Halloween Origins

Everyone remembers the holiday that was just celebrated last week, unless there was heavy drinking involved. Halloween is a big deal in America and it invokes thoughts of candy, costumes, and a cold night spent begging at strangers' homes. Almost everyone participates in it as children and even as adults, treat it as a day of celebration.

However, the concept of Halloween that we know today shares many differences and similarities with its Celtic and Christian origins. The name itself, Halloween, developed from Christian roots. In the 800's CE, November first was declared by the pope as All Saint's Day, or All-Hallows. The word Halloween developed from the old English word for the evening before All-Hallows.

For example, many people wear costumes during Halloween for fun, trick or treating, and for tradition. In the old Celtic traditions, costumes take on a more serious meaning. During the Celtic celebration of Samhain, it was believed that the barrier between the physical and the spiritual worlds would be at its thinnest as the world transitions from warm to cold seasons. At this time, spirits, both malevolent and benevolent, are able to move between worlds. In order to ward off evil spirits, the Celtic people would wear masks and disguises that made them look like the evil spirits. The evil spirits, seeing only other spirits and no people, would wander off in search of other victims. The reason for wearing costumes has obviously changed over the years, taking on a more light-hearted meaning.

The modern symbol of caramel apples in connection with Halloween has roots in both Roman and Celtic cultures. One reason is that, before the Roman occupation, Halloween was the end of Summer, the beginning of Fall, and the beginning of the apple harvest. The other reason is that after Roman Occupation, the Celtic celebration of Samhain was merged with two Roman festivals, the day of the dead, and the festival for the goddess of trees and fruits, whose symbol was the apple.

Halloween is a holiday with many meanings. It started as a religious festival and has evolved into a secular holiday that anyone from any religious background can participate in. The holiday has grown and changed along with Humanity to where it is now, incorporating fun and candy to appeal to the young and the old. It has a fun celebration of the change between season for any person, of any age, of any religion. Halloween is truly an accessible holiday.

For more information:
http://www.history.com/content/halloween/real-story-of-halloween>http://www.history.com/content/halloween/real-story-of-halloween