Halloween, once known as All Hallows Eve, is celebrated every year on the 31st of October. The time when pumpkins are picked, and candy is bought for the children to enjoy a fun night out tricker treating. The Halloween we celebrate today is very different from the holiday celebrated in the past. Halloween is originally dated back to the Celtic festival of Samhain that was celebrated 2,000 years ago. Samhain was a celebration that marked the first day of winter on November 1st.
The celts believed that on October 31st the ghosts of the dead would return to earth. The people would set out treats on their front doorsteps while also lighting candles to outline the roads to help their loved ones find their way back to them. They also thought that the return of the spirits would have an effect on the predictions about the future that the Druids, Celtic, or priests make. These stories or so-called prophecies brought major comfort to the people during the long and dark winter days. Sacrifices were a great deal to the Druids, which were the religious leaders, teachers, and judges among the ancient Celts. They built large sacred bonfires that they would use to burn crops and animals for the Celtic deities. while burning the offerings they would wear costumes that consisted of animal heads and skins of animals. Once they had finished the celebration, they would re-light the fire to protect them during the coming winter.
Fast forward to the Halloween we all know, the comparison is very different from the one that was celebrated 2,000 years ago. At first the celebration of Halloween was very limited in colonial New England in the mid 19th century because of the protestant belief systems they had, but later different European ethnic groups and American Indians meshed together which brought up the idea of Halloween. Public events were held to recognize the harvest. During the events, dancing and singing would occur and neighbors would share their stories of the dead along with their fortunes. By the end of the 19th century many immigrants had come to America which helped to market the idea of celebrating Halloween. Americans began to use the European traditions and dress up and go from house to house, but instead of asking for food or money, they now are given a sweet treat. This practice quickly became popular and in today’s world it is known as “trick-or-treat”. Halloween had molded into more than just ghosts and witchcraft, instead it is more of a holiday about community and neighborly get togethers. People celebrate the night of Halloween now by going to parties and dressing up to play games and eat food that fits the season.
Many used to avoid any black cats that they came across because they were thought to be witches that had turned themselves into a cat to avoid exposer, but they were also believed to be bad luck. Other myths like spilling salt, stepping on cracks in the roads, breaking mirrors, and walking under ladders because the ancient Egyptians thought that triangles were sacred were also thought to be bad luck. Halloween has transformed tremendously throughout the years but still continues to bring joy and excitement to the communities of America.
