The Haunted History of Halloween

When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween.

In just one week ghosts and goblins, witches and wizards, and various other creatures will arrive on our doorsteps seeking treats. The night of Halloween has arrived, and with it our modern traditions of jack-o-lanterns, decorations, and loads and loads of candy. Today Halloween has become just another money-making holiday for most, and an excuse to step away from reality and enjoy a little time to ourselves, but it’s important that the real history and meanings of this celebration not be forgotten about. This wasn’t always the horrific holiday it has mostly become know for, and its reasons for existing were not to result in sugar highs for the next week.

While the origins of what has evolved into our modern Halloween can be traced back 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic culture, there were similar aspects found as far back as the Egyptians over 4,000 years ago. At its very roots, this time of year is about the celebration of our ancestors and a time to look back and remember, to be appreciative for the harvest, and to begin to prepare for the winter to come. The Celtics called this holiday the Vigil of Samhain, who was their lord of the dead, of the dark, and of the cold winter season. To pay homage to Samhain, and to appease the nature spirits for winter, there were huge celebrations held.

Bonfires would be built on top of hills, feasts would be prepared, harvests would be shared with those in the village, and festivities would take place all night long. These traditions weren’t started just to have a good time, they all had very specific meanings to the Celts. The huge bonfires were believed to help provide strength to the sun, so it would make a quick return. The feasts were a way of celebrating ancestors, by bringing items that they would have enjoyed eating to the table in what was called the “Feast of the Dead.” And, while there were costumes, it was not to go door-to-door seeking candy, but rather to blend in with the real spirits that roamed the land. It was believed this was the time of year when the veil between worlds was so thin that spirits roamed freely among us, so donning masks or costumes would help to keep yourself unrecognized by them.  

At exactly midnight – the start of the Celtic New Year – the celebrations of the Sun God would stop, and the offerings and festivities would turn to welcoming and appeasing Samhain, as he would be the ruling force for the next six months of the year. After the celebrations around the community bonfire, folks would go home and light their own fires to help keep the negative spirits away. They would place offerings to spirits on their doorsteps, along with gourds or other objects in which they would put in a burning candle. This would direct the spirits to where the offerings were left, and keep them from entering into the houses.

After the Romans had conquered the Celtic people, they began combining their own traditions with those of Samhain celebrations in what would become “All Saints Day” or “All Hallows Day” which was celebrated on November 1. Their intention was to stop the Celtic celebration and combine it with their own customs, but that didn’t subdue the Celtic traditions. Instead, the ancient celebrations continued on October 31, and although the Romans tried to quell them by declaring “All Hallows Eve” as the Devil’s Night or the Night of the Witch, it never worked to wipe out the holiday. Throughout history it was shortened to Halloween and traditions evolved as well, especially as the celebrations spread throughout the world.

As populations spread across the world, different cultures added in different traditions to what had become collectively Halloween, and so the customs that we celebrate today are in fact a combination of many different ages, locations, and civilizations. Which makes Halloween filled with quite an interesting haunted history. There’s talk today of suggestions to declare one set calendar day for Halloween, such as the last Saturday of October, but what that doesn’t take in to account is the fact that there are actually several days of Halloween celebrations:

• All Hallows Eve / Halloween – October 31
• All Saints Day – November 1
• All Soul’s Day – November 2
• Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead – Mexico) – November 1st and 2nd