2 of 7

Write now Article Tools

The History of Halloween

What is today a time to wear silly costumes and get candy from neighbors started with the ancient Celts as the festival of Samhain, pronounced Sow-in, 2000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and Northern France. This festival was celebrated on November 1 to mark the end of summer and the beginning of the cold, dark winter. November 1 also marked the New Year.

This of course made October 31, at least for the ancient Celts, New Year's Eve; a day they believed a portal was opened between the worlds of the living and dead. They believed that on this night the spirits of the dead returned to walk among the living. To protect themselves from these wandering spirits, the Celts would dress themselves to look like spirits; to protect their homes they would leave food on the doorstep, any wandering spirit who happened to be hungry could help themselves to the food. This eventually turned into our custom of Trick or Treat.

Also on this night the Druid priests would build bonfires on which to sacrifice crops and animals. The Druids would then use these bonfires to predict future events. Since the ancient Celts were dependent on the whims of nature, these predictions were very important. After the predictions were made the Celts would relight their hearth fires (which were allowed to burn out the day before) thus protecting their homes through the long, cold winter ahead.

In AD 43 the Romans conquered the Celts and over the next 400 years incorporated two of their own festivals into the Celt festival of Samhain. In late October the Romans celebrated Feralia to commemorate the passing of the dead; around the same time they celebrated a day of honoring the Goddess of fruit and trees, Pomona. Pomona was symbolized by the apple; it is believed that this celebration is where we got the modern custom of bobbing for apples.

In the 7th century AD, Pope Boniface IV declared November 1 All Saint's Day. This was an attempt to replace festivals of honoring the dead with a festival that could be sanctioned by the Church. All Saint's day is also known as All-Hallows Day or All-Hallowsmas; making October 31 All-Hallows Eve, which over time became Halloween.

This is but a brief summary of the history of Halloween, for the full story of this as well as many other holidays visit History.com. History.com is a marvelous site full of little known but very interesting facts.
Hide

Learn more about this author, Dorothy Jo Bourbeau.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The beginnings of Halloween?
We want to hear your view. Write now!