by Silva Payne

Created on: September 19, 2009   Last Updated: October 14, 2009

Halloween as we know it today, is an occasion for children and adults to dress up in scary costumes and go begging for treats. It is most commonly "celebrated" in America and Canada, and to a lesser extent in the UK. However the origins of the day and the surrounding spiritual significance to many people is often forgotten in the rush to acquire the candy.

To understand the modern significance of the date October 31, we must first look at the significance of November 1, which in western Christianity is known as All Saint's, or All Hallows Day. In eastern Christianity, All Saint's day is marked on the first Sunday after Pentacost. All Saint's Day celebrates all those who have beatified, and is followed on November 2 by All Soul's Day to commemorate all who have died. The observance of All Soul's Day was started in 998 by St Odilo. All Saint's Day began around 609 when Pope Boniface IV, yet it was originally marked in May. Historical documents suggest that the original pagan celebration of the dead took place, at least in Ireland, during the spring, which would correspond with the Catholic Church adopting a date in May at first.

By the time of Charlemagne, some 200 years later, a celebration of the dead was widespread during the beginning of each November. In 835, November 1 became a day of obligation throughout the Frankish Empire. This means that members of the Church are obligated to attend Mass on that day.

In eastern Christianity, the marking of All Saint's Day is observed on the first Sunday after Pentacost, which itself falls 50 days after Easter. As both of these dates are related to the lunar calendar, they do not fall on the same day each year (Easter is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, unless that full moon also falls on a Sunday, meaning Easter technically can fall on any day between March 22 and April 25). If Easter is observed on March 22, All Saint's Day will fall 57 days later on May 18. In the Czech Republic, it is traditional for little girls to dress up as witches and for families to picnic in the parks on May 1.

No one can be certain exactly what the Irish called their feast of celebration of the dead. The word Halloween comes from "Hallows," which is another word for souls, and "eve" denoting the evening. Originally, it would have also had the syllable "mas" indicating Mass would be observed, just as the other significant dates of Candlemas, Lammas and Michaelmas. In modern language, all

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