Laura Anderson
It’s nearly Halloween, the spookiest time of the year! And a favourite holiday for many, but how did it all begin?
It’s nearly Halloween, the spookiest time of the year! Autumn, pumpkins, decorations, costumes, horror films, and who could forget the mountains of sweets! This time of the year is filled with celebrations with each country celebrating the dead and the harvest in their own unique ways. But how did Halloween begin? Halloween, or as some may know it, All Hallows’ Eve, is a festival celebrated on October 31st across Europe, Asia & North America! Though it may surprise you that this international holiday began as a festival known as Samhain in the country of Ireland, over 2,000 years ago! Samhain, pronounced Sow-in, is a gaelic festival that is still celebrated to this day in Ireland. Though the pioneers of this celebration were the Celts, an ancient civilisation who lived throughout Western Europe in Ireland, Britain, France & Spain. Not only did these Celts spark the creation of the much loved Halloween, but their legacy, culture and language, continues to thrive in Britain & Ireland. So, what was their festival all about? Similar to Halloween, celebrations began on October 31st, however in Samhain they continued through to November 1st. This festival marked the end of the harvest, and the beginning of winter, and was a time of great feasts and lit bonfires. The Celts believed that a barrier between worlds was able to be breached during the time of Samhain, and monsters and beasts were able to pass into our world. Offerings were left out for these creatures, which included fairies and sídhs. However these fae folk weren’t the only visitors to our world. Many Celtic myths and legends were believed to have also passed over during this time; including Pukahs, shape-shifting monsters with black or white fur, and Dullahans, headless horsemen. As these beings walked upon our earth, the Celts disguised themselves in costumes - perhaps not the ones you see today, but costumes nevertheless! They dressed themselves up as animals and monsters to avoid being kidnapped and dragged back to the other side. This strikes resemblance to El Dia De Los Muertos, where in the past, people painted skulls on their faces to ward away the dead, though now it is a face painting to honour and remember deceased loved ones. The first bonfires of Samhain were lit during the Middle Ages, and similar to the costumes, these fires were used to ward off fairies and witches, and keep families safe. Jack O’ Lanterns would also become popular in the years to come, though these symbols of Halloween weren’t always pumpkins. Instead, coal was placed inside carved turnips, and hung up - a tradition that is not that old, for even my Dad was carving these vegetables when he was little! Whilst Samhain was the ignited spark that would become Halloween, there have been many other influences that have morphed it into the holiday we know today. Christianity being one of these big influences. Throughout history, Christianity rose to the top in religion, and began to spread all across the world. It reached the British Isles and the land of Ireland, where Samhain was continuing to thrive. This led to the christianising of Samhain by the early church. The Christian Celebration All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, was moved from the 13th of May, to the 1st of November. The traditions of Samhain were endorsed by the Church, and as celebrations began on 31st of October, the eve of All Hallows’ Day would soon have its name shortened to the much simpler Halloween. No matter how you celebrate Halloween, it is a symbol of the harvest’s end and the beginning of winter. A time of spirits, fairies and monsters, where we sit around fires and tell ghost stories! A time for dressing up, and having fun with our friends! As for the famed Trick or Treating, this tradition is thought to have begun in the far west of the Americas, though many have found evidence that there was early practice amongst Celts and Roman-Catholics! From Samhain, to All Hallows’ Day, to Halloween - the history of our favourite holiday has been a long one. It’s astounding how the ancient Celtic traditions are still prevalent in today’s society, and how long we have stood by this festival. With all the love and support surrounding it, I’m sure it will continue to be with us for many more years to come! Though, now with all the history out of the way, I think it’s time to settle down and watch a good ol’ halloween movie! Happy Halloween!
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