Ghosts. Goblins. Witches. Princesses. Action Adventurers. Vampires. Sports Icons. Celebrities. Historical Figures. Characters from children's literature. Hobos. What does each of these have in common? Halloween, of course!
Halloween certainly has an interesting history. Halloween's origins, including costumes of every kind imaginable, can be traced to ancient Celtic traditions. Want to learn more about the History of Halloween? Check out this Q&A on the History of Halloween through ages.
Q-Who started the Halloween celebration?
A-We don't know for sure. But, we do know that Halloween's origins can be traced to ancient Celtic traditions with the festival of Samhain. Indeed, it was the Celts who more than 2,000 years ago celebrated the beginning of their New Year on November 1st of each year.
Q-Why on earth would anyone celebrate the New Year in November?
A-Good question. New Year for the Celts meant the end of summer and harvest's bounty, and the beginning of a long, cold winter.
Q-Where do witches, ghosts and goblins come into it? Aren't these characters connected to Halloween tradition in some way?
A-Yes, indeed. They are. But, you have to go back to the Celt tradition. For the Celts, it was on the eve of October 31st when ghosts returned to the earth. You see, the Celts believed that the line between the living and dead became murky towards the end of one year and the beginning of the next. For the Celts, on the eve of October 31st, ghosts and other spirits could return to earth.
Q-Ghosts and spirits walking the earth? What's wrong with that?
A-A lot more than you think. You see, the Celts believed that these same ghosts and spirits who walked the earth at this time could cause a little trouble for them. They were particularly concerned about their fates, farms, crops and livelihoods. Who wouldn't be, right?
Q-Did the Druids have anything to do with Halloween history or tradition? Or, did they just worship trees?
A-Yes, the Druids played a role in Halloween history and tradition. At the time that ghosts were believed to walk the earth, the Druids would make predictions and foretell the future. These predictions were important to the Celts as the long winter months lay ahead and they began to wonder about their prospects. To mark Samhain, Druid priests would build large bonfires. Celtic people would gather around these fires, offering crops and animals in sacrifice to the many Celtic deities. Sometimes, the Celts would don masks and impersonate their ancestors. The Celts also wore costumes to confuse the spirits who walked the earth during this time. It's believed that they did this to ward off evil spirits and bad luck.
Q-How did the Romans feel about all this dancing, fortune telling and predictions? It must have been quite a surprise for them.
A-You're probably right. In time, the Romans overran the Celtic lands, and eventually Samhain became combined with equally colorful Roman traditions, especially the ones where the Romans honored their dead and celebrated harvest.
Q-When and how did Christianity leave its mark on Halloween tradition?
A-Indeed, Christianity left its mark on Celtic tradition. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV named November 1st All Saints Day, a time when Christians venerated the lives of Saints and Christian martyrs. The night before All Saints Day become known as All-Hallows Eve. Much later, the Catholic Church named November 2nd All Souls Day, one where Catholics would honor the dead. Similar to Celtic traditions long before, people celebrated the day with bonfires and parades, and also dressed in costume as saints, angels and, even, devils.
Q-Celts, Romans and Christians all made their mark on Halloween. But, how did it all come together into the Halloween tradition we know today?
A-Over a period of time, these three events, the eve of All Saints, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, became known as Hallowmas.
Q-It seems like American Halloween really took off at one point. How did that happen?
A-Eventually, Europeans looked westward and journeyed to America, bringing their Halloween customs with them. But, as you can imagine, Puritanism in New England slowed the diffusion of the holidays and celebrations that were held were rather solemn affairs. Of course, a completely different dynamic emerged in the south and in Maryland, where Halloween celebrations assumed a more energetic or festive air.
Q-Did Native peoples leave their mark on Halloween, like the Romans and Christians before them in the Old World?
A-Good question. Yes, they did. Native American culture put its stamp on Halloween as the Romans and Christianity before them and, eventually, Halloween became a distinctly American custom.
Q-It seems like Halloween is celebrated a little differently across the United States. What's up with that?
A-The first Halloween celebrations in the New World were public events marking the harvest season, where neighbors would come together and share stories of the dead, tell fortunes, dance, play music and sing songs. Colonial Halloween featured ghost stories and mischief-making. In the 19th century, harvest celebrations were held in communities across the land, but not Halloween itself. Remember, the Puritans in New England were ware of the Halloween tradition which led to some resistance throughout the North over time.
Q-How did Halloween traditions change with the arrival of new immigrants to America?
A-The Irish immigrants who came to America in the mid to late 19th century probably did more to spread Halloween than anyone or anything else. Taking their cue from the newcomers, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house-to-house seeking food or money, the beginning of what would become today's "trick-or-treat" tradition.
Q-Tell me: Why on earth do we "Bob for apples" at Halloween parties? Does this have anything to do with a guy named Bob or his apple orchard?
A-Not even close. Way back when, young women would engage in fortune telling, including trying to determine each other's future prospects of marriage. They also played tricks on each other with yarn, apple parings, and mirrors. Bobbing for apples probably evolved from this "trick" tradition.
Q-Is it my imagination or has Halloween become a much more family-friendly affair? How did this happen?
A-In the late 1800s, Halloween evolved into a holiday more about community and family fun than about ghosts, pranks, or witchcraft. In the beginning of the 20th century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the preferred way of marking the day. Whether fun, games, food or festive costumes, kids were up to it and parents were relieved, under some pressure to make Halloween less spooky.
Q-It seems like Halloween today is more about the community coming together to have fun, rather than ritual or custom. When did that start?
A-By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become secularized, with community-wide parades and parties. But, vandalism and trickery still plagued the events, causing community leaders great concern.
Q-What did communities to do keep the fun in and the trouble out of Halloween?
A-Parents and communities combined to make the holiday more about kids as a result of growing mischief and pranks. This approach was facilitated by the Baby Boom of the 1950s where schools and neighborhood teemed with kids looking for adventure and fun. Trick-or-treating and going from door-to-door grew in popularity as parents and families tried to discourage Halloween's dark side. However, some report that Mischief Night (the night before Halloween) is still a problem in their communities.
Q-Wow! There's more to Halloween history than I ever believed possible!
A-Yes, indeed. Halloween and Halloween history has changed and evolved over time, beginning with the ancient Celts and spreading to the United States where the Halloween tradition continues to flourish. In the new millennium, Halloween custom includes both kids and family, young and old. People dress up in costumes of every kind, "trick or treat" in neighborhoods and towns, attend Halloween parties, and celebrate in so many other ways.
RESOURCES
American Folklife Center
U.S. Library of Congress
www.loc.gov/folklife
History of Halloween
www.theholidayspot.com/halloween/history.htm
Halloween History
www.halloweenmagazine.com/history.htm
Halloween Facts: Costumes, History, Urban Legends
Brian Handwerk. National Geographic News (October 27, 2008)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com
Halloween Day at UK Coming Soon
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