By: Jasmine Antriasian & Ayah Rizk, 2027
Halloween’s origins date back to the 8th century, during the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The festival marked the end of summer and the start of winter, and celebrated the Celtic new year. This time was associated with death, as the weather began to chill. Celts had a belief that, on the night before the New Year, the souls of the living and the dead were connected. On October 31st, the celebration of Samhain began, with Celts believing that ghosts would come back from the dead.
The existence of the ghosts would make it easier for Celtic Priests, otherwise known as Druids, to accurately predict the future at a time where people were reliant on the ways of nature. The visions of the Druids provided comfort for the Celts throughout the prolonged and gloomy winter.
As a part of the Samhain celebration, Celts dressed up in costumes made of animal skins, danced around bonfires built by Druids, and attempted to make futuristic predictions of their own. At the end of the celebration, as a protection from the winter, they relit previously extinguished hearth fires, using the greater bonfires.
Much of the Celtic territory became occupied by the Roman Empire by the year A.D. 43. The Roman influence spread throughout the Celtic lands of Ireland, and their traditions eventually shared similarities. One of these similar traditions was Feralia, which occurred around the same time as Samhain, where the Romans honored the death of their loved ones.
However, the origin of the name Halloween was born from the Roman holiday, All Saint’s Day. On this day, which began on May 13th, 609, the Roman Pope, Boniface IV, established All Martyrs Day, but the date was eventually moved to November 1st, which is closer to the current time of Halloween.
With the gradual influence of Christianity, spreading into Celtic lands, a new holiday All Souls’ Day was established with its traditions similar to Samhain. This day, which would soon be known as All-Hallows Eve, would eventually inspire the name Halloween.
The beginning of Halloween in America started in colonial New England, the traditions of European and Native American culture blended together to create the modern and the American version of Halloween as we know it today. Some of these traditions included: sharing stories with neighbors, singing, dancing, and attending parties. People began to wear costumes to enhance the scary factor of Halloween.
The Halloween we celebrate today has a long yet fascinating history due to the combination and meshing of various cultures, traditions, and religions. So this year, when you are trick-or-treating and eating lots of candy, remember the events that took place for Halloween to become what it is today.
