History of Halloween

Halloween has it origins with the Celts of ancient Europe, in the current area of Ireland, Great Britain and northern France. Around 2,000 years ago they celebrated their new year on November 1st. This was the end of harvest and brought in a time of year associated with death. They felt that on the night of October 31st that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth to damage crops and cause mischief.

The Druid Priests of the Celts claimed that at this time of year that their powers were increased and that they could make prophecies. The Celts would build bonfires and sacrifice animals and crops to their Gods. They would also wear costumes made from animal heads and fur and try to predict each other's futures.

After the Romans whipped the Celts, they combined two of their own holidays Feralia when they honored the passing of the dead. And a day to honor the Goddess Pomona whose symbol was fruit. Bobbing for apples probably came from this.
The Christians then took over the area and turned the holiday into All Saints day, also called All Hallowmas or All Hallows day.
Trick or treating is thought to have been invented in the 9th century in Europe and was called Souling. On Nov 2nd All Souls day, Europeans would go house to house begging for soul cakes, which were square pieces of bread made with currants. The more cakes they got, the more prayers for the dead, they promised to make.

The Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. As the legend goes, a man named Jack, who was a drunkard and trickster, tricked Satan into climbing a tree. Jack then carved an image of a cross in the tree's trunk, trapping the devil up the tree. Jack made a deal with the devil that, if he would never tempt him again, he would promise to let him down the tree. When Jack died his evil ways kept him from Heaven but The Devil refused to let him into Hell Either. Jack was given a single ember inside a turnip to light his way in the darkness, by the Devil. When Halloween came to America in the 1840s with the Irish, they found Pumpkins to be more plentiful than turnips and used them instead for the holiday. Witches entered Halloween in the 19th century. One of the most important witches Sabbaths was held on Halloween. Witches were alleged to fly to these meetings on broomsticks, accompanied by black cats, who were their constant companions.

Magical rites and ceremonies were performed by witches from all over the region at a sacred spot. It is to the role of the witches in Halloween that Germans could relate especially well. The most famous sacred spot for witches was in the harsh mountain region of Germany. Until the 18th century, maps of Germany showed witches hovering over this spot, the Blocksburg/Broken . For Germans Halloween blended with the "Walpurgisnacht," and the Witches Sabbath on the night leading into May 1st. On that day, bonfires, the Maifeuer (May fires) are burnt in the old country, to drive away the witches and the devil.

Now in modern times it's mostly another commercial holiday for people to spend their money on and for the kids to enjoy. Pumpkins, Candy, Costumes and decorations are sold to and enjoyed by millions. It's a way for kids to dress up in costume and get candy and for adults another excuse to party, this time in costume themselves. Most people don't treat it as anything other than that. However some groups of witches or devil worshipers tend to get serious about it. And who knows maybe that ghost walking down the road is really a ghost. I for one don't want to find out.