The origins of Halloween
It is widely assumed that Halloween dates back 2000 years and has its origins in the Celtic pagan festival of Samhain or “summers end”. According to Celtic belief, spirits could ruin their crops while passing over to the spirit world. For protecting their crops, they would leave food and drink out as offerings to appease the spirits. People also started blackening their faces and disguising themselves to blend in with spirits.
How the Romans created Halloween
When the Celts were conquered by the Romans, such pagan practices were banned. The Romans in a bid to spread Christianity started combining them with Christian traditions. In the 9th century, the feast of martyrs was moved forward in the calendar from may 13th to the time of Samhain and was given a new name as the Feast of All Saints or All Hallows Day (another name for saints is hallows) and set on November 1. The eve of the festival being October 31 was celebrated as All Hallows Eve which ultimately became Halloween.
Trick or treating
The two festivals became firmly combined with one another. But trick or treating has its origins in Samhain and All Souls Day which is usually celebrated on November 2nd. The poor would often go door to door offering to pray for loved ones in exchange for food and soul cake which represented a soul’s escape freedom from purgatory. During the 1800’s this became a fun activity and because Samhain had similar traditions, the practice was observed on Halloween.
It later became an activity for children
Soon children began observing it as a fun activity and started performing poetry and songs in exchange for treats and money. It was Irish immigrants who later brought these same traditions to America which soon graduated into the trick or treating which we know as today.
Origin of jack O lanterns
There can be no Halloween without Jack-o-lanterns being the universal symbol of the festival. The pumpkins with spooky faces are a fun tradition but that wasn’t so in the early traditions of the festival. An Irish folktale of the 17th century says that a man called jack tricked the Devil a second time into not taking his soul. Jack being a dishonest man couldn’t possibly go to heaven when he passed away and the Devil was so pissed, he didn’t want him either.
Instead, the Devil banished him from hell with a burning coal which Jack put in a turnip that had been carved out. He was then cursed to wander the earth forever with his makeshift lantern. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern”. This was shortened to Jack- o- lantern.
The symbol of witches
The universal symbol of a crone looking witch brewing a potion in her cauldron has its origins in a pagan goddess known as the “Earth Mother”. She was celebrated during Samhain as a symbol of courage, wisdom and renewal or change. According to Celtic belief, her cauldron was like a waiting room for souls entering it and waiting to be reincarnated.
Bats
The symbol of bats also originates to Samhain. During the festival, there would be large bonfires and animal sacrifices. This attracted bats that would come to feast on the dead animals too. In medieval times, bats were considered witches familiars and began to be associated with the messengers of demise.
The Full moon
Although a full moon is synonymous with Halloween in cinema. It is rarely so in reality. The last time there was a full moon on Halloween was in 2001. The next Halloween full moon will be in 2020. As per witchcraft, the power of magic is enhanced during a full moon.
Costumes
Samhain was a time when the Celts believed departed souls returned to visit the earth. Thus as mentioned before, food and drink were left outside doors for them. If by chance a spirit in the guise of a beggar knocked on your door and was turned away, the house would be cursed. Thus people also started wearing goatskins and animal heads to fool spirits into believing they too were souls. The first company in the US to make Halloween costumes was the Collegeville Flag and Manufacturing Company.
Owls
The feathers on the heads of owls make them look like horned little devils albeit cute ones. According to Roman and Greek superstition, witches had the power to turn into owls and visit babies. Some believed that owls were messengers for witches and sorcerers. An owl’s hooting was a sign that a witch was on her way.
The orange color
The orange color of Halloween originates back to the pagan festivals of harvest celebrations. Orange is the color of the harvested crops and leaves changing their color. Black signifies the demise of summer and the change of season.
Apple bobbing
Apple bobbing is a big fun activity during Halloween. When the traditions of Puritanism increased in the 16th and 17th centuries, most pagan traditions and activities died out, however, apple bobbing remained. The game is a symbol of the time when the Roman conquered the Celts. The Romans in a bid to merge their festivals with local Celtic tradition brought with them an apple tree which was a symbol of their Goddess of plenty, Pomona.
Black cats
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