Over 2,000 years ago the Celts, who lived mostly in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and Northern France, celebrated their annual festival of Samhain, pronounced sow-in. They believed that Samhain, summer’s end, was the day when the gap between the living and the dead became blurred, making it easier for the spirits of the dead to return.
Celebrations to commemorate the day included the building of huge bonfires, dressing up in costumes using animal heads and skins. Fortunes would be told and the wearing of costumes would scare away evil spirits lurking in the shadows.
Over many years, as the Romans conquered much of Europe and Christianity spread into Celtic lands, the traditions of these cultures and beliefs blended. Eventually, the Christian festival of “All Saints’ or “All Souls Day”, otherwise known as All-Hallows, took over – the night before which is called All Hallows Eve which in due course became known as Halloween.
The tradition of trick or treat began in medieval England hundreds of years ago when people would go door to door offering to pray or sing a song in exchange for food. The food given in the Victorian era was often known as a soul cake, a type of biscuit or a cake. This was known then as souling, taking place on All Saint’s Day when Christians would traditionally pray for their loved ones. Now, this tradition has evolved replacing cake with sweets and chocolate.
The pumpkins we see on Halloween originated from America, brought over by the Irish in the 19th century when many emmigrated to America. Whereas they used to carve faces in turnips, they found pumpkins were easier to grow in America, so the tradition evolved to carving the pumpkins we are familiar with today.
Apple bobbing, another Halloween tradition is thought to have come from the Roman’s worship of Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees, the apple being the symbol of Pomona.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .
Thank you for explaining the true meaning of Halloween. It’s not about horror, zombies and junk food.
It is a time of celebration, to remember those we loved who have died and our ancestors.
This marks the new year.
Embrace the darkness with firelight – candle, bonfire or fireplace and feast from the harvest with soups, ciders, Old ale, bread and cheese, cake… whatever you fancy. Listen to great music. Have a party, go see some live music or comedy; watch a fab film. Celebrate and remember.
Bright Blessings y’all.
What a lovely informative article. I just wish those old traditions had survived and the true meanings behind them.
A new American import that was almost nonexistent in Rye in the 50’s and 60’s and would pass almost uncelebrated.
When I was a child in Edinburgh in the fifties young people went out ‘Guising’ (dressed in disguise) to our neighbours who would give them pennies. That and dunking for apples etc is how we celebrated Halloween.
Long before it reached the USA and then the rest of the UK.
It seems to me that it only became so commercialised around the time ET was released.
My mother was from Belfast and we always celebrated Halloween by carving a jolly face in a swede and lighting a candle inside. to frighten away any malign spirits. My aunt who was still living in Belfast always sent us a special Halloween fruit loaf and an iced sponge cake from the local baker (Ormo). My mother also made an apple pie with a variety of charms hidden inside – wedding ring, sixpence, bachelor’s button, wishbone for good luck, etc. There was no hint of horror or ghouls but a time for remembrance and looking to the future. The Halloween we see today is a totally different celebration influenced 100% by American consumerism.