The Origins of Halloween
It is believed that the druids were the first to observe Halloween; as far back as 700 B.C., they celebrated the festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) on November 1, signifying the end of the harvest and the time to honor those who had passed away. When the Christians set about to convert the pagans, some adaptation of the pagan rituals had to be made to keep the druids from leaving the church. In order to do this, November 1st became known as ‘All Saints Day,’ honoring those in heaven, while October 31st would be added as ‘All Hallows Eve,’ or Halloween, the night when all the dead were to be remembered.
Today, this ritual for the dead is still remembered and observed in many cultures. For some, this means leaving food out for the dead, or cooking some special meal that the departed favored. For others, it is simply an opportunity to go see the latest horror flicks, to engage in fortune telling and seances or, more popular, to attend Halloween parties and have fun going door to door to ‘Trick or Treat.’
While the exact origins of Trick or Treat are unknown, it is believed to be tied into an ancient custom where people left food on their doorstep, in order to prevent hungry spirits from entering their home. People attending parties and festivals would dress in frightening costumes, such as ghosts, goblins and witches, because it was believed that in doing so, the wandering spirits of the dead were sure to leave one alone. Jack-o’-Lanterns were rumored to have a simliar purpose, keeping evil powers at bay.
The Jack-o’-Lantern is also mentioned in an old Irish legend where a stingy man, known as Jack, was so cruel and miserly that he was denied entrance to Heaven. As an added punishment, Jack was doomed to forever wander about the night, with only a lantern to light his path, until the day that he should be judged. While the Irish commonly carved turnips and other vegetables into lanterns, it then became the practice to fashion the lanterns into frightening faces, perhaps in hopes that this would keep the wandering spirit of Jack far from the one who carried the lantern or, perhaps, simply as a reminder of what happened to those who were miserly and mean (being stingy is a great crime in the minds of most Irishmen).
Whatever the original purpose of the holiday and all its traditions, Halloween remains a cherished night, amongst the young and old alike. Whether you enjoy dressing up, telling spooky ghost tales, or simply enjoy the display of costumes and sparkling eyes as you hand out candy, Halloween is an opportunity to let down your hair for one evening and be whatever your dreams will allow. Grab your pillowcase and flashlight; the 31st is drawing near!
