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East County News Service
October 9, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- Halloween is a night of mystery, magic, and mischief. It is a time when people dress up in costumes, carve pumpkins, and go trick-or-treating. But how did this tradition start? And what does it mean to different cultures and religions?
The story of Halloween begins with the ancient Celts, who lived in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. They celebrated their new year on November 1, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. They believed that on the night before the new year, October 31, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. They called this festival Samhain (pronounced sow-in), which means “summer’s end” in Gaelic1.
On Samhain, the Celts thought that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth, causing trouble and damaging crops. They also believed that the spirits could help the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. To appease and honor the spirits, the Celts lit bonfires and offered sacrifices of animals and crops. They also wore costumes made of animal skins and heads to disguise themselves from the spirits or to imitate them12.
When the Roman Empire conquered the Celtic lands, they brought with them their own festivals and customs. One of them was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans remembered their dead. Another was Pomona, a festival dedicated to the goddess of fruits and trees, whose symbol was an apple. The Romans merged these festivals with Samhain, creating a new blend of traditions12.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III declared November 1 as All Saints’ Day, a day to honor all Christian martyrs and saints. The night before became known as All Hallows’ Eve, which later shortened to Halloween. Some historians believe that this was an attempt by the church to replace or Christianize the pagan Samhain12.
As Christianity spread throughout Europe, different regions adopted and adapted Halloween in different ways. In England, people practiced divination games and fortune-telling on Halloween night. In Scotland and Ireland, people carved turnips or beets into lanterns with scary faces to ward off evil spirits. These were called jack-o’-lanterns, after a legend about a man named Jack who tricked the devil and was doomed to wander the earth with a lantern3. In France, people lit candles and prayed for the souls of their departed relatives on Halloween night4.
When European immigrants came to America, they brought their Halloween traditions with them. However, they soon found that pumpkins were easier to carve than turnips or beets, so they switched to using them for their jack-o’-lanterns3. They also borrowed some Native American customs, such as corn husking and bobbing for apples5. As more people from different backgrounds settled in America, Halloween became a melting pot of cultures and traditions.
Today, Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in America and around the world. It is celebrated by people of all ages, religions, and ethnicities. Some people see it as a fun and festive occasion to express their creativity and enjoy themselves. Others see it as a spiritual or religious event to honor their ancestors and connect with their roots. Some people see it as a commercialized and secularized holiday that has lost its original meaning and purpose.
Whatever your perspective on Halloween is, there is no denying that it has a rich and fascinating history that spans thousands of years and crosses many continents. It is a testament to the human imagination and spirit that we can create such a colorful and diverse celebration out of our fears and hopes for the unknown.
Happy Halloween!
Sources: 1: Halloween 2023: Origins… 2: Halloween | Definition… 3: Why Do We Carve Pumpkins… 4: The History of Halloween… 5: Halloween Traditions…
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