The True History & Customs of Halloween
Halloween has become the second most popular holiday in the United States of America, second to only Christmas, at least based on retail dollars spent on the holiday. Halloween has not always been so popular, though it has virtually always been around. It is an ancient holiday with a history that stretches back for thousands and thousands of years, making it one of the oldest holidays around.
The origin of Halloween dates back two thousand years to ancient Ireland. The people populating the land at the time were called Celts, and every year, at the end of October, they had a huge ceremony and celebration. It was the end of the growing season, the harvest was over, and the dark cold months of winter was upon them.
The Celts built giant bonfires to dance around in animal costumes, hoping to appease the gods, thanking them for the bounties of the harvest, and pleading for protection from the dangerous months ahead.
The history of Halloween continues in this way until the spread of Christianity to the British Isles. Eager to turn this pagan holiday into a religious one, the Pope declared the day after, November 1st, All Saints’ Day. The Middle English word for All Saints’ Eve is where we get our modern “Halloween”. We lost the ritual sacrifices of livestock but retained the costumes and celebration.
The origin of Halloween followed the social and cultural growth of Britain and Ireland throughout the centuries, becoming more and more modern with the times. By the time of the great Irish immigration to the United States in the 19th century, Halloween was a holiday of costumes and door to door treats.
Once Halloween caught the imagination of the population of the United States, it was transformed into a community event, with costumed citizens gathering in community centers. This practice continued through the 1950′s, when trick or treating returned to the neighborhoods.
The origin of Halloween is a long and winding one. Halloween has transformed from a pagan ceremony, to a religious day, to a community celebration, while still keeping the spirit of fun, and a mystical respect for the unknown elements that lurk in our worlds.
Understanding more about the history of Halloween as I know do allows me to enjoy the day on a deeper level and I hope the same for you this Halloween.
