History of Halloween

History of Halloween

Why do we celebrate Halloween?

The Celtics

Were a group of tribes in Europe who shared a similar language, religious beliefs, traditions, and culture. The Celtics or Celts celebrated Samhain. Samhain was the most significant of the fire festivals and it occured between the fall equinox and the winter solstice to welcome the dark half of the year.

Blending History

People would light fires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts and spirits during Samhain. Since people were already celebrating, Pope Gregory lll made All Saints Day November 1st to honor all of the Saints. Before long the traditions of Samhain mixed with the events before All Saints Day... Known as : All Hallows Eve

Joining in on the fun

All Souls’ Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. The All Saints’ Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Old English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.

Coming to America

As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups and the American Indians meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included “play parties,” which were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, dance and sing.

^{History of Trick-or-Treating}

Borrowing from European traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.

Stingy Jack

• Didn't want to pay for his drink

• Jack got in trouble for it and was sent into the woods with only a lump of burning coal to light his way.

• Jack carved a turnip to hold the glowing ember

• People began to call this story "Jack of the Lantern"

• Eventually became " Jack o' lantern"

Borrowed Traditions

• Turnip and potato carving to ward off Stringy Jack became pumpkin carving!

• Bobbing for apples represented the Celtic goddess Pomona

• Many Halloween traditions were believed to help women find her future husband!