The Haunting History of Halloween

Sophie Campbell / 2023-10-18

On a dark October evening children from across the continent will take part in a lively tradition dating back to the time of the Celts. Halloween is so important to many North Americans, with some spending thousands of dollars on decorations alone. So this begs the question, why is Halloween such a crucial and influential part of our culture?

The roots of Halloween date back to the time of the Celtic people, a civilization of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia. Celebrated from October 31st to November 1st, the Samhain festival was a pagan religious festival aimed to welcome the dark side of the year. This period was often associated with death for several reasons, lack of food, the spreading of disease, and the chill to freezing temperatures. On the day of the new year, it was believed that the line between the dead and the living became blurred. It was said that on the night of Samhain, the spirits of the dead would return to Earth. They also believed the presence of these ghosts would allow the Celtic Priests, or Druids, to predict the future with more certainty. Predictions were a crucial comfort for the Celtic people during the merciless winter. During the festival the Druids would light a massive bonfire, burning animals and crops to make sacrifices to the Gods. Also, the Celts would wear costumes consisting of animal skin while attempting to predict the fortune of one another. As a way of protecting them from the harsh winter, they would light their fireplaces from the flames of the bonfire. 

Eventually, the Romans took control of the Celtic people and their land in 43 AD. Luckily this did not put an end to Samhain and Halloween festivities. During four centuries when the Romans ruled over Celtic land, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with Samhain. The first was a celebration called Feralia, celebrated in the winter, this occasion acted as a way of commemorating the deceased. During Feralia offerings and gifts would be placed on gravestones. The second celebration was to honour the Roman goddess of fruit and trees, Pomona. This festival was held around November 1st, and it is where the Romans thanked the gods for not destroying their crops. Today in modern times, we go bobbing for apples, this likely originated from the festival of Pomona. 

Come the 9th century Christianity was spreading to the Celts. It was believed at the time that the church was attempting to replace Celtic festivals of the dead when they created All Soul’s Day on November 2nd, a church-friendly holiday. Similar to Samhain, a large bonfire would be lit and people would dress in costumes, typically as saints, angels, and devils. All Saints’ Day was also called All-Hallows or All-Hallowmas, from the Middle English word Alholowmesse. The night of Samhain, before All Saints’ Day, began to be called All-Hallows Eve, eventually, it would be called Halloween.

Halloween was very limited in colonial Canada and New England and was much more common in the southern colonies. As different beliefs of European ethnic groups and Indigenous peoples meshed, a new and distinct North American version of Halloween emerged. Early celebrations included something called a “play party”. These parties were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Similar to Celtic traditions people would share stories of the dead, dance, sing, and tell each other’s fortunes. Also, the holiday featured the telling of ghost stories and Halloween pranks. Annual autumn festivities were very common during the mid-19th century, although Halloween was not celebrated everywhere on the continent, yet. During the second half of the 19th century, a disastrous famine brought on by British colonisation and disregard for the Irish people would occur. This would bring millions of Irish people to North America. Along with the Irish, many immigrants would help to popularise Halloween and cement it as the important and beloved holiday it is today.

As kids and adults alike live it up on October 31st, they will be participating in a legacy of joy and spiritual festivities. This legacy that people around the world have contributed to will continue to be a beacon of light, comfort, and hope during the darkest season of the year. Also who would pass up free candy?

Sources: 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Feralia 

https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Halloween 

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pomona?showCookiePolicy=true