Halloween - HIstory and Origins

For many people Halloween marks a fun Holiday, where people of all ages get to dress up as anything they can imagine, party with their friends, and be rewarded with candy from their neighbors. Like most holidays, it's a time of celebration and so origins are for the most part thrown aside. People would rather have a good time than acknowledge where it started, and even though Halloween is considered by many to be a "Christian" holiday, it has a dark past filled with spirtism and pagan origins.

The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the Celtics. The Celtics had a celebration called the festival of Samhain, which meant "The Summers End", and was celebrated closest to November the first. They believed that the sun was dying as the days grew shorter and colder, and needed to be revived with rites and sacrifices. They believed that during that time, the realm of the living, and the dead were joined, and both the living and the dead occupied the same land.

It was thought the dead would return to their homes, so the Celtics would set out food, much the way candy is given to children when they go to homes demanding a treat. The Celtics also believed that during this time, it was possible to see into the future, and performed rituals such as bobbing for apples, which is still performed to this day.

The festival continued to be passed down from generation to generation. During the sixth century however, A Christian holiday "All Saints Day" was instituted on May 13th to honor all of the saints and martyrs. It was later moved to November 1st by Pope Gregory III. At this time Christian converted Celtics in Britain were still celebrating the Samhain, and the church hoped that All Saints Day would distract them from the Samhain, and eventually remove it all together.

The festival proved to be much more resilient than the church expected, and they were unable to remove the pagan celebration. Eventually the two celebrations were merged. Since the pagan origins couldn't be removed completely, it was covered by a Christian holiday.

The effects of the holiday on people today can easily be seen. Children brazenly threaten to 'trick" someone if they don't receive a treat. Although most comply, it teaches self-centeredness and selfishness. Even adults are affected by attending parties where their inhibitions are thrown aside. Even though Halloweens roots can be traced back thousands of years ago, its message, and its ideals can be seen today.