The Origin of Halloween: What You May Not Know About This Ghoulish Tradition

Many of us know Halloween as All Hallows Eve, or the night when the spirits rise from the dead and roam the earth. As the years have passed, this night has transformed from a night of fear and respect to a night of pranksters and treats. While we can all enjoy the tradition of tricks and treats, many are unaware of where this night actually originates from.

The history of Halloween is traced back to the religion of the Celtics in Ireland. The Celts were very in tune with the spiritual world and held their 300+ Gods in very high esteem. Two main feasts were held each year to honor the Celtic Gods, Beltane was held at the beginning of summer and Samhain which is pronounced Sah-ween was held at the end of summer (around Nov. 1).

The Celts believed Samhain was a time when the division between the natural world and the spirit world became very thin. They believed that during Samhain, hostile supernatural forces became active and ghosts and spirits were free to wander upon the earth. It was believed that they were returning to earth in order to seek out their homes where they formerly lived.

Tradition in the Celtic religion was to offer sacrifices in order to placate the Gods; so the Celts believed that if sacrifice could sway the Gods, then maybe offerings to the spirits during Samhain would protect them as well. So on the eve of Samhain, the Celts tried to appease the ghostly wanderers by placing nuts and berries upon their doorsteps. As the years progressed, the tradition began of placing the finest foods and treats from each household on the doorsteps in order to feed the hunger of the lost sprits as they tried to find their way.

Now many Celts believed that if the spirits of dead loved ones could return to earth, then other non-human beings could return as well (spirits that may be not so nice). So in order to protect themselves from these devilish creatures, the Celts began to masquerade around dressed as beings from the underworld. Thus, the tradition of Halloween was born.

As the Irish poured into America in the late 1800's due to the potato famine, they brought the sprit of Halloween with them. Traditional Halloween symbols such as black cats, witches, candles, pumpkins, masks and pranks started to appear across the country. Later on bats, owls and other nocturnal animals became a symbol of this dark, dark night. Halloween in America has greatly expanded from its original tradition, but the custom of tricks and treats has never been stronger.

Today we view Halloween as a day that involves more costumes and candy and less demons and division of the two worlds, but the spirit of Halloween is still alive in all of us. So whether you are out for tricks or treats this Halloween, don't forget your costume. You never know where the spirits of the underworld may be lurking!