The History of Halloween

By: Jenna Smith

Have you ever wondered about the origin of Halloween? Well, to give you a hint, it is crazy. The first known record of Halloween dates to the eighth century in Ireland. Halloween was a night where villagers warded off ghosts who had returned to Earth. Interestingly, the evening before Halloween was called All Hallows Eve. However, years later, the name of the night became Halloween.

When Halloween was first introduced to America, it was not popular in the New England area because of the Protestant beliefs. However, Halloween was common in Maryland and the southern colonies. At first, it was only “play parties,” a public event where everyone shared stories and celebrated the harvest. During the nineteenth century, Halloween was a sort of autumn festival but still was not established everywhere. During the Irish Potato Famine, more and more immigrants were coming over to America. They brought their traditions and cultures with them, including the Halloween that we think of today. Because of these immigrants, Halloween was becoming established nationally.

In accordance with English and Irish traditions, Americans began to dress up and go trick-or-treating. Later in the nineteenth century, children and adult Halloween parties became more popular, so it was less about witchcraft. Trick-or-treating became re-introduced between 1920 and 1950 as a cheaper way of celebrating. Here, a new American tradition was born.

“Halloween 2018.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween. Accessed 19 Oct. 2018.