivities! Costumes and masks are traditionally worn and games, including bobbing apples, are played.
Homes and Businesses are now decorated with all things creepy and ghoulish. From skeletons and ghosts, to frightful artwork and elaborate figures. Indeed, the revenue generated in America alone for Halloween exceeds over 10 billion dollars! The most traditional decoration, and one of the more reasonable one is, of course, the Jack O' Lantern. This is usually a carved turnip or pumpkin featuring a grotesque, devilish face. Within the carved lantern a candle flickers, adding to the sinister appearance of the decoration.
Jack O' Lanterns
The tradition of using these on Halloween came from Ireland. An Irish folktale about Stingy Jack, who tricked the Devil, entrapping him, on a number of occasions. He released the Devil with the agreement that the Devil would not claim his soul when he died. However, when Jack did die, God denied him access to Heaven for being an unsavoury character. Likewise, the Devil honoured his promise not to take Jack's soul. Instead, he sent Jack away with a burning coal to light his way, which Jack placed into a carved turnip. He has been roaming the earth ever since. From then, carved turnips, and later pumpkins, are left our to ward off Jack's spirit on Halloween night!
Here at Sweet and Nostalgic we hope you have enjoyed learning where Halloween originated from! Check out our Halloween page, filled with spooktacular decoration and gift ideas! In addition to this, we stock an amazing array of nostalgic and retro gifts for all the family, perfect for any celebration or holiday!