Costumes, Candy, Pumpkins & More: The Truth About Halloween Traditions

Many people- in particular, Christians- are unaware of the true meaning of Halloween. Today's Halloween has become a holiday for children: dressing up as their favorite action hero or fairy tale princess, collecting candy from all their neighbors, carving pumpkins with scary faces, and decorating houses with witches, skeletons, ghosts and cobwebs. But where on Earth did all these traditions come from? Why is Halloween such a scare-fest? What, exactly, does Halloween even mean?

More than 2,000 years ago, before Christianity became popular in Europe, Halloween was called Samhain (pronounced sow-in) by the ancient Celts. Samhain, which literally translates to "summer's end," marked the first day of winter, the end of the harvest season, and the beginning of the new year. To the Pagan people, October 31^st was revered as the day the veil between life and death was at its thinnest, allowing the spirits of friends and relatives who had passed on a chance to return and spend a night with their loved ones-courtesy of Samhain, himself, Lord of the Dead. During this time, however, good spirits of deceased friends were not the only ones to pass through the veil. Mischievous fairies and evil demons would also return to harass the living. For this reason, many customs were enforced to light the way for loved ones to return home, while at the same time leading the wicked astray.

In many ways, Halloween is a festival in honor of death, the dead, and the promise of new life. It is a time to remember your passed loved ones and ancestors. The symbolism at Halloween-time is reminiscent of death- corpses, skeletons, ghosts, and ghouls- as well as new beginnings- bonfires, apples, feasts, and parties. Everything that comes to mind when we think of Halloween has its roots in Celtic history including jack-o-lanterns, costumes, cauldrons, and the traditional black and orange. Even the catchy tune, "Trick or treat! Smell my feet! Give me something good to eat!" is a spin on an old favorite. The following is a list of today's most famous Halloween traditions and what purpose they serve in the Festival of the Dead.

Jack-o-Lanterns: The original jack-o-lanterns were actual lanterns, carved from turnips and large rutabagas. These makeshift lanterns were used to light the way at night to the ceremonial Samhain bonfires. They were also placed in windowsills, to light the way home for deceased loved ones. The story of Jack with his lantern is an old Irish folktale- not actually related to the Pagan holiday. Jack was an old drunkard who led a sordid lifestyle. One day, the Christian Devil came to snatch Jack into Hell. Jack, with his cunning, convinced the Devil to climb up into an apple tree and pick an apple. Once the Devil had made his way up the tree, Jack carved the symbol of the cross into the trunk, trapping the Devil up high. Jack promised to release the Devil-on the condition that Jack was granted freedom from Hell. The Devil agreed. However, on the day Jack died, he was denied access to Heaven on the grounds that he'd led a sinful life. Locked out of both Heaven and Hell, Jack was doomed to spend eternity walking Earth as a ghost with an old turnip lantern- searching for a place to rest.

Costumes: In ancient times, it was believed that the dead walked the Earth on October 31^st. Our Celtic ancestors would don masks at this time, so the evil spirits wouldn't recognize them as living beings. During Samhain, many Celtic villagers would disguise themselves as spirits of the Otherworld and dance their way out of town-taking the spirits with them to be lost in the woods.

Trick or Treat: Trick-or-treating is reminiscent of the old practice of "souling." At Samhain, the poor village people would go door to door delivering prayers and well-wishes for the town's lost loved ones. In exchange, they would be offered delicious "soul-cakes," treats, and money. In Ireland, to prepare for the Samhain feasts, villagers would go begging door to door in the name of Muck Olla, a Druid God. They designed a rhyme to describe the damage Muck Olla would do if the townsfolk were too greedy to contribute to the cause. "Trick or treat, trick or treat, we know you'll give us lots of treats. Nuts and candy, fruit and gum, we'll go away if you give us some."

Bobbing for Apples, Candy Apples, and Spiced Apple Cider: Why are apples so popular at Halloween? Pagans have long associated apples with the Goddess- due to the fact that when cut in half, an apple's core bears the appearance of the five pointed star, or pentagram, which is her symbol. At Samhain, the apple harvest is in- making apples a staple at every winter feast. Bobbing for apples is an ancient method of divination. Each player takes their turn dunking their head into a tub filled with apples and water, removing an apple with their teeth. Once you "catch" an apple, you are to remove its peel in a clockwise fashion, swing it over your head and throw it on the ground. The shape it takes will be the first letter of your true love's name. Besides this, there are other methods for divining the future with apples, and apples may also be used in fertility magic as they represent resurrection and new life.

Bonfires: In the days of old, the hillsides outside the villages were alight with brilliant bonfires every year at Samhain. This was there the trash from the final harvest and the bones of the slaughtered livestock were burned for removal. Villagers would dance and party about these bonfires to celebrate the end of a long, hard year-and the beginning of a new one.

Orange and Black: Orange was for harvest and autumn and fire. Black was for death and the dark half of the year. These two colors became staples at Samhain and still make their appearance in all our Halloween décor.

So how did Samhain make its transformation to the modern Halloween? The term "Halloween" is a shortened version of "All Hallows' Evening," as it is the eve of All Hallows' Day-a religious festival created by Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV. Initially, All Hallows' Day (or All Saints' Day) took place on May 13^th but was moved in an effort of the Catholics to replace the Pagan holiday of Samhain with a more wholesome, Christian version of it. Instead of a day that honors the dead, for good or bad, All Saints' Day honors only the souls of the good who were allowed entry into Heaven. The Catholics covered many of the Pagan holidays with holidays of their own in a devious attempt to convert the heathens, but old traditions die hard-so many of the Samhain symbolism of old continues on today, modified for modern times.